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#OnThisDay 2 Feb 1922, Sir Joseph Davison installed as Grand Master of the Belfast Orangemen. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland 1941-1948. When an attempt was made to ban processions in 1935, it was Davison who had it overturned in a matter of days

#OnThisDay 3 Feb 1914, Sir Reginald Pole-Carew offers his services to ‘Ulster’. Highly respected British Army Officer, became involved with the Ulster Volunteers. Assumed command of its UK mainland incarnation, and reviewed its volunteers in Glasgow, Liverpool and London!

#OnThisDay 4 Feb 1892, Dominick Ronayne Patrick Sarsfield dies in Cork. An example of the complexities of Irish history: of the same lineage as Patrick Sarsfield (James II general), Captain Sarsfield was Unionist, Loyalist, and Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Cork!

#OnThisDay 5 Feb 1800, Viscount Castlereagh proposed the ‘Union’ in the Irish Parliament. Born of County Down Ulster-Scots Presbyterian stock, Robert Stewart personally led troops against the Rebellion of 1798. He is regarded as the architect of the Act of Union

#OnThisDay 6 Feb 1687 Richard Talbot, Earl of Tyrconnell, made Lord Deputy Lieutenant of Ireland by James II. In removing Protestants from governance and the military, 'to rapidly Catholicise the local administration', helped stimulate the 'Glorious Revolution-'Lying Dick Talbot'

#OnThisDay 7 Feb 1873, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu dies. Hugely influential writer (Uncle Silas, Camilla) credited with establishing the image of vampires still most common today. Born 1814 in Limerick, recorded in 1830s as one of Limerick, Kerry and Clare's 800 Orangemen!

#OnThisDay 8 Feb 1983, Shergar, champion racehorse, was kidnapped in the name of Ireland. Ransom demanded. During the search several IRA arms dumps were uncovered. An IRA source revealed in 2008 that when clear ransom not going to be paid, the horse was killed by machine gun

#OnThisDay 9 Feb 1854, Edward Carson Born in Dublin. Phenomenal legal mind. Iconic figure within Ulster and the unofficial ‘founder’ of Northern Ireland. But for his commitment to ‘his people’, he may well have risen to the peak of political office in United Kingdom and Empire..

#OnThisDay 21 Feb 1914, RIC attempt to stop, question and search Volunteers leaving UVF training Camp near Clones. The Fermanagh and Monaghan Regiments UVF mass camp of instruction at Knockballymore. National headlines and questions in Parliament follow!

#OnThisDay 22 Feb 1829, William Johnston of Ballykilbeg born. Orange folk hero, for a time second only to William III himself. Played the leading role in the repeal of Party Processions Act of 1850 banning parades. Novelist and poet, also an early supporter of women's suffrage.

#OnThisDay 24 Feb 1914, Carson signs a notice emphasising that the Ulster Volunteers were not antagonistic to fellow countrymen who differ in political or religious opinion. Despite over 100,000 Volunteers, exemplary discipline ensured no serious incidents of confrontation

#OnThisDay 25 Feb 1689 (a Monday) Bandon Protestants dis-armed James II military forces within the town. The use of the term No Surrender (Ne Cede) saw Bandon become known as 'Southern Derry'. More derogatorily they became known as ‘Black Mondays’...

#OnThisDay 26 Feb 1962, due to ‘lack of support’, the IRA ends its self-penned ‘Campaign of Resistance to British Occupation’. Also known as the 'Border Campaign', its defeat was due in large part to the activity of the Ulster Special Constabulary ‘B-Men’.

Welcomed a group from East Belfast today to mid and south Armagh to see for themselves some notorious sites and hear the story of what St Oliver Plunkett in the 1670's described as 'a country much infested with banditti'...

Arguably the most maligned and criticised organisation in Northern Ireland's history- gone over 50 years and yet some hate the 'B-Men' more now than when they were operational! Come along to Ballydougan (Bleary) tonight to find out why...

Presentations this week looking at important elements of Ulster and Irish history, heritage and culture. In Antrim the subject is the 3rd Battalion of the South Antrim UVF 1912-1914, in Dungannon it's the Siege of Derry and the Apprentice Boys. DM for more info...

This Thursday night is the anniversary of the famous Larne Gun-Running. It will be marked in Newtownstewart with a look an an often over-looked but equally pivotal event in Irish history- the Baronscourt UVF Camp of Instruction October 1913... the world was watching! All welcome

A camp in October 1913. Within weeks the Irish Volunteers were formed. The Ulster Volunteers exercise in Baronscourt is a pivotal event in Irish history. Discussed tonight, the anniversary of the Larne Gun-running, in Newtownstewart. All welcome- Protestant, Catholic & Dissenter