We were walked along the promenade: there were hundreds of people walking up and down; some sitting on the wall, watching and listening to the pipe-and-accordion bands. I do not like the other sort They’re tricky and they’re sly An’ couldn’t look you in the face Whenever they pass by … Many today listen to the song “Grace” without a thought for Joseph Mary Plunkett, the 1916 Easter Rising leader and martyr, yet he is the hero of that dirgeful ballad (though not, of course, its author). It is still sung at almost every Irish wedding and weekly in Singing Lounges throughout the length and breadth of the country. Even as I type, the tune runs through my head. The Longstone Band was marching down the middle of the road. We swayed to the swirl of the pipes and the roll of the drums. We marched with the band around The Square, along Church Street and down to the Public Baths. As we await with some anxiety the coming Orange marching season and especially Tuesday’s threatened Ardoyne confrontation, we recall the dreadful events of 1886 when Gladstone’s Home Rule bill was in the offing and rabble-rousers like Rev Hugh Hanna were stirring up emotions. A tale of events one 15th August, some 70 years ago … My eighth birthday was approaching when Mammy said: When we arrived at Crieve ‘Dart’ Sands was standing in the compound with a smile on his face like a Cheshire cat. Services rendered I paid Mr Sands ten shillings and sixpence. One night in early autumn I was awakened to the sound of short, sharp moos. I instinctively knew that this was Bridget and the mooing continued through the night. The next morning, Grandpa says to me, I was so excited when Granda told me that we were getting our first Friesian cow. The following morning my four sons and I waited patiently for the cattle lorry to arrive. Read about Irish Lucky charms here Rory McElroy’s exploits in the field of golf brought back some memories of a trip to Glasgow some years ago. I would like to submit this short article in response to Tom Wharton’s query about Newry’s Columban Hall… As I was saying, the parents knew nothing of the niceties of procedure, etiquette or decorum. They had little going for them in the academic field and almost invariably ended up as bottom of the class. Some kindly women of The Meadow would store unwanted clothes in great bags for the Travelling Woman on her calls. Was she grateful? Well, selectively.15th August: Boat Trip
Barney Dan
Stars Sang in God’s Garden
Hiccupping Lou
Robert Bell, Ulster amateur geologist
15th August
Dart the Bull
Bridget bellows …
Luck’n’Away 1
Celtic play Golf, virtually
Columban Hall
Saying Mass …
More gypsy tales
Travellers or NOT !
