A cycle around Ballymena
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 Adventures. As she guided her group, she came across a headstone, that she suddenly became aware was after reading it, that it was indeed Daniel’s Headstone. This was a surprise, because they were not aware that Daniel had been interned in this Graveyard on Church Street, just 14 shops up from Midtown Makers.
Another, turn of events happened and pictures of Daniel surfaced and now we have a face to add to the bike’s story.
So, there’s more, as I was talking to Ivan (Grandson) about the bike, he relayed the story about the story of him using the bike, after he had left school to ride into Railway Street Ballymena to cover Summer holidays for what was then known as a Breadman (a person, who travel around the country and towns delivering bread and so on to customers, long before Supermarkets existed.)
So, the bike has been used throughout the generations by various members of Daniel’s family and now lives with us as a memorial of generations of men, who worked about the Ballymena Area creating jobs and keeping industries working.
Life is full of coincidences and they turn up, where you least expect them.
Below, is a link to a video of the Old Churchyard.
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