As Abbey Grammar students begin their first term in a spanking new school at Ashgrove, it is perhaps appropriate to remember earlier Christian Brothers Schools in Newry.
John McCullagh
Overcrowding in Newry
With our close study of
Year ……………. 1841 1851 1861 1871 1891 1901 1911
No. of homes ….. 1720 1634 1599 1650 1779 1727 1669
Population/Newry. 9179 9951 8189 8581 8446 8262 8064
From the close of the Famine Years to 1911 (the approximate year of my father’s birth) Newry’s population, largely due to huge emigration numbers, had dipped by 11% – no fewer than 1,887 fewer persons were registered at the latter date. With approximately the same total number of houses, it follows that overcrowding in Newry was dramatically worse at the earlier date!
Yet from the Census study we find that four or more persons were living in tiny houses of one or two rooms in Upper Water Street at the turn of the century: the situation was much worse in the many ‘entries’ , in the more deprived Baile Bocht district, and indeed in the Lower Water Street area just yards away. [In 1901 for example, there were 40 dwelling houses in Lower Water Street, 36 of them occupied by 177 persons (all Roman Catholic). 7 were of 1 room and 26 of 2 room. Average occupancy per house was 5 persons].
Anyway, to conclude our review of residents of
Grocer and Spirit merchant James Heather (32) lived with his wife Maggie (27) brother William (40) a shop assistant and brother Thomas (34) a drapery assistant. Thomas Rankin (15) and Lizzie Hannaway (23) completed the Heather household.
Spirit merchant John O’Hare (25) lived with his wife Susan (25). Grocery merchant Patrick O’Hare (59) shared his house with apprentice Hugh Doyle (18) Monaghan-born Peter Lambe (30) a manager and Mary O’Neill (55) a housekeeper.
…. more later …
That Team with Austin Golding
By the time I went looking for Austin Golding in the Foresters last evening he was already off home, merry as a lord. So I had to enlist the help of Tony McKevitt in naming the footballers below!
Big O in Bolton
My former classmate and pal Austin Golding, who is an avid reader and who returns often to visit Newry, sent me a few photos which I reproduce here. Wouldn’t it be great if Austin could join the rest of the eejits in the CWC in that gathering in October ?
Ben Hughes RIP
It is with great sadness and regret that I announce the death of Mr. Eamon Benedict (Benny) Hughes, one of Newry’s great ‘High Street’ characters.
Ben died following a short illness at Daisy Hill hospital on Sunday 21st March.
Pope’s Letter in full
Not all of this letter was read at Mass yesterday to the faithful attending. In addition all deserve the chance to analyse in full the Papal response to the present crisis of abusing priests and religious.
Fringe Events: Drama Festival
In less than 3 hours time – at 1 pm in the Arts Centre, to be precise – the first fringe event, a one-act play by Newpoint, presented by (I believe) Donal O’Hanlon – will be staged in the Auditorium – admission
Tonight (Saturday) it is the turn of the acclaimed Rosemary Drama Group of Belfast who present the perennial favourite “Our Town”.
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I have but the faintest mem
ory of Newpoint’s production of this classic way back in the 60s when former Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon was producer.
The action takes place in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire on a ordinary day in 1901 (and subsequent dates) and tells the story of two families, the Webbs’ and the Gibbs’ – but many themes run through the tale.
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As a amateur critic, I feel duty bound to comment both on the first night’s production and indeed, on the adjudicator.
Of the audience members I polled there was a fairly even split between those who admired Wexford’s efforts and those who panned the production.
I felt all their good work was undone by poor delivery of lines. For any actor, the voice is paramount but too many on stage were mumbling, sounding indistinct or incoherent and the effect was worsened by our location close to the back of the House. It didn’t help, of course, that Friel’s dialogue includes passages in Gaelic, Greek and Latin and that the principal character, the hedge schoolmaster was perpetually drunk on stage!
Everyone complained of this, yet our adjudicator – who generally praised the team robustly – amazingly failed to mention it.
To his credit, Garry Lombard (Gorey Little Theatre) spent more than two hours consulting with the cast in Courteney’s Restaurant (Arts Centre) afterwards – and if he continues in that vein, he will be totally spent by this night week!
Pat Courtenay put on a great spread for the ravenous visitors – of which, I must confess, we managed to partake some little time later. Thank you very much, Pat and his staff.
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I could be carrying even more excess weight in ten days time!
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It’s after one in the morning now and I’m just home after the night’s entertainment.
I must record that tonight’s production was absolutely fabulous: so much so that I cannot find the smallest negative comment to make.
Any production to beat this must be out-of-this-world.
Might Silken Thomas match it tomorrow evening with their interpretation of Alan Bettett’s The History Boys?
Wait and see !
Sacred Heart Grammar 2006 14A
Sacred Heart Grammar 2006 14A :
Where did the A Level students come from ? Where did they go ?
Sacred Heart 12D 2006
Very busy recently. Lunched today with the Quigleys, their distinguished Swedish guest Hakan and Friends of Newry Chamber Orchestra! Last evening’s concert was excellent, as always. Lislea’s home performance the previous evening likewise. Now back to business!