Tale of Cave Hill Diamond to be told in Belfast

8 June 2009 -

A series of talks, tours and exhibitions will explore the legend of the Cave Hill Diamond in Belfast from June 10th.

The 'diamond', which is in fact a lump of quartz the size of a cricket ball, was found last month and is now in the care of the Linen Hall Library in the capital.

Until September 12th, a series of events will tell a story which dates from the 1890s when tales described "a monstrous gem" owned by local hatmaker John Erskine.

Mr Erskine is said to have displayed the diamond in his shop window in North Street, but after he died in 1907 the gem is thought to have been sold to Madame Tussaud's.

Other events telling the tale of the diamond will include a workshop giving seven to 12 year olds the chance to create their own tales on June 20th and an illustrated talk by Kenneth James, curator of the geology department in the Ulster Museum, who will explain the geological history of Cave Hill on June 17th.