Over 150 people; family, friends, Portaferry people and others, gathered on the Strangford Lough sea front on a fine early spring morning to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Joseph Tomelty, son of Portaferry and successful playwright, author and actor.

Sean Nolan, Secretary of the Ulster History Circle welcomed everyone, particularly the Tomelty family, Councillor David Smith, Mayor of Ards Borough Council and Professor Patrick Murphy, member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee.

Councillor Smith offered everyone an official and very warm welcome to Portaferry, particularly to the members of the Tomelty family. He said that we were there to honour Joe Tomelty, one of this town's most famous - and much loved - sons, and indeed, one of Northern Ireland's most important actors, authors and playwrights. He said that many of a certain age would remember him well and that he would forever be associated with The McCooeys, which had held cult status for the years it was on the wireless. Of course, Joe Tomelty's achievements and significance went far beyond that particularly successful radio series; not bad for a boy from the tip of the Ards peninsula who left school aged 12. And it was precisely because he was such an important cultural figure that he deserved to be recognised and to be remembered. A blue plaque is in itself symbolic. It is a very visible and recognisable sign that commemorates a person of substance and that is what Joe Tomelty was. He hopeed that the plaque, together with the exhibition in the Library and other events to come, will serve to keep him and his legacy very much alive both locally and nationally.

Professor Patrick Murphy's address is here

After the unveiling ceremony an exhibition of Joseph Tomelty's life and work was opened in the Library in High Street. Joe's grandson, Joe Sumner, thanked the library staff both in Belfast (Belfast Central Library has a major Tomelty Exhibition) & Portaferry. He recalled how Joe's eldest living sister, Kathleen (98), when asked for Sean McMahon's pending biography what she remembered about Joe in Portaferry, said, 'reading - he was always reading, reading, reading...when he could get a book' He praised the library, regretted it had not been there in Joe's day as he would have been its most dedicated member and then declared the exhibition open.

After refreshment in the Church of Ireland Parish Hall Chris Spurr of the Ulster History Circle presented a programme of readings from Tomelty's work and music by the family. The keynote speaker was Damian Smyth of Arts Council Northern Ireland.

Damian Smyth's address is here

Thanks are due to Kathleen Smith who organised the refreshments in the Ballyphilip & Ardquin Parish Hall after it became clear that there would be too many guests to safely fit into the Library as had been originally planned. Thanks also to Daryl Birkett of the Upper Ards Historical Society for arranging this and for stepping in to help with the refreshments.

Some photos of the event are shown below.