John McCullagh – Page 205

Chapel St Reunion 2

June 8, 2020May 13, 2005 by John McCullagh

I left early (around midnight!) but my friends stayed till four in the morning. All had a great time.

Chapel St Reunion

June 8, 2020May 13, 2005 by John McCullagh

The Miller Suite of the Canal Court Hotel was packed with happy people who were regally entertaine to a Brass band Show, A Video/Slideshow and Peader Cowan. A great time was had by all!!

Art MacCooey

June 8, 2020May 11, 2005 by John McCullagh

The most famous graveyard in all our area is doubtless that of Creggan, just outside of Crossmaglen, not least because it is the last resting place of the celebrated Bards, Padraig Mac a Liondain (1685-1733), Seamus Mor MacMurchadha (1720-1750) and Art MacCumhaigh (1738-1773).

The grave of Mac a Liondain is marked by a plaque erected by Eigse Oirialla, an organisation harking back to an even earlier period when the clans of Armagh, Monaghan, East Fermanagh, South Tyrone and North Louth were united under the great House of Oriel. (The name too is commemorated in the beautiful Oriel Trail, a glorious walk well-signposted through the magnificent Cooley Peninsula!).

Putting one past Pat Jennings!

June 8, 2020May 9, 2005 by John McCullagh

A once-in-a-lifetime memory from Peter Hughes, who works as a librarian in Summerhill, Co Down . . .

‘I was born on 26th March 1967. I grew up in the town of Newry in Northern Ireland during the height of the ‘troubles’. It was just like any other working class town anywhere in Britain (apart from the noise and large military presence) and like other kids in these areas, we played football every day after school in our street. There were a lot fewer cars to contend with in those days so we normally had most of the street to ourselves.

Dog Tracks

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

There were no factories or offices on Greenbank Estate in my youth. There was The Showgrounds, or soccer ground, but there also was – wait for it! – TWO dog tracks! Owners, bookies and punters would travel from far and wide to ‘go to the dogs’ in Newry. During the summer, race days were Wednesdays and Sundays, leaving Jack Mullan’s track after the first meeting and then into Matt O’Hare’s. In the winter months it was Sundays only but both tracks, so again it was out of one and into the other.

Newry Agricultural Show

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

Newry Agricultural Show is still held today. In the past it was held, in the Showgrounds – now Newry City F.C. complex – on the last Wednesday of June each year.

A couple of us would hurry home from school, grab a tin can and head at once for the Rampart Bank.

Dublin on Newry General Holiday

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

After that long train journey to Dublin on Newry General Holiday, Amiens Street Station was a welcome sight. The passengers, women and men with children’s hands held tightly in theirs surged up the platform past the ticket inspector and invaded Dublin.

Cranfield Camp/Train Trips

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

Unlike today, when everyone expects a week or two away, in the 1940s holidays were unknown. So when the Bosco Club in Kilmorey Street decided to arrange a week’s holiday in Cranfield for its senior members (‘senior’ as in youthful but members of some years standing!), pandemonium broke loose. The arguments began as to who was and who wasn’t going!

Street Games

June 8, 2020May 7, 2005 by John McCullagh

The Rag and Bone Man: There was money one time in used and cast-off clothing, domestic cloth or ‘rags’ as we called them. In my youth there was more than one ‘Rag Store’ in the town. There was one just down the street from us on The Dead Pad (Catherine Street) run by Johnny McFerran.