Midtown Makers Gift Shop - BLOG

During the 400 years that Ballymena began its growth from a simple ford to an industrial town, businesses and their craftspeople have come and gone. We have been looking at the forgotten crafts and trades that have disappeared because of time, change and industrialisation. So, as a last part of our Linen Trade pieces, we have researched the documents that are available and have not only discovered the jobs that are no longer used but that are also forgotten. While in the proc

In the early 1700s, across the green fields of Ulster, the growing of flax was more than farming — it was a way of life. Long before factories filled the valleys with the sound of machinery, families planted, tended, and transformed this delicate, blue-flowered crop into one of Ireland’s most treasured materials: linen.

Before there were streets, shops, or market squares, the land around Ballymena was already rich with history. The rivers, fields, and hills bore witness to countless generations, each adding a chapter to the story of the town that would one day grow in their midst.

In June 2025, I had written a tale about a Raleigh Bike, that has become part of Midtown Makers history and a reminder of Ballymena’s Creative past. So, this year, Jacque Mc Neill, a local artist whose husband Ivan was a Grandson of Daniel McAfee, the once owner of the bike and it’s adventures, was taking a sketch and walk workshop through Ballymena, they stopped at the old church on Church Street, once the Parish Church, but now accessible only by key from Outdoor Adventu

Ballymena is often known as "The City of the Seven Towers", although it has never officially held city status. The nickname comes from seven prominent towers and steeples that once dominated the town skyline and could be seen from miles around. The title is generally credited to Sir Shafto Adair in the 19th century.

On Saturday, 23rd May, Ballymena marked it's 400 year anniversary of the historic 1626 Royal Charter granted by King Charles I to the Adair family. The event, organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, brought together people from all walks of life to honour the town’s heritage and look forward to its future. Among the many groups participating were Ballymena Business Centre / Midtown Makers team.

Ballymena is celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2026, marking four centuries since King Charles I granted the land to the Adair family in 1626. To commemorate the occasion, we have highlighted a few notable women from the town’s history who we hope inspire todays generations of women to achieve whatever what’s in their hearts and minds.

A Region Steeped in Shadows: From racehorses cursed by holy relics to demonic pacts and ghostly coachmen, the Ballymena area is rich in tales perfect for Halloween. Whether you’re walking the Dark Hedges at dusk or passing Dundermot Mound under a full moon, you might just feel the chill of a story still being told. So light a candle, leave a little milk by the door—and if someone asks about the bridge at Glarryford…Don’t answer.

How One Bicycle Threads Midtown Makers to Ballymena’s Textile Past. Written by Jim Stevenson Jim Stevenson stood outside Midtown Makers with Raleigh bike Stop by Midtown Makers on any given day and you’ll spot a weather‑worn Raleigh Sports bicycle propped proudly in the window or as part of one of the many displays. Far from being a quirky prop, it is a silent storyteller—connecting today’s crafters, shoppers and visitors to nearly a century of local industry, road‑grime and