Newry Journal – Page 121 – Newry News and Irish Fun

Survival

We were born before 1940….

..before TV, penicillin, polio shots, frozen food, Xerox, contact lenses, videos and the pill…

The smuggling of cattle was a favourite with the ‘big boys’.

It was more dangerous – carried on at night on ‘unapproved roads’ that were often patrolled – but also much more profitable.

Apart from fat profits made by ‘Spivs’ or ‘wide boys’ as we named them, there was the odd shilling too for those of us youngsters who possessed a bicycle. Those were few enough, and less of their owners willing and able to indulge in the ‘smuggling trade’ along the Fathom Line.

It is understood that the Inland Revenue, having heard of the success of a similar scheme in southern India, is considering hiring the services of the Altnaveigh Pipe and Drum Band to persuade tax-defaulters to pony up.

‘There were McCann’s breadmen, wearing leather leggings, such as Vincent McLaughlin, Bob White and Sandy Wright. Wordie’s Float delivered goods to the small shops. ‘ Miss Ethel went on.

He’s not two feet higher than a duck He is very small in stature

There was a certain hierarchy and aristocracy among the fairies.

Presbyterian Baptisms 1830s

As a small contribution to genealogists in search of Newry roots, I reproduce…

When I’d be eariwigging on adult conversation then, I’d hear lots of similar allegations about them ones that ‘made their money’ during the blackout – the local opportunists.

Our men folk, in those war years, were mostly in England or had joined the coastal fleet plying between Newry and England. In any case they were seldom at home. A lucky few here got employment as Air Raid Wardens, worked in the local gas-works or helped the war effort at home by labouring in one of the many army barracks dotted around the locality.

We all have local idioms and peculiarities of speech. We acquire these from the people around us. I remember once being verbally assailed on the soccer pitch and angrily asked what I thought I was doing.

To this day funerals to St Mary’s cemetery pass up Chapel Street.

We were obsessed as children with funerals. Ned Murphy’s hearse was drawn by huge black shire horses suitably plumed and adorned for the occasion. The aura of death and mourning had a peculiar effect on us as youth, so far removed, we felt ourselves, from all of it.

Mourners were dressed in their Sunday best, and in black (if indeed they possessed either one or the other). One’s wardrobe was severely restricted then!

There were things to be said for and against growing up in Newry in the war years. There were shortages but our fathers weren’t enlisted and we weren’t bombed. Belfast was different. I learned as much, as a seven year old boy, when a family of four suddenly arrived at our door for lodgings.