Newry Journal

Tonight, Saturday it’s the turn of Waterford’s Ballyduff with the classic ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Millar. The classic parable of mass hysteria draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch hunt and the McCartheyism of ’50s America. The play is a savage attack on the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false […]

The Diamond Jubilee Newry Drama Festival kicks off tonight at 8 pm in Newry Town Hall with a witty farce, Stella by Starlight, performed by Bart Players from Belfast.  Bart are perennial favourites in Newry. All the action takes place in a single night in the home of contemporary Irish couple, Dermot, a down-sized corporation […]

Old Meg she was a gypsy And lived upon the moors Her bed it was the brown heath turf And her house was out of doors. Her apples were swart blackberries Her currants, pods of broom Her wine was dew of the wild white rose Her book, a churchyard tomb. Her brothers were the craggy […]

Some philanthropists, solicitous about the possibility of my becoming bored with so much leisure at my disposal, naively advised me to open ‘a wee shop’.  However recalling all the money I had paid out of my own pocket for pens, pencils, jotters, catechisms, readers, copies and rubbers for some of my old pupils (who did […]

Shortly before I ‘packed up’ – continued Sean Crawford – ‘I happened to be in our crowded local Post Office. A lady with the invincible inquisitiveness of her sex spoke loudly to me. ‘Is it true, Mr Crawford, that you are soon to retire?’  Everyone stopped talking and looked in my direction. ‘Madam,’ I replied […]

Newry City Library presents  ‘At the Crossroads of History’ when Tony Canavan will be talking about Newry from the earliest times to the present. It starts at 7pm tomorrow Thursday 15th March.  However booking is essential. The library can be contacted on 028 3026 4683. P.S.  Tony was in fine form.  His address was lucid, […]

I was browsing the other day and came across the retirement reflections of one Sean Crawford of Warrenpoint.  These are almost 50 years old so I have to take it that the great Sean has passed on.  He has left behind a wealth of reminiscences – and historical notes – which I mine from time […]

“This is Tass Murphy again! I was born up in Derrybeg. Before the Derrybeg Estate houses were built. There was a wee lane, up where Parkhead Crescent is now. There was a pile of us: the McCoys, Begleys, Hartes, McClellands – Michael John Benett, McKevitts, Raymy hamilton, Fegans, Gunner Devlin, Feehans – all gone! We […]

A hundred years I have stood Looking out over those dark hills … A hundred years I have seen them come From child to man, down those stiffened slopes: I have stretched my hand to grasp their fears Soothed their sorrows, heard their grief All their whispered words of hope, like silent encrustations – Hang […]

The “Year of John Martin” is being laucnhed at Glenn “John Martin” Social Club Friday 9th March 2012 at 9pm. Everyone welcome, spread the word and bring your friends!! A great opportunity also for the Club to show its full potential and honour the 200th anniversary of the birth of its Patron. All very welcome!!!