By Violet Brown
PROMINENT Ulster Scots enthusiast Will McAvoy, who recorded audio tapes capturing the local dialect as he recounted his memories of growing up on Mid Isle, off Greyabbey, has died at the age of 102.
The National Trust warden for Strangford Lough for 17 years, he passed away on Saturday, March 28.
A well known expert on Ulster Scots, his audio recordings included Hairts o Greba, Ye cannae tak Greba oot of the man and Mair memories o Strangford Lough which were well received on the Ards peninsula and further afield.
Will (William) McAvoy was born on Mid Isle on May 10, 1923, the middle of three sons born to William and Alice McAvoy. He and his brothers Jack and Jimmy had to negotiate the tides to the mainland where they attended school in the village and Sunday school at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
When he was 14 years-old, Will left school to farm with his father and older brother Jack. The older William McAvoy was a professional wildfowler and Will followed in his father’s footsteps. During the war years wildfowling on Strangford Lough was a valuable source of income and the birds were sold to Sawyers in Belfast.
Will married Jean Porter of Cardy, outside Greyabbey, on December 22, 1950 at Ballyblack Presbyterian Church and they set up home on Main Street, Greyabbey. During the 50s Will worked at James Brain’s general merchants on Tullykevin Road, in the village, delivering animal meal, small square baling and spreading lime on fields.
When the company merged with Levers Ltd, Will travelled around Northern Ireland as a driver’s helper delivering animal feed.
During the 1950s and 60s Will was involved with Greyabbey Amateur Dramatic Society and he starred in their productions of three act plays.
In 1968 Will and Jean moved to Stanfield Drive, Newtownards, and the following year Will became a groundsman for Ards Football Club.
He began working for the National Trust in the early seventies as warden for Strangford Lough. This job was particularly close to his heart as he cared for the lough and the wildlife on it. After 17 years working for the National Trust, Will retired in 1988.
Jean sadly passed away in May 1998.
Around 30 years ago Will attended an Ulster Scots meeting in Newtownards Town Hall, where he became friendly with Ballywalter man, the late Willie Cromie, and the two men, who became known as ‘the twae Willies’, featured in the Ulster Scots community.
Will was a founder member and vice president of the Ulster Scots Language Society and was interviewed many times for television and radio programmes.
He also kept himself active making small thatched cottages or harvesting or packing potatoes. He loved walking along different parts of the lough shore, especially around the islands outside Greyabbey and he regularly attended Greenwell Street, Presbyterian Church in Newtownards.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Will McAvoy took place at Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards on Friday, April 3.
