John McCullagh – Page 182

Gosford Castle Sold!

June 8, 2020January 12, 2006 by John McCullagh

The ‘tourist news’ this week is of the sale, for the ‘competitive market price’ of

Speaking on behalf of the developer [Gosford Castle Development Limited], Arthur Acheson of The Boyd Partnership (ironically it was the Achesons who originally commissioned the building, with stone pillaged from the Annacloughmullion Cairn near Lislea) said,

‘Applications have been made for Listed Buildings Consent and Planning Permission with the intent to convert the Castle into twenty-three private homes.

This gives the public and elected representatives an opportunity to see and comment on our plans.’ So that’s all right, then.

The announcement of the sale was made by the (English) Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jeff Rooker.

The press blurb alleged that ‘significant interest was forthcoming in 2002 when the property was advertised on the open market’, presumably the reason it took four years to complete at the ‘competitive tender’ of

The Pillars

June 8, 2020January 10, 2006 by John McCullagh

The Pillars were a soccer team of Newry/Bessbrook some sixty years ago. Sadly the majority here have passed on. But still very much alive and the donor of the photograph, is Dickie Rodgers, third from the left at the back.

Ballinalack Tunnel

June 8, 2020January 9, 2006 by John McCullagh

Have another look at that panorama of Camlough Lake. I bet you didn’t know that, in those woods to the left, there is an entrance tunnel that reaches back UNDER the mountain for a half a mile or more. How come?

No Room in the Crib

June 8, 2020January 8, 2006 by John McCullagh

Officials in the Library in Memphis ordered the removal from the Crib display there of some figures it had deemed (on ‘politically-correct’ grounds, we presume) inappropriate. Perhaps someone had objected to the deification of a child born out of wedlock, the public flaunting of his parents, the prominence offered to strangely-dressed travellers – perhaps illegal immigrants. The infant Jesus, his mother, St Joseph and the three Wise Men were taken away.

There are Dervishes everywhere!

From Dromalane Hill

June 8, 2020January 8, 2006 by John McCullagh

This is the view of Newry in the valley from the hill above Dromalane.

Gentry Directory:19th Century

June 8, 2020January 8, 2006 by John McCullagh

We have already had a favourable reaction to the posting of that initial list from the 19^th Century Directory. The following is the rest of ‘Gentry Etc’ from mid-nineteenth century Newry.

19th Century Gentry

June 8, 2020January 7, 2006 by John McCullagh

It is sometimes revealing, always interesting to review lists of prominent townspeople from past ages – if merely to note who contemporaries were. The following is of ‘Gentry Etc’ from the mid-nineteenth century.

Seavers of Killeavey

June 8, 2020January 6, 2006 by John McCullagh

At the suppression of the Killeavey Convent under Henry VIII in the 1540s – a Convent then believed to be under the authority of the Culdees – the lands were seized and allotted to one Marmaduke Whitchurch. He failed to prosper there but a daughter married Nicholas Seaver of Lusk, County Dublin. Seaver had been a Catholic but became a Protestant when he married and moved to South Armagh.

New Year in Orkney

June 8, 2020January 5, 2006 by John McCullagh

I am endebted to photographer and son, Steven McCullagh, currently residing in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands who took these excellent photographs and emailed them to me for the Newry Journal readership.