A series of cultural events will take place between Friday 13 and Sunday 15 September in the newly restored Old Church Centre to mark this year’s European Heritage Open Days.

The community and heritage centre, which opened its doors in July, will hold a talk by Paul Clements on film actor Richard Hayward on Saturday 14 September.

One of Ireland’s leading cultural figures, a writer, singer, broadcaster and folklorist, Hayward was famous for his film Devil’s Rock, a romantic drama shot in Cushendun in 1937.

Belfast author Paul Clements has spoken at over 70 different events across Ireland about the life and times of Hayward, using old slideshow photos and video footage of the popular artist, who was raised in Larne.

The Old Church Centre will also host the launch of the new ‘Greetings from Cushendun’ booklet on Friday 13 September. The publication has been created by the Cushendun Building Preservation Trust (CBPT) in conjunction with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Museum Services.

The booklet is the culmination of the ‘Greetings from Cushendun’ exhibition which has been hosted in the Old Church Centre all summer, with hundreds of local visitors and tourists attending.

Using historic photographs and personal reminiscence, it charts the history of Cushendun as a holiday resort from the building of the Coast Road in the 19th century through to the present day. Make sure to pick up a copy over the weekend. 

Finally, the National Trust’s Glenmona House will play host to Cushendun’s annual Book Sale, on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September, with thousands of second-hand books to chose from, including a local-history and collectables section as well as fiction, autobiographies, thrillers, special interest works and children’s classics all up for grabs.

Tea, coffee and cake will be on sale on both days, and Saturday morning’s local bakers and tea-makers will be fund-raising for Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, so you can enjoy a treat for a good cause!

We’ll see you there!