Reminiscence

The late Jim Murphy of Dernaroy, a noted Gaelic footballer in his time and one time Newry and Mourne Councillor, was a pavhee most of his life. 

 

 

Read morePahvees of Dromintee

John Mitchel (1815-1875) was a Young Irelander leader and perhaps the most esteemed republican to come from Newry. He was in fact born in Maghera, son of the Rev John Mitchel and Mary (Haslett) but the family settled in Newry from 1823 when the minister received an appointment here.

 

From 1842 Mitchel came under the influence of the Young Irelanders who were impatient with Daniel O’Connell’s conservatism. He was especially influenced by Thomas Davis of The Nation newspaper, who induced him to write a Life of Hugh O’Neill. After Davis‘s early death in 1845, Mitchel became main journalist of The Nation and the articles became much more radical and outspoken. In Dublin he lived first in Leeson Street, then at Charlemont Bridge. In 1846, with other friends he seceded from O’Connell’s Repeal Association to form the Irish Confederation. By 1848 Mitchel’s position was so radical that he had left The Nation to found the United Irishman. Encouraged by events in Paris the more radical Young Irelanders were contemplating a revolution.

In the American Civil War he sympathised with the South, lost two sons in the fighting and was for a short while imprisoned by the victorious Northern forces. He went to Paris where he observed his much-loved daughter Henrietta (Henty) – who had become a Catholic – die while still at school. 

Everyone remembers the shop at the corner  of childhood– the mullioned window within which all manner of sweets clamoured for our penniless attention: sherbet dips, flying saucers, liquorice pipes, lucky mines and white chocolate mice.

 

Read moreHenry Curran, Shopkeeper King

Ah, sure you remember them!! 

Indeed occasionally you’ll get Gerry or one of the other Morgans playing the odd gig yet.

Deirdre was of course Madge Murphy from Dromalane.  She married Johnny Bagenal and lives now on High Street.  Indeed you might see her any day, for she works in Elmore’s Store on the top of the hill. 

I’m not certain I’m right but I think there are four Morgan brothers here:  Gerry, Ray, Cyril and Tom, along with Kevin Hayes.  So who’s the last guy?

One clue: the guest artist with her arm around ‘Deirdre’ is of course the famous Mary Dean. 

Read moreDeirdre & the Defenders