Newry News and Irish Fun
There were four brothers in them days, Willie, Henry, Barney and Davey McSherry and they lived in Tullynacross. Henry and Barney worked at quarrying and did small road repairs. They used to go to Hugh Rafferty’s pub for a drink at dinner time.
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.
‘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.
They were the best of times: they were the worst of times …
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The photograph is of Thomas Martin, who was great grandfather to our esteemed readers Patrick J White (who supplied this information) and John McCaul.
Of a Friday and Saturday night you wouldn’t want to leave the ‘Pass. They were here in droves! Women from Ballyargan, Glenn, Tyrone’s Ditches, Tannyokey and Drumbanagher – ALL in the ‘Pass for their groceries – in ponys and traps or walking or on bicycles. Ah, a sight for sore eyes.
One night I was standing at the corner when Jim Pat McSherry came down the street, whistling.