Summer Sessions
From this time of year on, our overseas visitors – and returned emigrants – will be here on holiday. You might need reminding of the venues of the traditional music sessions : that is, where to find good traditional music, sing-songs and excellent company.
Sunday after Easter Day 1916
Next morning was Sunday and the bells were ringing to call the faithful. One old woman passing the Rotunda said,
Morning on John Bwee’s hill
Here and there a living house doffed a plume of smoke to the new spirit of the morning. The pastures as yet were empty and the other fields still.
High Street Newry 1935
I commented the other day on how High Street in Newry has become a major throughpass to the great detriment to the remaining residents of this, perhaps the oldest street in the town. Even those who hail from other parts have likely had roots here in generations before.
Priddie Hokers
It was, they agreed, a hasky day but powerful for the time of year and good for getting out the pratties. The three of us were digging them out with spades, gathering at intervals.
Meadow: Helen’s Terrace revisited
I have been prompted to write about Helen’s Terrace as I think it…
Newry Film Club: Secret in their Eyes
We have just returned from Newry Film Club’s April offering, the Academy Award winning ‘The Secret in their Eyes’.
Use a barometer to measure
I hope you appreciate this as much as I did! It concerns a question in a physics degree exam at the University of Copenhagen: “Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer.”
Mountain Year : Farm Woman
Michael J Murphy writes [Mountain Year, Blackstaff ’64 ] of the woman on the farm of time ago.
Young Ireland: assessed
It isn’t easy to define why one is left with a vaguely dissatisfied feeling at the conclusion of the Young Ireland: Rebels and Loyalists display/lecture/musical nights series. But it is important to try.
Rebels and Loyalists in Carlingford
The next in the Young Ireland: Rebels and Loyalists series of political addresses is on Thursday evening (8.00 pm) of this week in the Heritage Centre Carlingford, where the speakers will include Tim Pat Coogan, James Quinn, Brendan O Cathaoir and John Dunlop, each of whom in his own way is an authority on the life and times of the leading figures from that most influential period of Irish history.
Sunshine & Oranges
‘Sunshine and oranges’ … what was promised to the ‘orphan’ children who were seized and exported to the antipodes to become victims of abuse. There is an excellent film of the name just released and there follows a review: then a tribute to the Newry children who suffered this fate.
1996 St Clare’s Avenue
Margaret McAteer and Mary Rose Sheridan in St Clare’s Avenue many moons ago,…
Train memories
I thought it a good idea, good enough to share with you. If the notion of the 36 mile round trip by bicycle to Portadown deters you, how about halving it? If you’re my age and have the Smartpass…
Drama Festival: the results
The really good news from Newry Drama Festival is that local group Newpoint (who presented the excellent ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’) is through to the Ulster Finals at the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey in a month’s time.