30th anniversary Bann Disc launch at Ulster University

COLERAINE Historical Society's 30th Bann Disc was successfully launched in Ulster University by Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Tanya Sterling, last Wednesday evening.
That the 30th Bann Disc coincides with the 40th anniversary of Coleraine Historical Society, added to the auspiciousness of the occasion.
Among the dignitaries present was Lady Karen Givan, Deputy Lieutenant Co. Londonderry and a number of local councillors, with both The Chronicle and the BBC Radio Kintra programme also attending.
Host, School of History Professor Ian Thatcher, welcomed everyone, commenting on the breadth of topics covered in Bann Disc, not just in this 30th Edition, but over all the years previously.
He spoke of the importance of Bann Disc for local history, adding that it was stocked in the University Library and was used as a valuable resource by students.
Commenting, Bann Disc Editor Aaron Callan, said:
“As Editor for the special anniversary edition of the Bann Disc Journal I was delighted that the School of History at Ulster University hosted the launch of this years publication.
“I would also like to thank the Deputy Mayor Cllr Tanya Stirling for launching this year’s volume and for all those who attended. A special thanks does to Dr Reggie Weems who is visiting Northern Ireland from the United States for a CS Lewis Conference who gave a riveting talk on his article exploring the links Castlerock has with CS Lewis.”
Dr Reems, from Tennessee, stole the show, with his passionately and forensically articulated challenge to conventional literary wisdom linking C.S. Lewis to Dunluce Castle, arguing that Mussenden was the much more likely model for the capital of Narnia, Cair Paravel.
This special hardback edition of the Bann Disc journal contains over twenty articles on a huge variety of subjects, from the dazzling art of Norman Wilkinson, to an account of the life of Charlotte Hamilton, the first woman to hold the chair of a local authority in Ireland.
Coleraine Historical Society also thanked Ulster University and Dr Frank Ferguson, for the food and drink laid on, as well as providing stewards, to help out, where required.
The 30th Volume of the Bann Disc will be available exclusively from Waterstones in Coleraine for £15.