Legacy: The Scots Irish in America
Alister McReynolds has written extensively on Scots Irish history and culture and in particular about the achievements of the diaspora in the United States. As an educator McReynolds is doubly qualified as a librarian and also as a teacher. However his career of over thirty years has been spent largely as the latter-a teacher. In 1994 his teaching career culminated in his appointment as a College Principal in his native Ulster. He held this post successfully for 14 years before deciding on a change of direction. Since then he has lectured at many venues across the United States, including at The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Articles have been published in numerous journals including, The Ulster Scotsman and The Pine Tree Highlander as well as in The Belfast Telegraph and The Newsletter. He has appeared in BBC local history television and radio programmes and acted as a commentator and consultant on Scots Irish matters for various media projects. Alister McReynolds obtained his initial and higher degrees as well as his postgraduate qualifications from Queen s University Belfast and The University of Ulster. McReynolds is also an Honorary Member of City and Guilds of London Institute-an award that recognised his contribution to vocational education in Northern Ireland. He has also been awarded the position of, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In August 2007 he was given a prestigious Honorary Research Fellowship with the Institute of Ulster Scots Studies at The University of Ulster. He resides in Magheragall Co. Antrim with his wife Eileen and has a daughter Kirsty, and two sons Michael and Alex.