Few families anywhere – much less in Newry of the 50s-60s – were as large as ours, but that of close neighbours, the Rowantrees of Monaghan Row was one such. Remarkably too, James Rowantree was a baker in McCanns, as was my dear dad Sonny. Some time ago we offered a synopsis of John Mitchel’s career and some quotes from his writings. Mitchel was arrested and transported before some fellow patriots and friends pursued the ill-fated rising at Ballingarry in 1848, when the whole nation was on its knees in the worst year of the Great Famine. In his Jail Journal he makes allusion to these events. One afternoon near Christmas I heard Brother Dempsey discussing the holidays with another of the Brothers. I kept my eyes on the book and pretended to be deeply involved in A Tale of Two Cities but my ears were intent all the same. Be advised of a fantastic production at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre from tonight (Tuesday) until Saturday. You really ought to go! Last night we had a great session in the Railway Bar, including All-Ireland fiddlers, cousins Rosie Ferguson and Oonagh Devlin. Mick Quinn was on hand – and in great form – for the aul stories. We promised to get back to Bernard O’Hanlons for the Friday/Saturday night sessions and the Welcome Inn on Tuesday nights. But that clashes with Alfie Corr’s gig in the Corner House in Rostrevor. If you listen very carefully, you might still hear these wonderful young people singing gaily over all the decades … you know the song … why not join in ? The Newry Chamber Music midsummer concert takes place this Saturday at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre at 8.00pm. You must, of course, attend! Twelve months ago the Quigley Concert had for the first time as venue, the lovely Friends Meeting House in Bessbrook. Now we are returning there! Among the newly confirmed in the faith on Saturday last at Newry Cathedral was my grand-daughter Niamh. In addition to the two St Ronan’s classes there was a Ballyholland class of Mr Shields (listed first below). It is rare that a new novel’s content lives up to the blurb on the jacket: “a must-read for any true crime fan”, we are told here, but in this case it is all that, and more! From the papers of 100 years ago we read the following: “Two tramps of the most objectionable class have been creating fun around Newry for the last few days. They may have gone through two incarnations in the past ninety years, but the police here have evidently not improved, if last week’s debacle in South Armagh is anything to go by. Two people languish in Daisy Hill Hospital from injuries received in a bomb attack … There was a collective sigh of relief when he left office, but now ex-President George W Bush has decided to return to school to learn to read. As Abbey Grammar students begin their first term in a spanking new school at Ashgrove, it is perhaps appropriate to remember earlier Christian Brothers Schools in Newry. Kieran Rowantree RIP
Mitchel on Ballingarry
Brother Dempsey: end
Little Women by Newpoint
Music galore!
Indeed, my latest icon Rosemary Brennan promised to play that venue a Friday night soon.May Procession 80 years ago
Histoire du Tango
Newry Chamber Music Summer 2010
Newly Confirmed – lists
Cold-Blooded Murder
Tramp class again!
Sinn Fein attack 1920
Bush back at school
Carstands School
