The O’Hanlons were still the most influential family in the county one thousand years ago, when the last High King of Ireland, Brian Boru paid a memorable visit to them in There was a particular night I remember that was a great bit of craic and at the end of it all, they all drifted off in ones and twos. Then there was just Paddy Watters, Hugh Rafferty and me. ‘It seems singularly unimaginative’, yer man says, ‘ for yon wan to name all her three sons Sammy!’ ‘Warrenpoint last Sunday was very lively – quite a number of holiday folk being present not only from the surrounding districts but from Belfast, Portadown, Armagh, Dublin, Dundalk and Cookstown, special trains having been run from all those places which were availed of by a great many sight-seers. The early history of ‘I was the only man working in the carding room of Bessbrook Mill of the 1950s,’ he moaned. It was one of the few little luxuries we could afford in those days – a bottle or two of ‘Mineral Water’ – and the man called to the door on his way around the estates. There was an awful bunch of old-timers used to stand at the corner in those days in Poyntzpass – Eddie Magill, Hugh Rafferty, Paddy Watters, Billy McGivern and the like. As a result of running with Redmond O’Hanlon (so to speak!) I received various requests to write further on the O’Hanlon pedigee. Since I have several friends of that name – are you still with us, Jenny, Martina, Gerry, Bernard, Paddy, Sean and Donal, Cathy Lee Rathbun etc? – I decided to accept the challenge. ‘An extraordinary scene was witnessed on the platform of the Newry ( This is the second of two articles on the plots of the plays to be performed at the forthcoming Newry Dr The launch of Marjorie Harshaw Robb’s book reminded me that I had not yet offered a critique of the historical significance of The Harshaw Diaries. I do so now. The Harshaw Diaries (1830s – 1860s) offer a small insight into life in Donaghmore .. The launch of “Dwelling Place of Dragons” by Marjorie Harshaw Robie will take place in Newry Arts Centre on Tuesday 6th March at 7.30pm. They were the best of times: they were the worst of times … It was back in the oul’ days – about eighty or ninety years ago – and there was this chap and he needed a woman. He was about forty he’s self and a little bit past it …O’Hanlons : Boru to Bruce
A well-earned dunking!
Sammy, Sammy and Sammy
ASBOs to each and all!
1st Millennium O’Hanlons
Bessbrook Mill Carding Room
Newry Mineral Water Company
Don’t stand downwind of them!
O’Hanlons through the ages
Ballyholland no more!
Plots of Drama Festival plays
The Harshaw Diaries assessed
Book Launch
Number 1 Hits of 1961
SONG TITLE ARTIST WEEKS @ 1 WHEN? Baggin’ a woman!
