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I wish I could remember the day better but for whatever reason it has moved to an inaccessible part of my brain at present, hopefully to return when I'm old and grey, in the way we hear about older people re-living their youth as if it was the present. Perhaps I will start singing along with Bishop Casey on my 100th birthday!
The thirtieth of September 1979 was OUR day, or that's how it seemed. The Polish Pope John Paul II now St John Paul II had just been made pope the year earlier and had journeyed to Ireland as the very first pope ever to give us a shout.
I had been born just after Pope John XXIII had died and just before his successor Pope Paul VI was elected so calling down to see a Pope called John Paul was most appropriate.
The hazy bits I do remember are sitting freezing cold in the middle of the night at the Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway (it seemed to be in the stands, but whether it was or not I may never know).
Us young ones had been transported in a minibus from Loughgilly Parish, myself from Tullyherron end. Every parish in the country had put on buses in the same way thousands would go to Slane and it certainly did have a pop concert feel
When you remember the 'warm up act' was Bishop Eamonn Casey and Fr Michael Cleary singing 'Bind us Together' it really did sum it all up. Things would never be the same again ...
We arrived in total darkness with a great feeling of excitment and anticipation of what the day would bring.
When the Popes big red helicopter eventually did come hovering over us, the noise from the crowd was incredible.
During the Homily when Pope John Paul II uttered the words "I believe in Youth" as far as I was concerned he had said "I believe in YOU" Iit really did seem to my 16 year old self that he was telling me that personally and it felt incredible.
When that was followed by "Young People of Ireland - I Love You" the excitement level could not have got any higher. I can still remember the feeling of being part of something amazing and unrepeatable, and when the resulting applause went on, and on, and on, and on, and on ... we were sending Pope John Paul II the very same message back.
The famous Popemobile set out on it's journey through the crowd and all was well with the world.
Looking at the photographs I took on that day with my Kodak Instamatic, I'd like to think my photography has improved a little!?
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Opinion
It's sometimes hard to work out at what stage of development the promised 15 acre Park at the Albert Basin in Newry is at! Has everyone really bought in to it?
Surely at a time when Newry appears to be 'on the up' it's the time for our officials and representatives to be 'blowing their trumpet' and shouting from the rooftops about this wonderful pending project, a game-changer for Newry City. No doubt the new Theatre complex and Civic centre have their supporters but on a scale of what's popular with the people of Newry there can only be one winner and that is the long awaited and long deserved park.
The provision of a beautiful park, a jewel in the crown of historic Newry is supported virtually unanimiously by the electorate and loved universally by all from baby's in arms to sprightly 95 year olds, though when it comes to those in charge it appears to be "The love that dare not speak its name"
How do we work that out you might ask? After all just on Monday of this week Council voted to approve the appointment of consultants - but where was the press statement from any of our Newry elected representatives praising and highlighting that hopefully significant step?
In a promotion in this months Agenda NI magazine with the hook "Small City - Big Vision" the Albert Basin Park was mentioned a total of zero times and unfortunately that's not unusual! The magazine article talks about the council's "ambitious regeneration strategy for growth and investment" and adds "The council's Regeneration and investment plan is a direct response to an assessment of need for the city and it is driven by the Council's vision of reinvigorating the historical core of the City Centre, with benefits to the wider District"
The article mentions the proposed Theatre and Conference faclities, the proposed Civic Hub and the proposed Southern Relief Road but alas not the proposed Albert Basin Park.
It's just one of many public proclaimations by Council in recent times about upcoming visionary projects in Newry that just happened to not mention the park, either carelessly or on purpose, you can decide that one yourself.
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OPINION
How have we got to the stage where officials in Newry, Mourne and Down Council and the Department for Infrastructure state that the ‘preferred’ option for the Southern Relief Road Bridge over Newry Canal is for a fixed bridge (Link Here) when just a few years ago in 2012 a Narrow Water Bridge planning document* stated that they intended to attract 90 vessels a year including tall ships.
