Below (bottom) is the last of the North Street Murals, with comments.
John McCullagh
When the childer is away
A wee slip drawin’ water
Me oul’ man at the plough
No grown-up son or daughter
That’s the way we’re farming now.
‘No work and little pleasure’
Was the cry before they went
Now they’re getting’ both full measure
So I ought to be content.
Great wages men is givin’
In that land beyant the say
But ’tis lonely, lonely livin’
Whin the childher is away.
Och, the baby in the cradle
Blue eyes an’ curlin’ hair
God knows I’d give a gra’die
To have wee Peader there
No doubt he’d find it funny
Lyin’ there upon me arm
Him, that’s earnin’ the good money
On a Californy farm.
Six pounds it was, or sivin
He sint last quarter day
But ’tis lonely, lonely livin’
Whin the childher is away.
God is good, none bether
An’ the Divil might be worse
Each month there comes a letther
Bringin’ something for the purse.
And me oul’ man’s heart rejoices
When I read they’re doin’ fine
But it’s Oh! To hear their voices
An’ to feel their hands in mine.
To see the cattle drivin’
An’ the young ones makin’ hay
‘Tis a lonely land to live in
Whin the childher is away.
Whin the shadders do be fallin’
On the oul’ man there an’ me
‘Tis hard to keep from callin’
‘Come in childher, for yer tea!’
I can almost hear them comin’
Mary, Kate and little Con –
Och, but I’m the foolish woman
Shure they’re all grown up and gone.
That our sins may be forgiven
An’ I’m not wan to go astray
But I’d doubt I’d stay in Heaven
If them childher was away!
Agnes rages!
Dear Agnes,
I read in the Democrat that Councillor Lewis of Sinn Fein, the party that has overseen the greatest hike ever in Council rates, is trailing a further 12% rise this year. This is at least four times the rate of inflation. Then of course we will shortly be paying water rates too, courtesy of their inaction.
They appear this time to have a magic wand however that can ‘achieve savings without damaging services or threatening jobs.’ Presumably while still sending Councillor Casey on further photographic safaris of Siberia!
Have they exchanged the blue skies of the Socialist Republic for the blue rinse brigade of the Conservative Party?
Or do you think by any chance there’s an election in the offing?
John Mitchel
Dear John,
You do a great disservice to Michael (Close The Harbours Behind Me!) Howard. He doesn’t hide the fact that there must be severe pruning in Civil Service administrative jobs.
Let’s say that Bertie (I’m A Socialist Too!) Ahearn has better credentials in that area. As had Atilla the Hun.
Count the number of candidates’ submissions to the local press. Under twelve is form for the course. Greater than that – expressing their concern/outrage/praise etc. for matters beyond their ken or control, and the election is just around the corner. 5th May, to be precise.
These candidates/Councillors have lent a new definition to the term, a ‘free press’. The owners publish the ‘copy’ these people submit, so avoiding having to pay journalists. So it’s free to the owners! Apparantly readers don’t notice the difference.
Agnes
Boots for Walking
You’ll have read of our search for the Calliagh Berra and the offer to join us on the next expedition. Good news. It begins tomorrow Friday 1 October at midday, starting from the Slieve Gullion Courtyard, Meigh.
In fact it is part of the inaugural South Armagh Walking Festival. We are delighted to learn of this. There is no better way to enjoy the great beauty of South Armagh than from the vantage point of its hills and mountains. As usual I have much praise to offer, along with a few reservations. The latter first, to get them out of the way!
Why in October, for heaven’s sake? The tourist season has ended in the whole Northern hemisphere! We were fortunate to meet with – and commandeer onto our trek! – the last two Dutch tourists last week on Slieve Gullion. Walking tours are big business with cultural and sports-minded visitors, especially from other European countries. Please repeat this next year in July/August.
Walking tours offered are Grades 1-3, one being about 18km over the higher peaks and three, about 8km and mainly in the valleys. On the main day, Saturday 2 October there is no Grade 2 (about my level).
The early advertising of this wonderful event ought to have begun two months ago. I’d have extolled it on this website and people could have coordinated their visit home to suit. Remember for the future.
The wonderful Anthony Cranney is the principal organiser and guide. Watch out! He sets a cracking pace. Sadly for us Anthony has accepted promotion to the NI Tourist Board and we’re about to lose his skills locally.
Now the positive! Seven varied walks/climbs are offered over three days. Despite my state of advanced decrepitude I am determined to try Saturday’s trek from Flagstaff Hill along the ridges to Slieve Foye’s top and down into Carlingford. If you think of the equivalent shore road, you’ll have some idea of the challenge across the peaks.
Others on the same day will do the double of Slieve Gullion and Camlough Mountains. The more relaxed will settle for Ballymoyer outside Whitecross.
All Sunday’s trails are Grade 2. The canal towpath walk is flat, easy and most pleasant. For the more adventurous, there is the Mullaghbawn Lappin walk over Glendesha, Crosslieve (locally known as Creesla), Glen Dhu, Carrickinaffrin, Thieve Crom, Urney and Dromintee.
I’m drawn towards this, but don’t want to miss the Ravensdale walk either. Maybe I’ll be fit for neither after Saturday.
The craic’s in Forkhill’s Welcome Inn on Friday: Quinns Bar, Camlough on Saturday night.
Hope to meet you all there!
Johnny Murphy’s, Meigh
Johnny Murphy’s Pub and Restuarant are located in Meigh, four miles from Newry on the road to Forkhill.
The Killeavy area in general. and the restaurant, nestle beneath a brooding Slieve Gullion, rightfully designated an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty“.
Johnny Murphy’s pub has undergone a few radical changes. From humble beginnings as the village bar the establishment has expanded to include a lounge, sports bar and restaurant. The clever thing is that it has retained the charm of the original bar.
Entitled to the Broo?
In the 1930s there were very few wirelesses around the ‘Pass, though they were beginning to encroach.
The Drifters
It was August 19th 1967 and the wedding day of one of the Drifters, Eamon McArdle! I’m sure Gerry McGovern (front, kneeling) had an eye for the historic nature of the occasion, for haven’t I seen an album cover (was it the Beatles first?) with a similar pose?
As it happened, this name (dubbed by the groom – Eamon and his beautiful bride Rita, who hail now from Dublin Road and have six adult children today and two grandchildren) soon proved appropriate, as Adrian Devine emigrated to USA, and Gerry McGovern to Great Northern Territories, Australia. Pat Hughes migrated only as far as fair Rostrevor, while Brian Naughton is the only Drifter still to hail from the High Street area. Or does Peter McCaul (who married Kathleen Millar of Clanrye Avenue) still reside in this vicinity? Francie Elmore of Hollywood Gardens, who like Eamon worked (still does, actually) all his life in Daisy Hill Hospital, is on the left.
Missing from the photo, but very much a part of the gang, is Gerry McLoughlin of Stream Street. Gerry is a fan of Newry Journal. How about a reminiscence contribution some time soon, Gerry, please?