Hungarian connection, by James O'Fee

On my visit to the North Down Museum a few days ago (see Heritage Centre, Saturday, January 23. 2010), I was able to photograph two plaques, in Hungarian and English, recording a Hungarian connection (for a better version of my photo see Heritage Centre on Mister Keep Fit). The plaques read;-

(Hungarian)

EMLÉKTÁBLA

A hálás Magyar Nemzet köszönetét fejezi ki az Észak-Ír Nemzetnek, hogy otthont adott az 1956-os forradalom és szabadságharc menekültjeinek.

2009. Telkibányai Református Gyülekezet

(English)

MEMORIAL

To the people of Northern-Ireland who gave home to our nation, because they had to escape during the 1956 war and revolution.

Thanks and gratitude by Hungarian people.

/ 2005 Telkibánya /

I've described the nature of the Hungarian connection in more detail in Hungarian refugees, Wednesday, September 26. 2007.

There is a curious difference between the dates given on the plaques and, indeed, the two plaques use somewhat different scripts.

Telkibánya is a village in north-eastern Hungary, on the border with Slovakia (which was previously known as Upper Hungary) Telkibánya lies close, therefore, to the city of Kassa, now named Košice, the main city of eastern Slovakia. "Banya" means 'mine', and Upper Hungary was home to many rich mines in medieval Hungary.

Currently Union College, Belfast, hosts each year two students of theology from the Hungarian Reformed Church. I think that the link with Telkibanya came about through one of these students. In his time locally he was based in Bangor First Presbyterian. The same student went on to become Pastor in Telkibánya. From this emerged a series of exchange visits.

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