A fixed bridge will ruin forever Newry’s chance of having visits by Tall Ships such as the Jeanie Johnston, Soteria, Artemis, Thalassa, Volharding, Johanna Lucretia, La Malouine and many more who have visited in the past.
In the 2012 Louth County Council report it said
"A major design consideration for the Narrow Water Bridge is that it should open to facilitate the passage of marine vessels including tall ships.
"Newry and Mourne District Council have made a significant investment in Victoria Lock in recent years with the intention of attracting up to 90 vessels a year to the Newry Ship Canal and the Albert Basin. In light of this investment, the proposed Narrow Water Bridge should at least be able to accommodate any vessel heading for the Albert Basin"
WHAT HAS CHANGED in 8 Years?
Half a million was spent on Victoria Lock just 4 years ago, lets use it.
Bring on the 90 vessels we say. What a spectacle that would be ...
* Louth County Council Narrow Water Bridge Report
OPINION
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BLOG
Today is Candlemas Day, a day the Catholic Church marks 40 days after the birth of Christ when he was presented in the temple, and candles are blessed in Churches throughout the world
Anyway it reminded me of a strange happening many moons ago and only I was at the Dominican at 12.15 with Fr Ralph I wouldn't even have known today was Candlesmas Day.
To give you the background, I was brought up ten miles from Newry at a place called Mavemacullen in the Parish of Loughgilly. Our incredible house is hundreds of years old and in family folklore it was known as 'The Priests House'
With the background out of the way, roll the clock forward to the 1980's and it's an ordinary Sunday morning and Columba's lying on to the very last second in bed.
Mum and Dad are waiting in the car to take us all to 11.30 Mass in Tullyherron and as usual I'm running late, (probably only in bed from 6 or 7 after a night out in Tivolis in Dundalk or suchlike). I get myself together and legging it down our stairs, at a turn in the stairs I got a distinct strong smell of snuffed out candles - even though no candles had been lit in the house since Christmas.
On telling my Dad, his explanation/ logic was that as it was Candlesmas Day (again it wouldn't have hit my radar!) and there were no blessed candles in the house, this was a reminder to get some! I remember coming home from Mass running up the stairs to check for the smell but it was gone.
In 1966 my Granny wrote a poem about our house mentioning a story told about her own Granny/ Great Granny over a hundred years earlier in 1844 - "She it was who told of a day when they tumbled an old mud wall – and then at once they all stood silent until they understood the look in each other’s eyes and knew that all alike smelt incense."
Perhaps it all is coincidence, perhaps there is a logical explanation to it all. Who knows!
Anyway if anyone has any similar stories or unexplained happenings in your life/ family life Newry.ie would love to hear from you either via the comments here or by email to news@newry.ie
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BLOG
Just like the rubbish in Newry Canal yesterday seen in the photograph below, the Covid-19 pandemic has the capacity to overwhelm us with negativity and doom and gloom but it does no harm to stop for a moment and reflect, that just as in the photograph, even though there is a lot of horible incessant Covid-19 clutter in our lives at the minute there is still beauty all around.
In fact we know only too well that it is in a time of crisis that the best is brought out in people. You really can choose to concentrate on the beautiful swans rather than the litter.
Yesterday we took our regular walk down the Newry Canal towpath and it was obvious to see that numbers using the facility have increased incredibly in the past few days, the young lads, the couples, the parents with prams, the dog walkers, the solo 'clear the headers', the cyclists, all out in force.
What was noticible was that everyone said hello and had a smile. It's like 'we are all in this together so lets help each other get through this together!'
There is nothing like a walk in the fresh air to calm the mind and thankfully even though Newry leisure facilities are closed there is still plenty of options available, from the towpath to the greenway to just walking the roads if you wish.
The towpath from WIN Business Park in Newry gives you a chance to get away from the noise of the moment.
Yesterday during our walk we have never seen so many Robins in the hedgerows, the Swans were gliding gracefully along the canal without a care in the world.The ducks were out oblivious to their culinary popularity and the birds were singing - all the simple things in life that really do uplift us.
