Holding History

29/04/2026

29/04/2026

Thanks to St. Pius X College Magherafelt for the invite to help with their history day! Talks were provided for Year 8 students with plenty of hands on time with real artefacts from across the 20th Century. The armoured Sn**ch Land Rover even got a spin out 🚘

20/04/2026

It's been quiet here on the page, but it certainly hasn't been quiet for Holding History! I'm just terrible at posting regularly 🫣 there's been a little bit of everything lately, from WW2 at Donemana Ps, Vikings at Foley Primary School Ballymacnab, the Easter Rising at St. Malachy's Glencull and conflict in Ireland at Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry!

It was great fun visiting StCatherines PrimarySchool last Thursday for a Viking talk, and there's more Vikings on the go tomorrow. Sessions are still available for this term to end the school year on a high ⚔️

19/03/2026

Last week saw a trip to St Patrick's Academy Lisburn for a talk about conflict in Ireland during the 20th Century. We looked at the build up of tension at home with the formation of both the UVF and IV prior to the outbreak of WW1, through to the weapons used by both the security forces and paramilitaries during the Troubles

05/03/2026

The Schools Home Guard returned to Moneymore Primary School and Nursery Unit for another recruit intake on Tuesday! With the lovely weather we were able to practice our foot drill outside 🌞🪖

04/03/2026

Last week the School Home Guard visited Killylea Primary School!

P4/5 got their hands on lots of artefacts from WW2 as well as learning some foot drill and a gr***de throw. Well done class!

02/03/2026

Last week saw a trip to St. Paul's Primary School Cabra for a Viking workshop! 🪓

Pupils got a feel for the Viking age and Early Christian Ireland through some high quality reproduction objects and some fascinating original artefacts which were held by Vikings over 1000 years ago! This included artefacts found locally including from Maghera and the North Antrim coast. Pupils also took part in weapon demonstrations to see how Viking warriors would use their weapons and shields 🛡️⚔️

  🛡️We were delighted to welcome Seán from ‘Holding History’ today, as we finish off our P5/6 World Around Us topic, on ‘The Vikings.’ It was a very engaging, hands-on workshop, which brought the past right into our classroom! We got to hold artefacts such as...

24/02/2026

Thanks to Cross and Passion College for the invite to speak with Year 10 last Wednesday!

The key focus was on weapons of World War 1, looking at the use of artillery, rifles and equipment such as respirators and the introduction of steel helmets.

A few artefacts from the Troubles were brought along to give students a look at their perspective GCSE topic.

20/02/2026

Thanks to DH Christie Memorial Primary School for the invite to visit P4 on Tuesday! We had a fun day getting our hands on lots of original artefacts and weapons from WW2. Pupils also got to practice some foot drill and throw a practice gr***de as used in the War 💣

17/02/2026

We dusted off the cobwebs after the mid term break with a WW2 Home Guard recruitment at Armoy Primary School- APS! Pupils got hands on with all the artefacts and practiced a few drills ⚔️