Hearts of Down

James McMeekin and his milk float. A gorgeous Newtownards story.

This is a beautiful song.

Lay your flags and titles down
Take your place in this common ground 💚

Our friend Maurice Macartney wrote an incredible song for the Forgotten Famine film. Link in thread.

Will never forget him walking into to the pub with guitar and lyrics, and all of us singing along.

Maurice’s work is a window into the space and conversations we’re trying to carve out in our town.

YouTube video by The_Combination_NI Bully's Acre

Maurice Macartney's Bully's Acre

All you who enter here
Lay your flags and your titles down
Take your place
On this level ground
Come and hear the call
Step up, gather round
We’re building our new common
And a new New Town

Performed by Stephen & Maurice Macartney

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k6v...

A thread here from the @heartsofdown.bsky.social introducing the work of the multitalented Maurice Macartney @jointhecoo.bsky.social. Maurice is a thinker, writer, songwriter and musician. The song at the top of the thread is beautiful.

The Spirit Cellarman — Hearts of Down

And one more thing for the Maurice Macartney thread. Maurice made The Spirit Cellarman film, looks at clans, clearances and commoners on the Isle of Skye, by way of a family connection. It's a fascinating story.

www.heartsofdown.org/work/the-spi...

And you can follow Maurice here on Bluesky @jointhecoo.bsky.social

North Podcast — Hearts of Down

You hear Maurice talking about his book on the North Podcast @north-tuaisceart.bsky.social hosted by @stephenbaker.bsky.social

www.heartsofdown.org/work/north-p...

Combinations — Hearts of Down

Maurice is also the author of the book Combinations: Denominations, Democracy and the Politics of Nonviolence.

www.heartsofdown.org/work/combina...

Bully's Acre — Hearts of Down

This is the song, Bully's Acre, written by Maurice Macartney, that appears at the end of The Forgotten Famine film. It is performed Stephen Macartney and Maurice. Hear it in full. Click the link below.

In so many ways it captures the heart and soul of the film.

www.heartsofdown.org/work/bullys-...

Feeling grateful to the people of Newtownards for all their generosity, stories and wisdom as we made our short film about Bully's Acre and the impact of the Great Hunger in the town.

While officialdom forgot this story, the people remembered.

www.clairemitchell.net/blog/2025/6/...

An excellent film on the Great Famine's manifestation in Newtownards, and a potent reminder of its terrible impact on the North of Ireland at that time

Thank you Andrew

YouTube video by Hearts of Down The Forgotten Famine

"Oh we may moil and delve an' bore, an' weep our blighted prittaes"

youtu.be/3i6-cHvtP6c?...

YouTube video by Hearts of Down The Forgotten Famine

Last year I acted as historical consultant for this film about the workhouse burial ground in Newtownards and the impact of the Famine.

So pleased to see it out in the world.
#history #irishhistory #famine

youtu.be/3i6-cHvtP6c?...

Absolutely this

It's so close to home, yet I didn't know this bit of our history. That image of wealth and poverty so close together feels uncomfortably familiar. North Down gets stereotyped as if everyone's comfortably off - or rich. But today as then, stories of struggling people get lost in the shuffle.

YouTube video by Hearts of Down The Forgotten Famine

This is a short film about a hidden aspect of the past in a little corner of Co Down. It’s a little less hidden today! That's thanks to everyone who watched it, liked and reposted the link. The response has been so encouraging. Thank you.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i6-...

Ah, Jonny, thank you.

It means a lot to hear that, Ian. Thank you for these encouraging words.

Thank you for this. And couldn’t agree more. Christine Kinealy’s work is incredible.

Thanks so much for this, and for sharing. Also for mentioning Christine Kinealy’s work. We are huge fans of hers, Frank Costello and others who have shone a light on the Hunger in County Down and other areas that became disremembered from the wider famine story.

Here's a fantastic short documentary, pulling aside the veil of them and us to show that money and power has always been the driver of division in Ireland.

Thank you and the quote tweet is very much appreciated. 🙏

Thank you. That is a lovely and encouraging thing to hear.

Thank you :)

Fantastic piece of work!!

Thank you for that, Kieran. It was a journey of discovery for those of us who made it.

When I mentioned the subject matter of this excellent film to a few local wise old heads last night they were like..yep, we know this.

That's why it's so important that an under-told story is being introduced to new audiences. Worth a watch.

Ah thank you so much Ian, and thanks for sharing. This one took us a long time 😅 But we have other bits and pieces in the pipeline!