One young fella was practising his tree climbing skills and doing pretty well, others were catching up on the crack and getting that important exercise.
It's only beginning but it is essential that everyone gets into a routine of taking time out each day and get away from the 'noise' Leaving the mobile phone at home just for an hour will do no harm whatsover.
Already local organisations and businesses are stepping up to help as their day to day activities or work literally go down the tubes.
We are certain that this is only the beginning of a concerted Newry community effort.
Please feel free to share with us the good news locally and we will share with all. Our email is news@newry.ie
100 Free Meals a Day
The Merchant Bar and Grill in Francis Street like many other hospitality businesses has closed for the forseeable future but they have decided to keep their kitchen staff to prepare 100 free meals a day for those in the Newry area over the age of 65 who may be self isolating. The initiative starts today and they already have all their slots filled with people collecting the meals from 4pm today.
Bosco Foodbank
St John Bosco GAC Club is also planning to set up a foodbank from this Saturday in the Bosco Social Club, Water Street.
The suggestion is that while you are doing your shopping buy a few items to donate to a foodbank which is going to be set up within the Social Club in Water Street. Damian & Eamonn are going to co-ordinate the club initiative from there.
Starting this Saturday they will be in the Social Club to collect any foodstuffs from 12noon to 3pm. Also, you can leave with them names/addresses/contact numbers of people who would appreciate a bit of help at this time. Also, if you can help out with the deliveries please let them know.
Examples of non-perishable items to donate include teabags, coffee, sugar, cereals, toothpaste, toilet roll, kitchen roll, nappies, wipes, soap, disinfectant, paracetamol, tinned fuit/vegetables, jam/marmalade, biscuits, sweets, sauces, dried pasta, pet food. (This is not an exhaustive list so use your own discretion when shopping)
As they add on their post there is no pressure to be put on anyone "This is a voluntary scheme for our members so please don't feel under any pressure to donate. We will keep you posted as we go along with regular updates as we want to keep the foodbank in operation for as long as it is needed."
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With all the discussion going on regarding proposed Department for Infrastructure changes to the layout of Newry City centre to facilitate social distancing and encourage more walking and cycling, Newry.ie thought there was no better time to produce a suggested route for a cycle/ walking route that would connect the entrance to Newry Canal Towpath beside WIN Business Park to Carlingford Lough Greenway at the entrance to the Albert Basin.
The suggested route embraces several Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Masterplans which have suggested a green lung for the city between Newry Canal and the Clanrye River. We have kept away from the walkway along Merchants Quay, specifically to contribute towards creating a new route in the city which would tie in with past Masterplan aims and give free access to all parts of the city.
The Newry City Centre Masterplan in October 2011 proposed a waterfront park between the two waterways all the way from Sugar Island to the Albert Basin "A key component of this would be the relocation of car parking away from canal and riverside locations, thereby freeing up space for parkland and recreational use. Alternative parking locations would be identified as part of masterplan proposals for gateway locations."
The Route
Our route travels from the Newry Canal towpath down Canal Quay to its junction with New Street where it takes left and then immediate right into Basin Quay, followed by an immediate left down Basin Walk and all the way down to Sugar Island.
From here it takes a route straight across to Bank Parade making use of the existing path between Newry Town Hall and the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre leading out on to Needham Bridge. On Needham Bridge it's straight across past Newry Bus Centre all the way down to Mill Street. Straight Across again through Canal Bank car park down to William Street and again straight across to the Carlingford Lough Greenway.
Benefits of the route
Challenges
The route overall does not have any insurmountable challenges. Probably the most difficult part of it would be the Canal Quay section and the section passing Newry Bus Station.
Crossings are always a challenge but in several cases, specifically at Needham Bridge, Mill Street and William Street/ Bridge Street existing traffic lights could be relatively easily re-alligned to make crossings more straightforward.
Edit 26/5/20 - Addition
Present proposed plans for the new Theatre and Arts Facility at Newry Town Hall and Sean Hollywood Arts Centre would block access to the path at the rear for cyclists but walkers could use during opening hours. If this design proceeds the present footpath at the other side of the Town Hall would need to be used and adapted.
