Larne - Drumalis - Your responses....

Shirley Allan - Mar '08
I manage a nursery in Paisley called the Hugh Smiley Nursery, any information on Hugh Smiley would be wonderful especially for the children. Shirley Allan

Danny Irvine - Feb '07

Thank you for this wonderful site about Drumalis and the history of 'The Big House'. We (The Irvine family) lived at Drumalis from 1946 until May 1954. Unfortunately, not in 'The Big House', but in what used to be the servants quarters in the shadow of 'The Big House'. Our neighbours were the McAleer family (who emigrated to Chicago) and the Graham family who had an electrical business on the Main Street in Larne. 'The Big House' (Convent) was out of bounds for us as kids, (we couldn't even use the 'Front Avenue', we had to use the 'Back Avenue' to get to our home and heaven help us if the nuns caught us sneaking up the 'Front Avenue' after dark!) I live in Canada now and I was horrified when I went to see Drumalis on a visit to Larne some years ago to find that they had built a great ugly addition on to the east side of that magnificant historical building.What were they thinking? How could this be allowed?
(The exterior photos in this site only show the west elevation).
Never the less, I very much appreciate your insight and information on Drumalis.

Sandra Boutquin (Rose) - Jun 05
My father was the last captain of the SS Clyde Valley - his name was Capt. John Rose from North Sydney, NS, previously from Newfoundland. I am curious to know what happened to the vessel - my father took it across the Atlantic in the spring or early summer of 1965. It was to become a floating museum.

I would really appreciate any information anyone can give me as to what happened to the Clyde Valley.

Glen Brown - May 05
Thank you for this site and history of Drumalis. Produce from the plots at Drumalis has helped to beautify many gardens locally, in East Antrim and Edinburgh.

I recall when a child and having moved into Larne from Magheramorne, two Nuns from Drumalis called at our new home and expected to find the O'Brien family living there. My mother advised them that the O'Briens (our new neighbours) had the next house and that no one was home. They were invited in to wait and for a cup of tea as Mrs O Brien was expected home shortly. The O'Briens were our very good neighbours for twenty years and good friends for much longer.

Drumalis House which is now operating a retreat house