Dr Matthew T Mellon, at 71 was the oldest member of the multi-millionaire family, arrived in Northern Ireland in June 1968 – the first of 50 members of the family who were travelling to the province to see their ancestral home at Mountjoy, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Dr Mellon said: “I wouldn’t say I’m a millionaire, perhaps ‘well-heeled’ would do?” He was to officially open the old cottage following its restoration. For the Mellons, the ceremony would be their first full reunion. Dr Mellon attended the inaugural meeting of the Scotch-Irish Trust of Ulster which had been set up with the aid of $250,000 gift from the Mellon family. Dr Mellon’s great-grandfather Thomas Mellon, left Omagh in 1818, and after a distinguished legal career, founded the Mellon Bank and Trust. Sir Francis Evans had presided over the meeting of the trust at Stormont Castle in June 1968. The other members of the trust included the Earl of Clanwilliam, Dr N A Burges, Vice-Chancellor of the New University of Ulster, the Marquess of Hamilton, Professor E E Evans and Mr Eric Montgomery. Dr Mellon saw on display a model of the Mellon house, one of a series of reconstructions of famous Scotch-Irish ancestral homes which had made a big impression at trade promotions in the United States of America. It had been built by Mr Colin Leathem, lecturer at Stranmillis College. After the meeting, the trust members met the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain Terence O’Neill, and were his guests at lunch in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitageplaceholder image
Dr Matthew T Mellon, at 71 was the oldest member of the multi-millionaire family, arrived in Northern Ireland in June 1968 – the first of 50 members of the family who were travelling to the province to see their ancestral home at Mountjoy, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Dr Mellon said: “I wouldn’t say I’m a millionaire, perhaps ‘well-heeled’ would do?” He was to officially open the old cottage following its restoration. For the Mellons, the ceremony would be their first full reunion. Dr Mellon attended the inaugural meeting of the Scotch-Irish Trust of Ulster which had been set up with the aid of $250,000 gift from the Mellon family. Dr Mellon’s great-grandfather Thomas Mellon, left Omagh in 1818, and after a distinguished legal career, founded the Mellon Bank and Trust. Sir Francis Evans had presided over the meeting of the trust at Stormont Castle in June 1968. The other members of the trust included the Earl of Clanwilliam, Dr N A Burges, Vice-Chancellor of the New University of Ulster, the Marquess of Hamilton, Professor E E Evans and Mr Eric Montgomery. Dr Mellon saw on display a model of the Mellon house, one of a series of reconstructions of famous Scotch-Irish ancestral homes which had made a big impression at trade promotions in the United States of America. It had been built by Mr Colin Leathem, lecturer at Stranmillis College. After the meeting, the trust members met the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain Terence O’Neill, and were his guests at lunch in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

Retro: 22 more old photographs from the News Letter archives from down through the years

Darryl Armitage
By Darryl Armitage

Journalist

Published 11th Sep 2024, 14:30 GMT

We have a superb selection of old photographs which come from the News Letter archives.

These photographs are from the archives down through the years. There are 22 in total.

We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs.

Have a look through this selection and let us know, drop us a comment, or email [email protected].

In the weeks and months, we hope to bring regular Retro pictures for readers to enjoy.

Winning smiles at the start of July 1993 from Garrett McCarthy, first male, and Bangor’s Allison Hamilton, first female and she was a Commonwealth Games rower and triathlete, in the Portaferry International Triathlon. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

13. News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

Winning smiles at the start of July 1993 from Garrett McCarthy, first male, and Bangor’s Allison Hamilton, first female and she was a Commonwealth Games rower and triathlete, in the Portaferry International Triathlon. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage Photo: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

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In July 1993 Ulster Country ensured all four teams in the final round of matches in the First Trust inter-provincial championship would be involved in the finish with as comfortable a win as you could imagine at this level. Ulster Country’s Uel Graham is pictured preparing to play another shot during his unbeaten 35 which helped his side to a seven wickets victory. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

14. News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

In July 1993 Ulster Country ensured all four teams in the final round of matches in the First Trust inter-provincial championship would be involved in the finish with as comfortable a win as you could imagine at this level. Ulster Country’s Uel Graham is pictured preparing to play another shot during his unbeaten 35 which helped his side to a seven wickets victory. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage Photo: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

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A solitary fisherman standing on the bottom of Ballysallagh Reservoir at the start of May 1973 illustrated the dismal state of Northern Ireland's water supplies, with all reservoirs well below normal levels. Ballysallagh, usually 17 feet deep, was down to seven feet, which meant a deficit of more than 100 million gallons. A spokesman for Bangor Borough Council said this represents about 200 days’ supply of water, and it would take about a solid week’s rainfall to bring the reservoirs back to normal level. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

15. News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

A solitary fisherman standing on the bottom of Ballysallagh Reservoir at the start of May 1973 illustrated the dismal state of Northern Ireland's water supplies, with all reservoirs well below normal levels. Ballysallagh, usually 17 feet deep, was down to seven feet, which meant a deficit of more than 100 million gallons. A spokesman for Bangor Borough Council said this represents about 200 days’ supply of water, and it would take about a solid week’s rainfall to bring the reservoirs back to normal level. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage Photo: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

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A “plague” of rats had, in August 1982, brought fear and misery to the residents of Abingdon Street in south Belfast. For over a year the houses had been “over-run” with vermin and parents were afraid to let their children play in the alley which ran behind the street (pictured are some the residents). “There is nowhere for them to play around here, and they keep going into the alley,” said Mrs Catherine Wilson. “And then they will come running back in because have been frightened by the rats.” She added: “We have complained to the railway people but nothing is ever done about it, they just say there isn’t enough money.” Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

16. News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

A “plague” of rats had, in August 1982, brought fear and misery to the residents of Abingdon Street in south Belfast. For over a year the houses had been “over-run” with vermin and parents were afraid to let their children play in the alley which ran behind the street (pictured are some the residents). “There is nowhere for them to play around here, and they keep going into the alley,” said Mrs Catherine Wilson. “And then they will come running back in because have been frightened by the rats.” She added: “We have complained to the railway people but nothing is ever done about it, they just say there isn’t enough money.” Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage Photo: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

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