Click on images below and use the arrows to progress through the route.
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Opinion
While we are all emerging out of the first part of the Covid-19 crisis, I'm concerned that Newry is going to be left behind, with progressive plans being implemented elsewhere, and that when the dust settles, absolutely nothing will have changed.
I really don't want to get back to 'normal'. Normal wasn't actually that wonderful when you delve into it a little.
Always rushing, consume, consume, consume and throw away; road's before people, no park, shopping many people's only exercise, no will to capitalise on our fantastic canal, nightlife dying on its feet.
We need people in power with big ideas for Newry City and the willingness of everyone to embrace or at least willing to try change.
Nichola Mallon, Minister for Department For Infrastructure promised when she appointed her new Walking and Cycling champion “I want to increase the space available for people who want to walk and cycle by extending pavements, pedestrianising streets and introducing pop up cycle lanes." - And guess what! Almost two months later, not one thing has changed in Newry City. A month ago the minister said the next phase would see a roll out in Derry and Newry. Well Derry has seen changes but Newry still waits... and waits!
A statement from DFI to Newry.ie this week said regarding facilitating active travel options locally. "it is hoped that this can be done in the coming weeks.”
If its not Broke
As one person said on our Newry.ie Facebook page suggestion of having one day car free in Newry City "If it's not broke don't fix it" but that's the exact problem, It actually is broke though many don't seem to be able to see that. Just look at Hill Street. Like streets in many other towns it hasn't been thriving for years, so obviously doing the same old thing isn't working. It's been suggested for years there needs to be a culture cultivated of 'living above the shop' and Council seem to agree but yet nothing has been done, and yes, new pavement cafe/ bar provision could also help to return life. Of course that might need an element of lost car park spaces.
We still haven't enough green space to breathe in. Our new park at the Albert Basin is still a good bit away. Nightlife has been on the decline before Covid, Newry's bars have found recent years challenging, Nightclub's have gone. A difficulty for Newry bars compared to those in other locations is the distance between them all. Like shoe shops the best place to have a bar is beside another bar. What about a mini 'Temple Bar' like street purposely re-jigged to be a centre for bars, restaurants and cafes with a level of pedestrianisation. Existing bars in other parts of town could have first refusal of units.
As for cycling and to a lesser extent walking, Newry is NOT a safe place. Why has this not been changed already? As I cycle up Canal Street I've two options, cycle on the road where irate drivers rush to get past leaving little or no space or I cycle on the footpath and pedestrians complain. Would you send your children to school, or down the street to the shops on their bikes and feel that they were safe? Well you SHOULD be able to!
The Facebook post mentioned above, that just dared to suggest that one day in the 'foreseeable future' we might have a day when walkers and cyclists could claim their city was generally laughed out of court "All the people with mobility problems will have to stay out of Newry that day" and "daft idea" or "Lads use your heads" and "There's hardly any parking as it is" were just some of the replies.
This regardless of the fact that Newry has much more parking than green space and indeed has probably more parking than any comparable sized development in the world.
I look forward to having our car free day soon, perhaps the full length of Monaghan Street or the full length of Hill Street.
When we were in Kyiv in March, a city of three million they had closed off their main thoroughfare to traffic on a Sunday evening. Children were able to run around with their toys and sit on the road while grown ups stood and chatted or had a coffee but hey it couldn't happen in Newry!
*Inspired by Jennifer O'Connell's 'Re-imagining Ireland's Cities' article in the Weekend Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com
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Opinion
Ireland's Only City Without a Park will still have that not so impressive title in 2024 and possibly a lot longer unless those making the decisions decide to speed things along, because you know, it's sort of important for a lot of people!
Emerging news that it would be 2024 before work will possibly start on the Albert Basin Park Site in Newry is hard to take in, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when open spaces or rather the lack of them in Newry is a disaster evident for all to see. Now is the time. Newry residents are crying out for some green space in the city they call home.
