Forgotten Towns

Series 9 Episode 8 - BALLYCLARE (# 970 Visited 21/10/2024)

County Antrim, Northern Ireland : Population 9,919 (Rank # 934)

In between 'bus uncertanties, Ballyclare is our final town on the clockwise circumnavigation of The North.

MUSIC

Joy - Apollo 100

It's Grim Up North - The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers

The Visitors - ABBA

Forgotten Towns - The Christians

For Reasons Unknown - The Killers

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The staff and patrons of The Sportsman's Inn, Ballyclare

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 7 - BALLYMENA (# 969 Visited 21/10/2024)

County Antrim, Northern Ireland : Population 29,467 (Rank # 362)

Centuries of musical conflict culminate in £2 wasted on Charlie's 'Higher / Lower' sweep: just a standard Monday afternoon in this NI market town.

MUSIC

Joy - Apollo 100

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Northern Ireland Railways

The staff and patrons of Charlie's, Ballymena

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 6 - BALLYMONEY (# 968 Visited 21/10/2024)

County Antrim, Northern Ireland : Population 10,393 (Rank # 908)

This may be a slightly run-down hotbed of disaffection with the mainstream, but it does have its own pop plant.

MUSIC

Joy - Apollo 100

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Northern Ireland Railways

Jeeves And Wooster - Granada Television

The staff of Tesco, Ballymoney

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 5 - COLERAINE (# 967 Visited 21/10/2024)

County Londonderry, Northern Ireland : Population 24,630 (Rank # 436)

If it was good enough for a Mesolithic hut circle, it's probably a reasonable bet for my Ulster fry.

MUSIC

Joy - Apollo 100

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Ulsterbus

Northern Ireland Railways

The staff of Rocca, Coleraine

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 4 - LIMAVADY (# 966 Visited 20/10/2024)

County Londonderry, Northern Ireland : Population 12,047 (Rank # 811)

Live music ends up dominating our evening, albeit lacking any rendition of 'Danny Boy' nor any obvious plaque commemorating Richard Branson's visit.

MUSIC

Tell Me When My Light Turns Green - Dexys Midnight Runners

Dignity - Deacon Blue (orig.)

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The staff and patrons of The Blackbird, Derry / Londonderry

The staff and patrons of The Crown Bar, Limavady

The proprietor of Shandon House, Limavady

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 3 - STRABANE (# 965 Visited 20/10/2024)

County Tyrone, Northern Ireland : Population 13,147 (Rank # 770)

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than crossing back and forth across the Foyle in the midsts of Storm Aloysius?

MUSIC

Tell Me When My Light Turns Green - Dexys Midnight Runners

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The staff and patrons of Brannigan's Bar, Lifford

The staff and patrons of Farmers Home, Strabane

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 2 - OMAGH (# 964 Visited 19/10/2024)

County Tyrone, Northern Ireland : Population 19,682 (Rank # 543)

We duck politics in favour of crispy aromatic duck on a Saturday night in Tyrone's friendly county town.

MUSIC

Tell Me When My Light Turns Green - Dexys Midnight Runners

Virginia Plain - Roxy Music

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The proprietor and guests of Pinewood Lodge, Omagh

The staff of Riverside Chinese, Omagh

The staff and patrons of Tipplers, Omagh

St Columba's Church, Omagh

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 9 Episode 1 - DUNGANNON (# 963 Visited 19/10/2024)

County Tyrone, Northern Ireland : Population 14,332 (Rank # 709)

Season 9 slides into gear as our circumnavigation of Northern Ireland resumes in this diverse outpost of Timorean culture, whilst I short-change a barmaid.

MUSIC

Bagpuss Opening Theme - Sandra Kerr & John Faulkner

Tell Me When My Light Turns Green - Dexys Midnight Runners

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The staff and patrons of Quinn's Bar, Dungannon

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 8 Episode 7 - COOKSTOWN (# 962 Visited 19/10/2024)

County Tyrone, Northern Ireland : Population 11,620 (Rank # 837)

We get harangued by a street preacher then left in stasis waiting for a stout as Season 8 draws to a close.

MUSIC

I Got Mine - Motörhead

Day Trip To Bangor - Fiddler's Dram

THANKS

Ulsterbus

The Lifeboat Fellowship, Dungannon

The staff of The Cartwheel Bar, Cookstown

And There's More - Central Television

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 8 Episode 6 - CRAIGAVON (# 961 Visited 19/10/2024)

County Armagh, Northern Ireland : Population 64,193 (Rank # 151)

We narrowly avoid getting mown down on the Garvaghy Road and meet an opinionated dog who says 'No!'

MUSIC

I Got Mine - Motörhead

Day Trip To Bangor - Fiddler's Dram

THANKS

Northern Ireland Railways

Ulsterbus

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org