Peter Bradley writes of Bessbrook long ago. ‘I was born in Newry in 1917 but when I was very young the family moved to
Bessbrook Mill
Reminiscence
An exile in Canada
I recently came upon this memoir of an Irish exile from Moortown, Tyrone settled in
If not I shall desist after this entry: if so, you can have much more!
Connolly/Mallin Parks built!
Joe Murphy, who lived at the bottom of Chinatown hill, was watchman on the building site of
Derrybeg Drive of old
There were celebrities galore in The Meadow of old. Seamus McGuigan -who has returned to care for his mum in
St Joseph’s Class of ’65
The Reunion of St Joseph’s High School Newry – Class of 1965 – was held recently in the Canal Court Hotel. The function was attended by the present Principal, Mr Hugh Mallon and the guest speaker was recently-retired
Bushwacked by Annie Oakley
It was a night in the summer of 1958 when I was nine years of age of which I write.
With my cousin Brian Dean I emerged from the Frontier Cinema at the end of the ‘First House’. It was about 8.30 p.m. and there was – what to us was – a very intriguing-looking female of about fourteen or fifteen years of age standing at the William Street corner.
Bill Hanna’s life
In father’s absence at first – for six months or so – we stayed at Grandfather Bicker’s in Poyntzpass. Then my two sisters were fostered to two married aunts.
I was taken in by Granny Hanna who had already reared nine sons. She was more comfortable with boys. This was to my advantage as she was a lovely person and respected by all. Her life had been hard, helping grandfather to run the farm as well as rearing so many sons. It was a sad day for me when grandmother died when I was fourteen.
St Joe’s Chess & Debating 65
The Chess team below shows: B. (L-R) Joe McGrath, Eric Johnston and Raymond O’Neill
F. (L-R) M Hollywood, Martin Treanor (Captain) and J Strain
The team was ably coached by popular teacher of the time Brian O’Hare.
Lisraw, 1920’s
I spent the first fifteen years of my life on my grandfather’s farm in the townland of Lisraw. The routine was school, farm work, hunting with dogs and ferrets and, rarely, playing with friends.