The Albert Basin Park Project, an of-shoot of Newry 2020 who have been campaigning for the city park since 2014 announced yesterday that a timeline produced at a Park Task and Finish Meeting this week stated that no work would be done on the site until 2024 at the earliest - A full ten years after the group started campaigning!
Alarm Bells
Alarm bells are beginning to ring. Young Skateboarders campaigned tirelessly for a Skatepark in Newry 20 Years Ago, something that they were led to believe they could get, but 20 years later and young no longer the Skatepark still hasn't materialised. Is this the route that our Newry City Park is going down?
Every political representative, almost without exception calls the park a priority for Newry but words are cheap - Dreams Need Action and Action does speak much louder than words.
It's nearly 3 years since every single councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down Council voted and agreed unanimously to provide a 15 acre public park at the Albert Basin. Today I feel that the project is being delayed at every turn. Even the important Task and Finish meetings are only held four times a year ... for a project that everyone is supposed to be taking seriously.
One positive movement forward in the middle of the gloom is a public consultation which will help shape how the park looks, is now complete and the draft results have been shared with the task and finish group, but even those results have to go before a meeting in September for approval and then have to wait for the council meeting in October for Final Approval.
Finance never has and never will be an issue for building this park. Funding for these type of projects comes from a cocktail of organisations with most likely the council having to pay 10% or under of the total cost.
All that is really stopping the project is the genuine will to do it by those entrusted with the ownership of the Albert Basin on behalf of us!
Three years after a park was agreed there is absolutely NO REASON the the site could not be used as a location for a Pop Up Park - A way to show us lot that Council are genuinely serious about providing the facility.
Why are we Waiting
Please everyone lobby your local representatives to get this essential project speeded up. If any of you have any suggestions how us mere mortals can help make the park happen quicker, we would love to hear from you.
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When us lot at Newry.ie published our "Newry 2020 - A Vision for our City's Future" post way back in November 2013 we could never have imagined the year we choose for our 'vision' was going to be one of the most difficult years Newry residents have ever experienced. Yes the arrival of the reality of Covid-19 in March changed many things but we won't dwell on that.
Back in 2013 we were filled with optimism for our city - We still are! The post was basically a 'shopping list' of 19 items for Newry. We could see endless possibilities and in truth perhaps we were a bit frustrated that many of these possibilities weren't reality!
So how did we get on with our list of 'to do's' Well thanks to separate approaches a few months later from Newry men Neil Bradley and Brian Cleland, who saw the benefit of actually doing something about what we suggested, rather than just writing about it, the community organisation Newry 2020 was formed and it quickly got to work on projects.
Over the years the group has attracted an incredibly talented bunch of people. We would love to mention names as they really do deserve it but for fear of leaving just one person out, we are best not, and anyway not one of the talented 'brains of the operation' is in it for recognition, rather they are driven by passion!
A Public Park for Newry
Wish No 15: "A Park, yes a Park. We need a park. Someone work out where to put it! Albert Basin might be a suggestion."
So said our list. And so it passed, Newry 2020's first and most important campaign was to get a public park in Newry for 2020. Sadly the wheels of progress have been incredibly slow and while the park isn't built yet the wheels are still very much in motion.
Convincing Newry, Mourne and Down Council to unanimously agree to build a 15 Acre park at the derelict Albert Basin site was an incredibly tedious and exasperating process but Newry 2020 got there in December 2017 and the future looked bright. Sadly things have moved at a snails pace since, but there are some grounds for optimism in 2021.
The project is now part of the Newry City Centre Regeneration project. A project board meeting is due to meet in January and it is then when we will see if Newry, Mourne and Down Council are genuinely serious about building the 'peoples' park or whether they want to 'kick the can' down the road to some future date. Proof that they are serious will see the provision of around £1.5M in the 2021 Rates and a full design team appointed forthwith. The clock is ticking and Councillors promised back in 2017 to have the park completed by the end of this council term, which falls in 2023 so there is no time to waste!
