Newry News and Irish Fun
It was Peter Hughes mentioning his boyhood friend Marty Gill that brought two other names to mind. In my class of ’66 there was a John Gill. I do not know what became of him. But it was the story of Jimmy Gill (known as Jemmy) that I wanted to tell.
Nan Rice’s pub is still there in
As well as a pub and a farm, Nan Rice kept a local dairy. It was said she could afford it for she was famously tight-fisted.
I’ll have to tell you the story of how Joe Aisles came by his unusual name.
One gentleman who entered my life when I was about seven years old was Willie Burns, my mother’s uncle. He lived with his sister Lily at No 82 Chapel Street. Before that time I didn’t even know he existed!
Lily was ‘odd’ in her way and never bothered much with any one. She worked in Dromalane Mill and called regularly at our house. She asked me one day if I would whitewash her yard and I agreed. It was only when I called to her house that I was confronted by her rather stern and gruff brother, who found it hard to communicate with me.
For as far back as I can remember my Mum had the ‘cure of all cures’ for colds, flu, bronchitis etc. This was referred to as a ‘wee cough bottle’.
‘There were McCann’s breadmen, wearing leather leggings, such as Vincent McLaughlin, Bob White and Sandy Wright. Wordie’s Float delivered goods to the small shops. ‘ Miss Ethel went on.
In my life I have many memories but none as clear as the last walk I had with my Dad. He loved to walk and always had his faithful brute “Brandy” by his side.
