Echoes in the Landscape: A glimpse into Ballymena’s ancient past at Mid and East Antrim Museum

A captivating new exhibition, Echoes in the Landscape, has opened at the Mid and East Antrim Museum at The Braid, offering a rare window into the ancient and medieval history of Mid Antrim.

Running until Saturday, 26 April, the exhibition showcases the region’s rich archaeological heritage through striking photography by David McClean and insightful text by local historian Willie Drennan.

Visitors are invited to explore the enigmatic remnants of pre-historic and early medieval sites, ponder enduring mysteries, and reconnect with the storied landscape of Ballymena.

The exhibition, which opened earlier this month, seeks to deepen public awareness of the historical treasures scattered across the area, where the rivers Braid, Maine, and Kellswater converge. These waterways have long shaped a region abundant with archaeological sites, including raths, moats, ring forts, dolmens, court graves, passage graves, cashels, crannogs, castles, souterrains, and standing stones.

Through McClean’s evocative photographs, visitors can marvel at enduring landmarks such as the Harryville Motte, Tamnybuck Cashel, and Ballycreggy Ring Fort, while also encountering a surprising site, familiar to many, where no visible trace remains.

Among the exhibition’s provocations are questions that continue to intrigue historians and locals alike: Did the Normans truly construct the Harryville Moat, as tradition suggests? And where exactly did the ancient Royal Road, stretching from Tara to Dunseverick, cross the River Braid?

These queries, woven into Drennan’s accompanying text, blend rigorous archaeological findings with generations-old folklore, revealing both harmony and tension between academic research and local storytelling.

Drennan’s commentary draws on the expertise of archaeologists and historians, enriched by oral traditions that add colour and context to the scholarly narrative.

“Folklore often holds clues that complement or challenge what we find in the ground,” Drennan notes. “It’s a reminder that history is as much about the stories we tell as the artefacts we uncover.”

Adding to the exhibition’s allure are artefacts on loan from Dr Tom McNeill of Queen’s University Belfast, excavated in 1969 from the Doon bullaun near Clough.

These finds provide a tangible link to the lives of those who inhabited Mid Antrim centuries ago, grounding the exhibition’s visual and textual elements in physical evidence of the past.

The photographs themselves are a testament to McClean’s skill, capturing the weathered beauty of these sites as they stand today—some defiant against time, others barely discernible in the modern landscape.

From the imposing earthworks of ring forts to the subtle outlines of long-abandoned settlements, the images invite reflection on how the past continues to shape the present.

Echoes in the Landscape is more than a historical survey; it is a call to engage with the heritage that surrounds Ballymena’s residents every day. By highlighting sites that are often overlooked, the exhibition encourages visitors to see their local environment through a new lens, fostering a deeper appreciation for the ancient echoes that resonate in the landscape.

The Mid and East Antrim Museum, located at The Braid, is open to the public with free admission. For families colouring in and dressing up activities are available for families.

The exhibition will be open until Saturday, 26 April 2025, in Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid, Ballymena. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. With only days remaining before the exhibition closes, now is the time to explore this compelling tribute to Mid Antrim’s enduring legacy.

For those intrigued by the mysteries of the Harryville Moat or curious about the path of the Royal Road, Echoes in the Landscape offers a journey into the heart of Ballymena’s past—one that is as thought-provoking as it is visually stunning.