But
latterly the line of the road has been much improved by a new cut, in the
direction of the river, along the level between the turnpike and the Low
Ground.
The
line to Rathfriland has also been improved by a cut northward, which meets the Banbridge Road at
the end of the town. The old line runs
through High Street, Church Street
and Pound Street.
Above
the town the former Dublin Road
was very steep and difficult for horses drawing loaded cars and carriages. Some considerable time ago the line was much
improved by a cut more westward which has made the ascent more gradual and
easy. The Dublin Bridge,
by which this road unites with the body of the town, was lately rebuilt and
rendered much more handsome than the old one.
A
little below this bridge there are some remains of a ford observable by which
there had formerly been a passage over the river at low water.”
A
few comments may be appropriate.
In
regard to the name Ballybot – which appeared on old maps of Newry predating
Bradshaw by two centuries, and which is still cherished especially by
inhabitants of the Ballinlare Townland on the west of Newry – it is notable
that the civil servants who rule us seem determined to extinguish the last
reference to this historic nomenclature. To effect, I recently received
the following email from Brussels
…
Dear
John,
What
do your readers think of the Electoral Commission proposal to change the
historic name of "Ballybot/Baile Bocht" into "The Quays"?
This
was highlighted on "Newsline" last night.
Who
is behind this..? Local businessmen in
search of free advertising for the new ‘Cathedrals’ on Merchants Quay and the Omeath Road?
Philistines...
I
hope that a sense of local cultural identity will prevail over bureaucratic
ignorance.
Is
mise
Frank
Patterson
formerly of Drumalane, currently in Brussels, Belgium
I for one find it
difficult to dissent from Mr Patterson’s opinion.
Secondly, it seems
hard to imagine the line of these noted original trunk roads. I understand the original Dublin Road ascended Kate Linegan’s
loanan (but I’m open to correction here!) – AND the road to Monaghan ascended
Bull’s Hill.
And it is harder
still to imagine people fording the Clanrye
River at the edge of town
at low tide – that is, wading across!
Finally, is it not
ironic that present and future main road plans follow the ‘by-pass’ line of the
infamous Isaac Corry (Chancellors Road) who wished, it is said, on his journeys
back and forth to the Dublin Parliament, to avoid his constituents whose anger
he had aroused with his betrayal of Ireland’s cause?
History 
