Ganimor Press

01/09/2026

Read about the fascinating life of J.W. Montgomery, poet, antiquarian, clerk of the union, and workhouse master.

From his early days in the RIC, follow Montgomery's life and career into the workhouse system where he and his wife Mary, as Master and Matron, cared deeply for those in their care.

Moving from Bailieborough to Oldcastle and eventually Downpatrick workhouse, before retirement to Bangor, Montgomery built up a large amount of poetry based on the places and events of his life.

He was a friend of several Irish historians of his time, his daughter was a famous composer, who included Arthur Conan Doyle amongst her friends, and collaborated with him in her musical endeavours. Montgomery was also grandfather of Dr Joseph Needham.

A fascinating read for anyone from Bailieborough, Oldcastle, Downpatrick or Bangor!

Available from Down Cathedral gift shop or directly from Amazon (free delivery).

01/08/2026

28/07/2026

Amazon Review: J.T. Cleland's Annals of Downpatrick

J.T. Cleland's Annals of Downpatrick is a valuable contribution to the local history of County Down and an impressive resurrection of a nineteenth-century historical work that might otherwise have remained known only to specialist researchers. Originally written by John Thompson Cleland – who began compiling the history of his native town while still a teenager – the book preserves a remarkable record of Downpatrick's people, landmarks, traditions, and civic life.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its authenticity. Rather than presenting a modern reinterpretation of the town's past, it gives readers direct access to Cleland's observations and historical investigations. The result is a vivid portrait of Downpatrick as it was understood by a nineteenth-century local historian. For anyone with family connections to the area, an interest in Irish local history, or a passion for antiquarian writing, the book provides a fascinating window into a bygone world.

The volume also serves a wider purpose. Downpatrick occupies a central place in Irish ecclesiastical and cultural history, particularly through its association with Saint Patrick. Cleland's work captures not only major historical events and places but also the everyday civic memory that is often lost over time. In doing so, it helps preserve the character and identity of the town for modern readers.
Editor Philip S. Blair and the Lecale Heritage Hub deserve credit for making this work available to contemporary audiences. The publication aligns with the Hub's mission to preserve and promote the heritage of Lecale and County Down, ensuring that important local historical sources remain accessible rather than disappearing into archives and private collections.

The book's main limitation is also inherent in its appeal: it is a historical source rather than a modern narrative history. Readers seeking a fast-paced account or contemporary academic analysis may find the style more documentary and descriptive than interpretive. However, those willing to engage with the text on its own terms will discover a rich repository of local knowledge and historical detail.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

J.T. Cleland's Annals of Downpatrick is an engaging and significant work of local history. Rich in detail, rooted in community memory, and lovingly preserved for a new generation, it stands as both a historical document and a tribute to one man's determination to ensure that the story of Downpatrick would not be forgotten.

02/07/2026

J.T. Cleland's Annals of Downpatrick

A Major Contribution to Local Heritage
“Cleland’s Annals are more than a historical document – they are a window into the identity of Downpatrick,” says editor Philip S. Blair. “By making this work publicly available for the first time, we hope to inspire renewed interest in the town’s extraordinary past and ensure that its stories continue to be shared.”

Reader, Martin McM said:
“Even if you were born and lived in Downpatrick for many years, until you read this book, you only begin to realise what you know about Downpatrick is so little. I have received my copy and have to admit it really opened my eyes. Thank you Lecale Heritage Hub for the effort put in to produce such an informative history of Downpatrick and surrounding area.”

See comments for further information.
Available now via Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/0ehiqGVv

fans

23/06/2026

Historic 1846 Manuscript Brought to Light: J.T. Cleland’s Annals of Downpatrick Published for the First Time
The Lecale Heritage Hub is proud to announce the publication of J.T. Cleland’s Annals of Downpatrick, a landmark volume that brings to public attention—for the very first time—the earliest known written history of the County Town. Originally compiled in 1846 by a remarkably gifted 17 year old, John Thompson Cleland, this new edition has been meticulously transcribed, edited, and annotated by local historian Philip S. Blair.

Long preserved only in private and archival typescripts, Cleland’s manuscript has never before been this accessible to the wider public. This new edition restores his vivid chronicle of Downpatrick’s past—its saints, sieges, abbeys, invasions, and remarkable characters—while also incorporating extensive editorial notes, historical corrections, and newly sourced illustrations of Cleland’s lost pen and ink drawings.

Philip Blair’s edition draws upon rare materials held at PRONI, his personal copy of the 1925 typescript by antiquarian R.W.H. Blackwood, and surviving contemporary sources. The result is the most complete and authoritative version of Cleland’s work ever produced. The Appendices also include a 1708 survey of the town.

Who Will Be Interested in This Book...
This publication will be of particular value to:
• Local historians and heritage researchers
Those studying Downpatrick, Lecale, or Ulster history will find an unparalleled chronological record stretching from the 2nd century to the mid 19th century.
• Genealogists and family historians

Cleland’s detailed references to local families, clergy, landowners, and townlands provide a rich resource for tracing ancestry in the Downpatrick region.

• Archaeologists and architectural historians
The book preserves descriptions—and in some cases drawings—of buildings long vanished, including the old gaol, Castle Derras, the Three Sisters gallows, and the Cathedral in ruins.
• Students of early Irish Christianity
With extensive material on St Patrick, St Donard, St Cailan, and the medieval church foundations of Down, the Annals offer a rare local perspective on Ireland’s ecclesiastical past.
• Social historians and cultural scholars
Cleland’s eyewitness accounts, local traditions, and anecdotes capture the lived experience of Downpatrick’s people across centuries.
• Residents of Downpatrick and Lecale

For anyone with a connection to the town, this book offers a compelling, accessible narrative of the place they call home—its origins, its landmarks, and the stories that shaped it.

A Major Contribution to Local Heritage
“Cleland’s Annals are more than a historical document – they are a window into the identity of Downpatrick,” says editor Philip S. Blair. “By making this work publicly available for the first time, we hope to inspire renewed interest in the town’s extraordinary past and ensure that its stories continue to be shared.”

The publication aligns with the Lecale Heritage Hub’s mission to preserve and promote the cultural legacy of Lecale through accessible, community focused historical resources.

Publication Details
Title: J.T. Cleland’s Annals of Downpatrick
Author: John T. Cleland (1846)
Editor: Philip S. Blair
Publisher: Lecale Heritage Hub / Ganimor Press
ISBN: 9798 1968 3966 5
Format: Hardback
Pages: 120
Availability: Amazon
Price: £15

09/06/2026

📣 AVAILABLE JULY 1ST 2026...
Downpatrick’s earliest written history will now available to the public for the first time.
After 180 years hidden away in private collections and archives, J.T. Cleland’s Annals of Downpatrick is soon to be published.
Written in 1846 by a 17 year old John Thompson Cleland, this remarkable manuscript charts the story of Downpatrick from the age of Ptolemy and St Patrick right up to the 19th century. It includes local traditions, early Christian history, Viking raids, medieval upheaval, and vivid descriptions of buildings long vanished.
📘 Who will love this book? • Anyone interested in Downpatrick or Lecale’s history • Genealogists tracing local families • Archaeology and architecture enthusiasts • Students of early Irish Christianity • Anyone who simply loves learning about the place they call home.
Because history lives best when it’s shared.