The boy walked down Bagnall Street carrying a brown-paper carrier bag that clinked each time it brushed against the side of his leg. The front doors of the small terraced houses were open in the heat. All the doors were painted dark green except for the Haverns which was bright blue. Across the street the yellowing grass banks of the unkempt park rose to the graveyard wall of the church the English had built in the fifteen hundreds.

It was about that time that the Bishop of Dromore, the Rev Edmund Mulhern went to his eternal rest. Our new bishop, a Derry man, Eugene O’Doherty was to be ordained in Newry Cathedral. This was great cause for celebration!

 All the streets of the town were adorned with papal-coloured bunting. In Chapel Street Niall McAteer was in charge of decorations, celebrations and the reception of our new Bishop to the area. He would, of course be visiting St Mary’s Chapel.