Historical Society invites Ballinascreen to remember local man on his 150th birthday

Anyone who lived in, or passed through, the Sixtowns district (about three miles west of Draperstown) during the early 1960s or before, would not have been surprised to see a small, thin man, wearing a peaked cap and wellington boots, walking vigorously along the road or across the fields.

His slightly stooped frame and piercing eyes would have alerted the onlooker to the fact that Geordie Barnett was always acutely observant with regard to botany, geology, archaeology or, indeed, anything unusual.

Although he had received little formal education, his curiosity about his surroundings had led to detailed study and his advice was much sought after.

As an historian, archaeologist, botanist, geologist, folklorist and poet, Geordie had spent 60 years studying all aspects of the Sperrins.

Born on February 11 1876 Geordie was the second of nine children brought up on a small farm in the townland of Owenreagh.

His father, also George, was known as Big Geordie and, consequently, the son was known throughout his life as Wee Geordie.

Three of the family died from tuberculosis and when Geordie was only 12 years-old his mother died. From then on there was no more schooling and Geordie was helping on the farm.

He never enjoyed farm work, but it wasn’t until his father died in 1931 that the bachelor farmer was able to fully pursue his local studies.

His writings became more extensive and his field of activities widened.

Ongoing correspondence with academics often led to visits from leading figures in the universities, and other dignitaries.

They, in turn, would often bring groups of students, or club members, to meet Geordie and buses would often be seen stopping at his primitive homestead in Owenreagh to pick up the best-informed, and most entertaining, guide to the Sperrins region.

Prominent writers, broadcasters, politicians and academics were among his friends.

Perhaps he will be best remembered for the discovery of the Beaghmore stone circles in County Tyrone. This very significant archaeological site was discovered by Geordie during peat cutting in the 1930s.

On the evening of Wednesday, February 11 an informal celebration of Geordie’s exact 150^th anniversary will be held in The Shepherds’s Rest pub at 8pm.

His milestone birthday will be marked in true local style.

An open invitation is extended to everyone to join in this free event.

Bring your memories, your poems, your stories, your songs, your recitals and there will be plenty of time for sharing and good craic!

Those who can remember Geordie will be particularly welcome.

A commentator wrote that his neighbours were puzzled by him and often regarded him with amused bewilderment, or was it bewildered amusement?

The 2021 book on Geordie Barnett, published by Ballinascreen Historical Society, contains hundreds of his poems and the bibliography of 39 publications illustrates the range of his studies.

Let’s remember Geordie together on his 150^th birthday, and celebrate in true local style.

He captured our mountains, our people and our way of life in verse which still resonates today.