by Sianeen Kelly (P6 St Mary's Primary School, Ballymena)
I have chosen to write about the 'Headless Horseman' as he is an Irish ghost and is part of Ballymena's history. The 'Headless Horseman' from Crebilly, near Ballymena is supposed to be an Irish legend, and it is said that one night he had an argument with his girlfriend and went for a ride on his horse. It is said that he lost his head when some jokers frightened his horse, he fell off his horse and its foot fell on his neck and cut it separating it from the rest of his body.
It is said that every Halloween and New Year's Eve at midnight when time freezes he rides by the White Gates, the place where he was killed, in the form of a ghost.
Legend has it that there were four teenagers in a car one night when suddenly they crashed. Only one of them lived and when he looked up he saw an image of the 'Headless Horseman'.
When he recovered from his injuries he told everyone what he had seen that night, nobody believed him. The same thing happened for the next couple of years and everyone thought these people were mental so they sent them to a mental hospital.
Then one night the people went to see if they were telling the truth and to their amazement they saw just what they had heard of - a headless man riding by on his horse.
Do you believe in the 'Headless Horseman' or do you think it's just a myth?
by Ciaran Esler (P6 St Mary's Primary School, Ballymena)
For the your place and mine I will write about the 'Headless Horseman'. I will tell you about his life and some facts about him.
I am going to write about Ballymena as you know the subject I chose is the 'Headless Horseman'. I chose it because I know a lot about him and so does my dad and it is interesting. I could have chose a lot of other things eg Fairhill, Slemish and World War 2.
Squire O'Hara was coming home and the priest told him off and Squire hit him. Further along there was a black pig crossing the road! The horse reared up on his hind legs and the Squire's head fell off.
So then he was named the 'Headless Horseman'. My Granda said, "My Uncle is the 'Headless Horseman's' butler". So that means he is my great uncle, oh no!
I hoped you liked my story and I hope you did not get bored. I was talking about the pig and that is the devil. So do you believe in my story or is it a myth?
Do you believe Sianeen and Ciaran's story about the 'Headless Horseman' or is it just a tall tale? What other Ballymena myths and legends do you know? Has Ballymena a strong tradition of storytelling?
Click here to read Mark Telford's memories of the 'Legend of Squire O'Hara.'
Share your comments and thoughts with others by either e-mailing "Your Place & mine" at ypam-online@bbc.co.uk or posting your remarks directly yourself at the bottom of the page.
St Mary's P6 pupils are obviously proud of where they live. Pick a tower and click on it to read more of their contributions....
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Slemish
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Motte
and Bailey
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Pennybridge
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Michelin
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Headless
Horseman
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Gallahers
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Ballymena
today
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