Musket balls washed out on Cave Hill paths could have been used by United Irishmen - or Redcoats

There’s not much to be thankful for about torrential rain in the summer - but Andy Graham would beg to differ.

Thanks to the constant downpours, he has discovered something rather intriguing during his hikes around Cave Hill.

He has found what appears to be a number of musket balls, estimated at around 400 years old and washed out by the rain on some of Cave Hill’s paths.

This week, Andy posted photos of his discoveries on the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign Facebook page and it has sparked a lot of interest.

He believes they could have been used either by the Redcoats - the British government forces - or the United Irishmen when they were manoeuvring on the slopes of the mountain overlooking the city of Belfast.

It’s been reported that in 1795 Wolfe Tone and his fellow United Irishmen met on the summit of Cave Hill where they took an oath of allegiance, leading to the launch of the rebellion of 1798. Henry Joy McCracken was captured on Cave Hill in 1798.

Andy told me: “I presume them to be either from the Redcoats or the United Irishmen - they’re around 400 years old, so the dates fit in.

“I find them high up, which is where you want to be if you’re hiding.

“On the other hand, perhaps government forces were camped out there too at some point.

“Interestingly, one ball is smaller in diameter which is most likely from a pistol - perhaps an officer? I have given many away, so what you see there is what I have left.”

The musket balls are not the only treasures Andy has uncovered in the Belfast Hills. He has also posted images of the stone and flint tools he has gathered from around the hills.

One item, found on top of the spoil heap of the new track that was put in for the mast, is thought to be an porcellanite axe.