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The Old Newry Society has looked back on their successful year of talks and events, which culminated in the unveiling of three plaques marking the area's contribution to flour milling and paying tribute to a firefighter killed in action. The year's programme covered subjects including tenant purchases after partition, the landlord George Hill, WW1 in poetry and prose, the history of printing and the trials of Patrick Pearse and James Craig.
The former Clanrye Mill at Canal Quay in Newry, now run by Fane Valley, was first to receive a plaque, unveiled on the day by Patrick Savage, chairman at Fane Valley, and Peter Sinclair of the Sinclair Trust, who was the instigator of the plaques being erected. The Old Newry Society thanked Canon Francis. Brown, who granted permission for the next two plaques to be erected on pillars of the Newry Cathedral Garden, part of the site of the former Newry Flour Mill. The mill was destroyed in a massive fire on 8 December 1910, in which firefighter James Fegan lost his life.
Thanks were also extended to Siobhan Burns, who provided floral decorations for both plaques, Cora Harrington, whose artistic depiction of the fire was used for publicity, and Mary Rodgers of Saints & Scholars, who represented the businesses currently occupying the site. The third plaque, arranged by James Patterson, was unveiled with much ceremony by the FBU in tribute to their fallen colleague, James Fegan.
Looking ahead, the Society said it was pleased to continue offering talks of local historic interest in the coming year, with subjects to include Newry's involvement in slavery, Newry architect W.J. Barre, The Savoy Cinema in its heyday, Rails around Newry, The Mournes in history and photography, Smuggling during WW2 and Newry's firefighters down the years.
Details for all talks will follow later in the year.
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