Skip Navigation

Mid and East Antrim Borough Mayor welcomes...

24 June 2016

The rich cultural heritage of the Andrew Jackson Cottage at Boneybefore, Carrickfergus is to be explored in a free entry cultural festival.

Taking place on Saturday 2 July - just days before American Independence Day is celebrated – the Andrew Jackson Cultural Festival runs from 1pm - 4pm.

There will be a range of musical attractions as well as activities such as linen spinning and contemporary cookery demonstrations.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE got into the spirit of the event at the Andrew Jackson Cottage and US Rangers Centre.

“Before the family joined the tens of thousands emigrating from County Antrim to the New World, the Jacksons lived in Boneybefore, sailing from Larne around 1765, where Andrew would eventually become the seventh President of the USA.

“Indeed, when the Jacksons settled in the Carolinas, the Governor of North Carolina was one Arthur Dobbs of Castle Dobbs, who as a former Mayor of Carrickfergus personally recruited hundreds of other ‘Ulster-Scots’ settlers from the Carrickfergus area to settle on his lands,” said Cllr Wales.

“This unique cultural celebration in music, with contemporary cookery and other crafts on display is an unmissable event for all the family,” the Mayor added.

The event is being organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with the Ulster Scots Agency and Ulster American Folk Park. For more information call 028 9335 8241 or email visitorinfo@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Andrew Jackson Cultural Festival activities include:

  • Meet Andrew Jackson’s Neighbour ‘Francis Rogan’;
  • Broken String Band - Blue Grass Musicians;
  • Sir Henry Inglebys Fife and Drum Corps;
  • Cookery demonstrations;
  • Linen spinning and straw work demonstrations;
  • Traditional Punch and Judy shows;
  • ‘Young at Art’ crafts;
  • Face painting;
  • Treasure Hunt;
  • Short historical talks (with Billy Kennedy);
  • Traditional griddle baking and sample traditional American food such as Corn Chowder, Johnny Cakes andCorn Meal Muffins will be available;
  • Ulster & American Historical Society Re-enactments
  • A display tent, cannon and muzzle loading rifles