It has, scratched on its surface the names of a lot of local young people of that time, that is, the mid nineteen sixties.

Are any of your names amongst this lot?

Or do you know anyone named here?

Maria Fearon
Olwen Dean
Gerry Brady
Maria McEvoy                       
Alicia Hanratty                       
Myles McKevitt                 
M Cunningham                       
John Cully
Benny McKeown
Jim McManus
Jean Havern
K Peters
Ann Hagan
Martin Blair
I was a bus?
   
There are a few other single Christian names and assorted initials also.

There are no political or paramilitary references, no swear words or no sexual innuendos.

We all were an innocent lot in those days.

The ashtray is quite genuine and was in the Lido café for years.

My name is also inscribed on this artefact and that is the reason why it was given to me instead of having been dumped during the café’s refurbishment a few years ago.     

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Thank you so much, Nitram!

An absolute gem!

When we were in Primary Four, our ‘reader’ frequently had a ‘story’ of an inanimate object and its interaction with/role in the life and affairs of people.

This ashtray could tell many's the story ... of a few teenagers at a time, coming in, sharing a coke and a chip, and hanging round for an hour at a time, eyeing the talent, scratching letters on its surface ....

Whatever became of all these beautiful young people?

Did the signatories dream of the future when they scratched their initials/names on Dick’s ashtray?

..............

As it happens, at least three of those whose names appear on this object became contributors to Newry Journal (surely the least of their achievements!).

These are: the present owner of the object, who shared his early memories of life in Linenhall Square. Unfortunately I may be blowing his alias by revealing that!

Olwen (Dean) McLeod gave us our most popular reminiscence article, the Turkey Trot!

AND of course, John Cully who told us of his life working with the poorest and neediest people of the world.

Did Maria Fearon dream of married life with Tony Mooney, all those years ago? They live on the Dublin Road today, their adult children having fled the nest. Maria’s eldest brother Gerard is currently Prior of the Dominicians in our town and an intelligent and insightful preacher – the reason I attend his Church on Sundays!

Martin Blair was best friends then with your editor’s friend today, Martin Moore, both of Dromalane.

Is that the same Gerry Brady that works in the Bosco Club? And speaking of that, Myles McKevitt is now on the Committee of the Workingmen’s Club.

There are lots of M Cunninghams - could it be Max the musician, son of Hugh? He leads Luv Bug.

Alicia Hanratty was, like your editor, from The Meadow then, as was the McEvoy girl, I believe. AND Kathleen Peters (if that’s who it is!).

Kathleen Peters was from 2 Orior Road.   As editor I recently received the following email from her only brother Joseph, now living in England. 

'Some information about the Peters family at 2 Orior Road. My mother and father were Joe and Mary and I have three sisters ,Maura ,Patsy and Kathleen.  Patsy is now living at Ballinare Gardens,  Kathleen at Carlingford Park and Maura in Aberdeen. I am living in Manchester not too far from another ex -Meadow resident Pat Campbell. I really enjoyed your website and the wonderful memories it brought back. I grew up with Joe McFerran and Brendan McGuigan both from Orior Road.'

There are a few that I have not commented upon, but I bet my readership will soon fill in the gaps!

 

Everybody’s got a story!!