Write a commentMicheal Canavan with one of the cameras used to film the footage on show at the night of Newry nostalgia. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
There's not many events where the punters are turned away due to the venue being full but that was the case last week for the debut of a film compiled by the late Sean Canavan.
Entitled 'Looking Back - A film of old Newry by the late Sean Canavan' it was always going to be a popular one. The event was organised by Sean's son Micheal at the Newry Conference and Banqueting Centre last Wednesday 14 August but long before the event was due to start it was apparent that everyone was not going to be able to get in. All is not lost though as Micheal has announced that he has sourced a larger venue with a new date to be announced asap.
Speaking of the event Micheal Canavan said "Daddy could always pack a hall, he can still do it!" A lot of the film was based around 1924 and clips included an annual children's outing to Cranfield, Cardinal Logue and the Holy Family Confraternity and pupils at the Carstands school.
Standing room only for the old Newry film.
An interview with Hill Street shopkeeper Minnie Ward many years ago proved extremely popular. It was interesting to hear her talk about how things have changed "and not for the best" she exclaimed "They've no time for you now". Something that perhaps every generation thinks about the changes they have experienced!
Other popular clips showed the Flagstaff Walk and the Newry Canal Bathtub Race, two events that are sorely missed for the City's event calendar.
A highlight of the night was Charlie Smyth sitting in the front row watching himself doing a sketch with Sean Canavan.
Nostalgia doesn't come any better than old steam train footage and so it was that several clips from 1964 showed the Newry to Warrenpoint train in operation, with Edward Street Station and Dublin Bridge on the map. Perhaps there was a bit of sadness in the audience at what we have lost. The train line from Newry to Warrenpoint on one side and from Newry to Greenore on the other if present today would be marketed as two of the most picturesque railway lines on the planet.
Bishop Carroll returning from Rome also was incredible footage with the Bishop driven around the town in an open topped car.
Bringing proceedings right up to the present and alluding to the future were several clips showing recent use of Newry Ship Canal and the slogan 'No Fixed Bridge' denouncing the proposed plan by our areas custodians the Department for Enterprise and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to block access by tall ships and yachts to Newry's historic waterway.
The Newry.ie take-away from the event was that much has changed for Newry in a short 100 years. Many parts of the city have been lost forever to future residents and we don't seem to have learned by our mistakes. Looking out from the window of the Conference Centre across to the beautiful old buildings lying derelict along Merchants Quay and our neglected canal, there's a slight air of despair and hopelessness at where Newry currently is. Looking across the past is still there and it can easily be part of our future, but is the will to make that happen there? We are not sure it is!
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