1946 Slieve Gullion Road electors

This Electoral List of Newry’s West Ward pertains to the year 1946, and we know that all the houses of Slieve Gullion Road were not built or occupied until 1948. [Indeed the reader will note that the flats numbers 9-12 were yet not built or occupied].  

Peter O’Hare’s sister Marie claims to have been the first child born in The Meadow. Entirely possible, since your Editor was six months old when our family arrived there in February 1948, and Marie is slightly younger than me. 

We believe the first funeral from The Meadow was that of Mrs Dora Warr, grandmother to our mates Charlie and Jackie, listed last below.

 Dora J Warr                            40

 Some of these residents had moved on (or passed away) before I came to full awareness.  Already I had four older sisters.

Rita and Arthur Pattinson (who had a son Paul) lived at 8 Slieve Gullion Road until 1960, when they moved to Oxford.  Eddie Trainor’s parents then moved in to 8.

Peter Laverty, of the grocery store on Monaghan Street had been replaced by Gerry and Maura McGuigan, who still reside there today.  Their next door neighbours, the Morleys had been replaced by the McGraths, Joe and Paddy being our mates.  Then the Magowans had been replaced by Mrs Murphy (son Eugene) who still resides there today.  That full household of McCoys was reduced to two spinsters Bridget and Margaret.  Clarkes had given way to Paddy and Eileen Lundy.  The Jones had yielded to the O’Hares, John driving a GNR train.  Eventually the Warrs yielded to the McKigneys, mates of ours Colum and Michael.

Down at the start of the street, the Foxes had conceded to the McShanes and Rogers to Torleys.  Agnews, as mentioned had yielded to special friends of ours, the O’Hares.  Eddie Traynor’s folks were in 8. 

From the loanan, the Coles had been replaced by the Meaghers.  After the Pattersons in number 18, Gunner Quinn (and my pal Tom) lived in that house for a while.

“Those were the days, my friend

We thought they’d never end ……… “