Ambrose Ricardo plaque unveiling

Ambrose Ricardo. (1866-1923)

Date:- 22nd August 2019.
Location – Sion Stables, 120a Melmount Road, Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone, BT82 9ET
Plaque unveiled by – Celia Ferguson (formerly Herdman), great-niece.

Funded By – Derry City and Strabane District Council.

  1. A young Ambrose Ricardo watching the cricket in Sion Mills.
  2. Chris Spurr, Chairman Ulster History Circle with Celia Ferguson (formerly Herdman) the great niece of Ambrose Ricardo.
  3. Oliver Breen, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regimental Association with Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Councillor Michaela Boyle.
  4. Chris Spurr, welcomes guests to the ceremony from the pulpit of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Sion Mills.  The church which Ambrose Ricardo instigated to be built in 1909.
  5. Dr. Peter Collins, Senior History lecturer, St. Mary’s College, Belfast speaks of the Londonderry Feis and the Ricardo/Herdman families.
  6. Tony Herdman, great nephew of Ambrose Richardo sings Percy French – ‘The Emigrant’s Letter’, accompanied by guitarist Patrick Bonar from Burtonport, Co. Donegal.
  7. Celia Ferguson unveiling the blue plaque, with Councillor Michaela Boyle, Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, sponsor of the plaque.
  8. Celia Ferguson with colleagues from the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust.
  9. Celia Ferguson with Col. David Twigg, Major Jack Dunlop and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regimental Association.
  10. Celia Ferguson with friends and family including her brother Tony, friends from Australia, the Fraynes, cousins, the Shackletons and McFerrans