We love Ballymena and we have spotted some brilliant stocking fillers for any local. These items are perfect to post to family who have moved away, just pick them up in town and pop them into an envelope and get them posted off.
Photo Credit: Jean L.; Creative Commons
Here are out favourite Ballymena themed stocking fillers.
1/ The Faerie Thorn & Other Stories by Jane Talbot
Jane Talbot’s seven bewitching tales will draw you into a world of fairy tales and magick, a world of devilish debts, trysts and trades, of broken bargains and unjust trials, of quick-wittedness, of hoodwinking, of revenge. A dark, tender, dazzling collection that will make you remember why you love stories. The stories in this collection follow many conventions associated with traditional, oral storytelling. For this reason, as well as enjoying the stories in the privacy of your own head, you might also find that they re even better when read aloud and shared with others. (Source)
Every story in the book is set in the North Coast area : Dunseverick, Bushmills, Breen Wood, Murlough Bay, and the coastal strip between Ballycastle and Portballintrae all get a mention!
We mentioned this in November and it is currently top of our reading list. With the local connection we cant wait to read it. Add something special by getting your loved one a copy signed by the author – call in to Waterstones Ballymena on Friday night to meet Jane Talbot.
2/ Pip and Jack’s First Big Adventure by Roy McKeown
Pip & Jacks First Big Adventure is a children’s book. It’s about a little girl called Pip and her Jack Russell friend called Jack. They are based on real characters, but you’ll have to buy the book to find our more about that. Pip and Jack live in Broughshane, and in the book they visit not only Broughshane, but Slemish too, and they even see the brave lifeboat crew in Portrush. Story and Characters are by Roy McKeown, the beautiful illustrations are by Jennifer McNeill from Broughshane and the book is published by Raceview Mill Publications in (you’ve guessed it) Broughshane. (Source)
The adorable book is perfect for kiddies and is available from McNeill’s, Broughshane, Raceview Gallery and the Red Brick coffee shop at Raceview Mill.
3/ Ballymena United Football Club: The Official History by Neil Coleman.
With over 300 images in his Sky Blue encyclopaedia the book includes the full historic record of all results, players and goalscorers dating back to the original Ballymena FC in 1928, which has been produced for the first time. This allows readers to re-live the famous the 1958 Irish Cup winning team through the trophy laden 1980s right up to Glenn Ferguson’s County Antrim Shield win in 2012. The Official History of Ballymena United FC will be available online from Friday 16th October at www.ballymenaunitedfc.com, and is also being stocked in Waterstones Ballymena. (Source)
And if you are planning to post a gift this Christmas here are the Christmas posting dates:
Click here to see the full list from the Royal Mail and make sure you get your Ballymena themed gifts stocking fillers to your loved one on time.