The problem with trying to get at the truth about Roddy is that few reliable historical records survive. I spoke to various people in an around Toome and also checked the local collection in Ballymena Library. Over the years lots of people have written little pieces on Roddy, most of unprovable, and this has then taken on a sort of historical veracity - 'somebody has written this and it's in Ballymena Library, so it must be true'. But not necessarily.

Two of the more persistent stories concern the Ballaghy link and the transportation of Roddy's father. These traditions are so strong that I feel there must be something to them. Then of course there is the older Roddy ballad which touches on many of these aspects. The ballad writer COULD have made it all up but I feel that there is so much detail in the song that at least some of it is probably true.

Again tho, I think that the main question concerns his part in the 1798 Rebellion. He was definitely hanged for robbery and murder in 1800 but what did he actually do in '98 to gain such a heroic reputation? Anyone know?