Bellaghy Historical Society Annual General Meeting (Minutes) Tuesday 14[th] April 2026
1. Present
There were 16 members of the Society in attendance
2. Apologies
Ena Hammond Pat Brennan
3. Welcome / General Announcements
Chairperson / Secretary, Seamus McErlean, opened the meeting by welcoming members present and offered a particular welcome to Dr William Roulston (speaker for the evening) who had also agreed to chair the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
He offered condolences to Damien Clarke (Portglenone Historical Society) on the recent death of his sister Ann.
He informed members that as this was the last meeting for the 2025/26 season, the Society was required to hold an AGM. In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Society, the Chairperson had notified members in advance that the AGM was to take place at this meeting and draft minutes of the 2025 AGM were circulated to members for information.
Members were asked if they agreed that the minutes were an accurate record of the previous AGM which took place on Tuesday 8[th] April 2025.
Proposal: That the minutes be accepted as an accurate record of the AGM (8[th] April 2025)
Proposed: George McIntyre Seconded: Tony McGurk
Carried unanimously
4. Annual General Meeting
At this point, the guest speaker for the evening, Dr William Roulston, was invited by the Chairperson to preside over the formal process of the AGM (the elections of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members).
There were 16 members of the Society present at the meeting and all were eligible to take part in the election process.
Dr Roulston invited Mr McErlean to present the Chairperson / Secretary’s report.
4a. Chairman / Secretary’s Report
As the posts of Chairperson and Secretary are both held by Mr McErlean, these two reports are being presented as a single report.
Programme for the year 2025/26
Seamus referred to the lecture programme for the year 2025/26. He described it as being very successful but informed members that he would very much welcome feedback on the programme and any ideas for future lectures.
Collaboration with others
Seamus reported on collaborations that have been developed and enhanced over the past year between the Society and other organisations and individuals. These were:
-
Collaborations with colleagues from the NI Museum and Seamus Heaney HomePlace in relation to Ballymacombs Mór Bog Body. There are plans for a major event later in the year or early next year. Seamus reported that he could not divulge too much at the moment as it is still very much in the planning stages and there may be scientific and legal issues around it that need to be addressed. Members will be kept informed of developments.
-
Colm Scullion, Thomas McErlean, Pat Brennan and Seamus had met recently with a documentary / film making Company (RECORDED TIME) with a view to making a documentary about the bog body. As with the Museum / SHHP project, this is still at a very early stage but members will be informed as further information becomes available.
-
A collaboration with Hands on Heritage (HoH) resulted in the Society being awarded a prize (Book on Ulster Architecture) and having a photograph (Graham’s Shop circa 1970’s) included in the HoH Calendar (2026). The HoH project aims to catalogue old buildings – mills, churches, businesses etc before they disappear completely. Further collaborations are planned in respect of this HoH project.
-
The Society has continued to collaborate with other societies to build a network of support, improving knowledge and developing programmes for the benefit of members of local history groups across the south Derry / south Antrim area, (Loup, Ballinascreen, Portglenone and Michael McConway, Toome)
Genealogical searches
There have been a large number of requests from across the world from people wishing to trace their ancestry (Bellaghy area). Seamus thanked members who had generously helped to collate information and respond to these requests. He especially thanked Colm Scullion, Richard Keenan, George McIntyre and Linda O’Boyle for their contributions.
Bellaghy Historical Society Committee
The Committee met (3[rd] June 2025) – draft minutes are available on request
Charity Commission
The annual re-registration process has begun. Details about the Society are accessible on the Charity Commission’s website.
2026/27 Lecture Programme
The programme for the 2026/27 season has been drafted and as soon as it is ratified by the Committee, it will be circulated to members.
Committee meeting will take place within the next 6-8 weeks to approve the programme and it will be circulated to members at that time.
Extra-Ordinary General Meeting – 14[th] October 2025
An extra-ordinary general meeting took place at the first lecture event of the 2025/26 season (Tuesday 14[th] October 2025).
The purpose of the meeting was to:
-
Approve the Treasurer’s report from the AGM (8[th] April 2025). This had been overlooked at the time of the AGM due to an administrative error
-
Seek approval from members for amendments to the Society’s Constitution relating to:
-
Membership fees
-
Committee membership
-
Roles and responsibilities of Committee members
-
Reduction from 8 to 7, the number of lecture events per season
-
Change of date for the AGM from May to April (last lecture event of the season)
Members attending the extra-ordinary general meeting gave their unanimous approval for both issues.
Thanks
Seamus expressed his thanks and gratitude to:
-
All members of the Society who have faithfully turned up to the lectures and participated in the discussion and learning. He informed members that without their support, there would be no society
-
Committee members for their ongoing support and helping with all the tasks that had to be done to make the work of the Society run smoothly.
-
Chairpersons of other societies for their help and assistance
-
Finally, Seamus thanked all of the speakers for their interesting and informative presentations to members over the season.
-
Proposal: That the Chairperson / Secretary’s Report be accepted as an accurate account of activity
Proposed: Tony McGurk Seconded: George McIntyre
Carried unanimously
Dr Roulson thanked Seamus for his report and invited Seamus to present the Treasurer’s Report
4.b Treasurer’s Report
In the absence of Pat Brennen (Treasurer), Seamus presented the key figures from Pat’s report.
He informed members of the following:
Balance at 01.04.2025 £1,717.19 Total Income £632.00 Total Expenditure £415.32 Balance at 31.03.2026 £1,933.87
A detailed breakdown of income and expenditure figures (hard copy / electronic) can be made available to members on request.
Proposal: That the Treasurer’s report is accepted as an accurate record of the financial activity of the Society
Proposed: Seamus McErlean Seconded: Linda O’Boyle
Carried unanimously
4c. Election
Dr Roulson thanked Seamus for the Treasurer’s report and then declared all posts vacant (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee members).
He suggested, with the agreement of members and office holders, that all those holding office be re-elected to their positions.
Proposal: That all office holders (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members) be re-elected en-masse
Proposed: Peter McKenna Seconded: Shirley Stewart
Carried unanimously
That concluded the elections.
5. Any Other Business
Seamus thanked Dr Roulston for presiding over the election process.
He informed members that he was content to continue in the dual role of Chairperson / Secretary for the coming year but asked members to consider how any of them might be able to provide some administrative support. He informed members that the amount of administration required was not arduous but some assistance would be appreciated.
Seamus confirmed that the next AGM would take place on Tuesday 13[th] April 2027 at 8.00pm in the Old School House, Castle Street, Bellaghy.
He informed members also that the first meeting of the new 2026/27 season would take place on Tuesday 13[th] October 2026 in the Old School House, Castle Street, Bellaghy. The speaker would be Kevin Miller (Hands on Heritage) whose lecture subject would be on ‘ Gospel Halls .’ More precise details will follow in due course.
Mr McErlean informed Committee members that he would be in touch in due course to schedule a date for the Committee to meet (to review the 2025/26 season and prepare for the 2026/27 season).
With the formalities of the AGM completed, Dr William Roulston (Ulster History Foundation) gave a talk to members entitled ‘ From Portglenone to New York: Hugh Gaine and the American Revolution .’