I do some freelance work for regional newspapers in Tyrone. I got a call on Sunday to cover this story, the daubing of graffiti on Ballymacall Orange Hall between Donaghmore and Pomeroy.

This is one of the stars of our pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” Julie Dickson who plays the panto baddie “Electra” One of the the most gratifying things about being involved in the Craic Theatre is seeing a young person who a couple of years ago was a shy introvert  blossom into a highly confident and talented performer.  Last night the whole cast delivered a splendid performance and the packed audience responded to create a magical atmosphere.

This is at the front entrance to the old building at Magee College in Derry where I graduated with a BA (hons) in Peace and Conflict Studies in 1993. I had four great years there and loved living in Derry. In the early 90’s the college was small enough to have at least a nodding acquaintance with everyone on campus. I was back up at Magee yesterday for a seminar and much had changed. Lots of new buildings and the car park was no longer free.  The College is part of the University of Ulster and we always had the feeling it was regarded by the powers that be as the poorer cousin compared with the Jordanstown and Coleraine Campuses. One thing has stayed the same at Magee. Pat Lynch the student Union bar manager in whose establishment I spent a lot of time and student grant, and it was great to catch up with Pat for a few minutes yesterday and I have to say he hasn’t changed a bit.

Magee College gained its name from Martha Magee, the widow of a Presbyterian minister, who, in 1845, bequeathed £20,000 to the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to found a college for theology and the arts.

Martha Maria Magee (née Stewart) was born in Lurgan about 1755. In 1780 she married Rev. William Magee, a Presbyterian Minister of First Lurgan, who died in 1800 leaving her dependant on the Presbyterian Widow’s Fund. Her two sons died in early manhood, one from an accident and the other from rabies during service in the British Army in India.  After inheriting a fortune from her two brothers, both military men, she moved to Dublin. With other charitable bequests totalling £40,000, she left, in 1845, £20,000 to endow a college for the education of the Presbyterian ministry. After prolonged controversy with the General Assembly, led by Henry Cooke, the trustees established Magee College, Derry, in 1865. Despite the donor’s intentions the college accepted all denoninations from the start. In 1970 it became an integral part of the New University of Ulster (now the University of Ulster). She died in Dublin on 22 June 1846.

I had to travel to Derry this week. It’s a journey I’ve made many many times when I lived in Derry in the early 1990’s.  This is the “Ponderosa Bar”  which is a famous land mark on the Glenshane Pass and a pit stop we used to make coming and going over the pass. As the sign says it’s the highest pub in Ireland and has featured in a number of novels including Gerald Seymours “Harry’s Game”  The Glenshane Pass is named after Shane Crosagh O’Mullan a notorious highwayman who roamed the highways of Derry and Tyrone in late seventeen and early eighteen century.

Actor/Director and drama facilitator John Ryan prepares for his role as the Pantomime Dame “Aunty Nelly” at the Craic Theatre Coalisland on preview night.

This is Gerard Gervin the personal trainer at the gym who has been given the mission impossible of getting me fit. I’m two stone over weight after the Christmas over indulgence. Gerard has his work cut out but he is very good at what he does and he assures  me that there is no such thing as a lost cause. We will see!

The monument situated at the front gate of Clonoe graveyard to commemorate those who died at the Black Bridge Fight on the 13th July 1829 plus those who were said to have defended the church at Clonoe on that day.

I took this last night up at the graveyard next to Church of St Mary and St Joseph in Coalisland.

The set for the Pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” being painted by artist Tony Donnelly. Tony with his partner Fiona McNaney have designed and built some fantastic sets at the Craic Theatre over the past number of years. I was speaking to Fiona today and she tells me that she and Tony have been commissioned to build four sets between now and April for various companies. Very good and talented people.

A view of Castlebay on the southwest shore of Lough Neagh in Brocagh in the parish of Clonoe Co Tyrone.