Subway Exhibition showcases Newry Through the Years

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Michael Mallon recalls one of his photographs in the Newry Through the Years gallery which involved him leaning out from the top of St Mary's Church in John Mitchel Place. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

An Exhibition with a difference has opened up in Newry. Newry Through the Years was launched on Thursday 10 February in the subway behind Newry Cathedral.

Compiled by Kerri Morrow and Teddy Fearon it features a wonderful selection of photographs from the city's talented photographers past and present. Some of the scenes are long gone such as Upper Water Street and many depict what people would see as a simpler era in the town when everyone knew everyone else and a traffic jam involved two vehicles!

Newry is a city rich in cultural and historical features and the fantastic photography featured shows it in all its glory from the early 1900's into the first decade or so of 2000.

The story of 120 years of Newry was the inspiration of Threeways Community Association who wanted to improve the visual appearance of the North Street underpass in the centre of the city, to make the space more attractive and welcoming for local people.

The committee commissioned photographs which depict the changing landscape of the city, growing from a small merchant town to the city status it now has.

The photographs have been transferred onto story boards and fixed to the wall along the underpass; people walking through can now follow the history of Newry through the years.

Councillor Charlie Casey, Chair of Newry District Electoral (DEA) Forum, who attended the launch of the story board project said, “The residents of Newry are so proud of our history; the beautiful architectural buildings, the waterways and the people. This project tells the story in a visual way and I am delighted to attend the launch today. I would like to thank the local photographers who so generously donated their photographs for use on the story boards. This project will keep the history of Newry alive for generations.”

The project was funded through contributions from a number of sources; appreciation for their part in the completion of the project goes to Newry Business Improvement District (BID), Department for Communities, Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Good Relations Programme. .