Reminiscence Archives | Page 64 of 72

Brother Lynch’s Class

June 8, 2020April 24, 2005 by John McCullagh

I was exchanging e-mails with my new mate Deano (Jim Dean) about the identities of that host of thumbnail photos of past Abbey Boys, when he recklessly decided to send me photos of himself and his good wife then and now (at marriage 1972, and after 30 years of wedded bliss in 2002). I say recklessly for your editor tends to upload such photos as ‘timely lessons’ to the young: examples of what can happen if you ‘let yourself go!’.

Anyway it was dwelling on the ravages of time caused me to recall that I had failed as yet to upload to the new site, that most popular of photos from the old: the Brother Lynch class that included such miscreants as Gene Falloon and Davy Hyland, not to mention Donal O’Hanlon. So here I go again!

Last of Chapel St residents

June 8, 2020April 23, 2005 by John McCullagh

Bartley and Hilda Feehan lived across the street from the McCanns. Batley had two sons Joe and John. She lived for her greyhounds. Joe had then left home and joined the Royal Navy. Later John also took the boat for England. He recently made his first journey home and I regret not having met him then.

Chapel Street residents

June 8, 2020April 23, 2005 by John McCullagh

Like yesterday I can visualize the neighbours of Chapel Street.

On the left-hand side coming out of Boat Street was Neilly Hartes. Next we had the Downeys – Danny, Lizzie and Mary, where Noel Mathers, Lizzie’s grandson was reared.

Kill or cure?

June 8, 2020April 19, 2005 by John McCullagh

In the spring or early summer, many residents would whitewash their yards and outside toilets. Lime purchased from J S Fishers of Merchants Quay would be used. However from the ground to a foot or so up, tar would be painted. The dual object was to disguise spattered dirt with the black colour and to deter insects and tiny creatures from crawling up the walls.

Coal deliveries at Gasworks

June 8, 2020April 18, 2005 by John McCullagh

Coal was delivered to the Gasworks by horse and cart. The carts were filled from a collier at Albert Basin. Up Chapel Street they were backed into any one of three gates that would open up to them.

The Gasworks’ Coke

June 8, 2020April 17, 2005 by John McCullagh

Those of you who were children in Newry in the 40s/50s will retain both pleasant and unpleasant memories of the Newry Gasworks.

The gas used to fuel domestic supplies was extracted from coal. Apart from tar, coke was the chief by-product. In the town it was used extensively as a cheaper alternative to coal.

St Joseph’s Winning team

June 8, 2020April 17, 2005 by John McCullagh

It would not have been an area of expertise for which the boys of St Joseph’s Secondary School Newry was especially renowned in 1966.

It was our fortune that year to have a number of loquacious and competent speakers. Yet we were serious underdogs when we travelled to Lurgan for the Schools Final. The home team had won the previous two years.

Meeting Big Pat Jennings

June 8, 2020April 16, 2005 by John McCullagh

The year was 1985. I was employed by Fords at Dagenham and I happened then to be player manager of a departmental football team.

It was a Sunday morning and as usual my team was playing a league game at the Ford Sports Centre, Rush Green in Essex. We were allocated one of the pitches adjacent to the main arena. On that day, the Arena itself was the venue of a Cup Final. This game featured representative teams from Ford plants at Halewood and Swansea. The day’s Guest Celebrity to present the Trophies was our own Pat Jennings.

Work in the Fields

June 8, 2020April 13, 2005 by John McCullagh

Reading ‘Big Pat’ Jennings’ story takes me back! I focus especially on how he and his family earned money; doing various little jobs just to earn a few bob.