Gardiner visits Saunderson home in County Cavan

Mr Gardiner visited Colonel Edward James Saunderson's Cavan home with historians William Wortley and Thomas Glenny.

Cavan council has drawn up plans that will see the former home of Saunderson - along the Fermanagh-Cavan border - transformed into an all-Ireland scouting facility.

It will feature a campsite for 1,000 people, a reception building, an accommodation block and a floating jetty.

Colonel Saunderson was born in 1837 in the now derelict Castle Saunderson in the estate.

He was known as a fervent opponent of Home Rule and leader of the Irish Unionist Party. As an MP for Cavan he was famous for his uncompromising speeches in the House of Commons and as a Privy Councillor.

Colonel Saunderson was appointed high sheriff of Armagh in 1859 and represented north Armagh in the pre-partition period from 1885 to his death in 1906. A statue of the man stands in Portadown town centre.

"Sadly not many people know about his distinguished history," said Mr Gardiner.

"But now that Cavan County Council is refurbishing the estate, the Saunderson name will come to the fore again."

He continued: "We met some very interesting people on our visit who explained the project to us and had some interesting stories to tell."

Former worshipful master and present-day lecturer of Wattlebridge LOL 391, David Jordan, said a Lambeg drum was handed to the lodge from Lurgan in 1893 bearing the name of the colonel.

The drum is still a proud possession of the lodge, which is only a few yards across the border in County Fermanagh.

Thomas Glenny, of the South Lough Neagh Regeneration Historical Society said: "It's important that north Armagh learns more about the colonel and it's gratifying that Cavan is trying to refurbish his estate and church."