Reminiscence Archives | Page 60 of 72

Dog Tracks

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

There were no factories or offices on Greenbank Estate in my youth. There was The Showgrounds, or soccer ground, but there also was – wait for it! – TWO dog tracks! Owners, bookies and punters would travel from far and wide to ‘go to the dogs’ in Newry. During the summer, race days were Wednesdays and Sundays, leaving Jack Mullan’s track after the first meeting and then into Matt O’Hare’s. In the winter months it was Sundays only but both tracks, so again it was out of one and into the other.

Newry Agricultural Show

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

Newry Agricultural Show is still held today. In the past it was held, in the Showgrounds – now Newry City F.C. complex – on the last Wednesday of June each year.

A couple of us would hurry home from school, grab a tin can and head at once for the Rampart Bank.

Dublin on Newry General Holiday

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

After that long train journey to Dublin on Newry General Holiday, Amiens Street Station was a welcome sight. The passengers, women and men with children’s hands held tightly in theirs surged up the platform past the ticket inspector and invaded Dublin.

Cranfield Camp/Train Trips

June 8, 2020May 8, 2005 by John McCullagh

Unlike today, when everyone expects a week or two away, in the 1940s holidays were unknown. So when the Bosco Club in Kilmorey Street decided to arrange a week’s holiday in Cranfield for its senior members (‘senior’ as in youthful but members of some years standing!), pandemonium broke loose. The arguments began as to who was and who wasn’t going!

Street Games

June 8, 2020May 7, 2005 by John McCullagh

The Rag and Bone Man: There was money one time in used and cast-off clothing, domestic cloth or ‘rags’ as we called them. In my youth there was more than one ‘Rag Store’ in the town. There was one just down the street from us on The Dead Pad (Catherine Street) run by Johnny McFerran.

Dance Bands…

June 8, 2020May 7, 2005 by John McCullagh

Showbands: We experienced the pleasure of live music from visiting bands at our dances and ceidhles. They would all be fronted by a vocalist and dancers would send up pieces of paper with song requests written on them.

Message Boys

June 8, 2020May 6, 2005 by John McCullagh

The Lamplighter: In my childhood the street lighting was supplied by gas. Men were employed to carry a long pole with a small hook on the end, and a wick to be lighted, from lampstand to lampstand. They returned at dawn to extinguish them. Since they had to be up and about at this time, their services were often utilised by the like of factory workers, to wake them up by knocking on doors or tapping on windows. The last lamps in operation were in the South Ward. Does anyone remember them?

Cattle Market/Troughs

June 8, 2020May 6, 2005 by John McCullagh

I also have fond memories of ..

The Cattle Market: In my youth there were more than one; I remember cattle corralled adjacent to Dublin Bridge Station (as in photos on this site) and a livestock market facing the Frontier Cinema. But by then the main farm stock market was immediately behind our home in Monaghan Street. I remember cows and calves being auctioned there, old farmers feigning disinterest lest they artificially inflate the prices they would pay!

Newry from Warrenpoint

June 8, 2020May 5, 2005 by John McCullagh

Having recently been made aware of your website, I would like to share with your contributors/readers recollections of two of my Aunts; these were sisters of my Mother and part of the McCann dynasty from Newry’s most famous “arrondisement” of Chapel Street.

My Mother Jinny McCann was the youngest of a large family. Her brothers all left home at a relatively young age