‘Once’, Fabian went on, ‘my father ordered me on to Hill Street with the handcart laden with herring, to catch the shoppers who mightn’t make it as far as the market.’
‘When the school holidays came,’ Fabian went on, ‘we would set off by pony and trap to Omeath. My father operated a jaunting-car to Calvery and sometimes even to Carlingford at the weekends. Ill-answered impertinentIll-favoured physically unattractiveIll put-on badly dressedIll done done wronglyIll to handle difficult (of person…Hector: Fabian
‘Pat Phillips, my cousin, who was also selling herrings, protested to the town inspector Mickey Short. He banished me from the scene. Pat’s brother, Larry is still selling there! Omeath Summers: Fabian
Peter McGuigan/Unknown Soldier
Like many, Peter pretended to be older than his years – he was just fifteen and not eligible for military service – and the Army was happy to play along with this. It happened again in WW2, my own uncle being one such boy soldier then. He was injured and discharged with a decoration. Young Peter in the First World War, like many others, was not so lucky.Dan Collins
Fews Glossary: I
June Memories
It recalls balmy breezes with the scent of greening grasses and wild flowers and herbs.
Our picture shows Sean McAteer of Warrenpoint visiting the grave in Northern France of his forebear Peter McGuigan of Cecil Street Newry who was killed in the First World War.
Twenty-five years after his early death, acclaimed Newry teacher and colourful local character Dan Collins is still remembered fondly and vividly by generations of local people.
June switches back our thoughts to childhood days – that joyous period of our lives when everything is idealised and appears to us now as grown-ups a fairyland tinged with a roseate hue.