Smash the Shutter
Wish 6: "Begin a Smash the Shutter Campaign (not literally) with incentives from Council to encourage shops and premises to get rid of their pre ceasefire monstrosities or at least to leave their shop windows on view without shutters till Midnight as a starter. That alone would brighten up Hill Street amazingly. Don't be afraid, we have CCTV?"
Some inroads have been made towards the normalisation or our city streets but sadly shutters still rule!
Grounded, Finegan and Son, Rafferty & Co Solicitors, South Down Dental Clinic and Best Property Services (occasionally) are leading the way. Hopefully the new decade will see many more help to brighten our streets and give people a reason to stroll down them at night.
Festivals
Wish 11: "Oktoberfest and Pride in Newry should become week long festivals attracting people from far and wide."
Pride in Newry in 2019 was an incredible festival, with a massive concert taking place at the Albert Basin. Oktoberfest returned with Seamus Rafferty in charge and the fun was palpable.
Early on Newry 2020 decided to create signature festivals for Newry. Iúr Cinn Fleadh was born in 2014, bringing world class trad, folk and other music to Newry for a weekend in September. With the help of Silvery Light Sailing the fleadh also helped re-invigourate Newry Canal with a series of musical sailings every year. Iúr Cinn Fleadh has went from strength to strength and although it didn't happen physically in 2020 along with many others, a Virtual fleadh is in the pipeline in the next few weeks.
The Festival of Windows was also produced by Newry 2020 and saw displays of art in shop windows the length of Hill Street in the city, with street art demonstrations from incredibly talented artists. Festival of Windows has so much potential and again gives another reason for people to visit Hill Street in Newry. An important addition to the arts provision in Newry.
There is so much potential for many more festival events in Newry, although it will be a few years before things settle down again, now is probably the time for people to plan them.
New Arts Facility
Wish 13: "The renewal of the Arts in Newry with a new arts facility we can all be proud of, possibly as the Newry Masterplan envisaged i.e. the Town Hall connected with an aerial walkway to the Arts Centre thus making the two one. We do know that our council need to invest many thousands into the Arts here. Armagh Market Place have at least one event on each night with plenty of notice on what's coming up. Why can't we have that in Newry?"
Thankfully as part of the Council's Newry City Centre Regeneration project, plans are advancing for a wonderful new arts facility that will really revitalise the arts in Newry.
Pubs with Character
Wish 12: "We need pubs with character. Ireland is visited by tourists as much for the crack as for anything else. In Newry we have the characters in abundance, we just need the locations to be more proactive in attracting people beyond their regulars. Immediately springing to mind would be a Bar with hundreds of beers of the world or every Irish Whiskey under the sun, even a bar that brews it's own and sells all known Irish Craft Beers - a unique selling point in other words. Bring back the old traditional pub with snugs and music filling the air."
Back in 2013 we could never have imagined that many of our local pubs would remain closed for most of a year but that is what has happened. In fact in Newry, at least two of these most likely will never open again. In the past few years several local pubs have really raised the standard in Newry. The Brass Monkey/ Ginger Janes with their wonderful outdoor/ indoor areas; Brilliant Beer Gardens there and in Magees, Nan Rices, The Bridge, The Bank, Working Mans Club, Railway Bar. The Bridge certainly brought a massive selection of craft beers to the table. All of this forward planning will most certainly stand them all in good stead when things begin to improve for the sector.
Newry 2020 has also been involved in clean ups and Plantings along with Newry BID. Funding from Newry, Mourne and Down Council was essential for many projects. The group also have a Smart Newry project deploying sensors around the city to help gain a better knowledge of the area. Check it out at SMARTNEWRY.COM
While this is a post biased towards the Newry 2020 group it should be noted that many other individuals and organisations are also selflessly working away at improving Newry City for both residents and visitors. One of the best additions to our city in recent years has been the walkway along Merchant's Quay and the Carlingford Lough Greenway section to Victoria Lock. Hopefully the coming decade will see Newry reach its full potential.
Many other things in our shopping list of 19 items are also beginning to materialise and give cause for optimism in a time when it certainly is in short supply. Check out the full list in our original post here WWW.NEWRY.IE
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