Living History

On Tuesday 20^th Nov, I received an e/mail from Martin Cunningham. He informed me that his father was a nephew of Bernard McAlister.  I contacted Martin and arranged to meet him and his father on Wednesday 21^st.

Read moreRifleman McAlister : reprise

The film ‘Saving Private Ryan’ was loosely based on the ‘The Fighting Sullivan’s,’ the true story of five Irish-American brothers killed whilst serving on board the USS Juneau during World War II in November 1942.

Read moreDoran Brothers’ heroism

We do not consider the following list – of Newry buildings bearing dates – to be comprehensive and we would be grateful for your additions.

Read moreBuildings and dates

Among the many Newry-born men who became famous at home and abroad were:

Read moreFamous Newrymen/ Shipping

I was in Messines, Belgium with the International School for Peace Studies earlier this year to commemorate the 90^th Anniversary of the Battle of Wijtschate-Messines Ridge …

Read moreRifleman Bernard McAlister

We made brief mention some little time back of the Belfast pogroms and their effects locally. I know of a few well-established Newry families who came here in that first wave of refugees from Bombay Street in 1969.

Read moreRefugees of the pogroms

My younger son rang me the other day to ask what was meant by the ‘Belfast pogroms.’ 

Read moreJourney: Belfast pogrom

We hope our occasional series on the O’Hanlons through the ages may have inspired some to pursue their own family history.

Read moreLast O’Hanlon article

Also from the newspapers of 1865 we read of the generosity and charity of Mr Dempster who owned a large Mill in the centre of the town (the long building on Monaghan Street, in the middle right foreground).

Read moreDempster’s Excursion