From Apothecary Ads to Mountain Views: A Century of Local Calendars

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, we turn the page, literally and figuratively, on another year. For centuries, calendars have been our way of making sense of time, anchoring us to seasons, celebrations, and daily routines. But beyond their practical purpose, calendars tell stories: of businesses, communities, and changing ways of life. At Newry and Mourne Museum, a fascinating collection of calendars offers a glimpse into how our district has marked time through the decades.

Calendars have been central to human life for millennia. Early societies relied on the cycles of the moon and sun to track seasons for farming and festivals. The Roman calendar evolved into the Julian system in 45 BCE, later refined into the Gregorian calendar we use today, introduced in 1582 to correct seasonal drift. Over time, calendars became more than timekeepers, they became cultural artifacts, reflecting art, commerce, and community life and the collection at Newry and Mourne Museum includes many locally produced calendars that offer a snapshot of life in the district at the time of their creation.

One of the oldest examples dates back to 1891. Produced by Connors’s Apothecary and Dispensing Chemist - founded in 1826 by Dr Patrick Conor - the calendar features a drawing of the premises and a list of goods sold, including “genuine drugs and chemicals.” These calendars were distributed to households as an early form of marketing, combining utility with advertising.

Other treasures include visitor guides from 1912 and the 1920s, which often incorporated calendars. These guides became popular in the early 20th century as tourism grew, offering businesses a chance to advertise to locals and visitors alike. The 1912 guide covers Newcastle, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor, listing railway and coach times, postal details, and church services. Interestingly, its calendar runs only from May to October - clearly aimed at the tourist season.

The 1924 guide was part of a series produced by J.W. Harding & Co. of Nottingham during the 1920s and 1930s for towns across Britain and Ireland. Each guide included an Ordnance Survey map, a three-year calendar, and local advertisements. At least two editions were published for Newry, featuring ads such as Willis’s Bakery with the slogan “Look Here! I Say!! Eat Willis Bread,” Patrick Lynch’s cabinet-making business at Buttercrane Quay, and Stapleton’s Academy, which prepared students for “civil service exams, banks, railways, professional prelims and college entrances.”

The most recent calendars in the museum’s collection are the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) calendars, celebrating the Mournes, Ring of Gullion, and Strangford and Lecale. The winning images of a local photography competition feature in the calendar  - in the 2025 edition, compiled from the 2024 competition, Evan Boyce claimed first place with his striking image Murlough Driftwood. Second place went to Enda Quinn for The Misty Three at Killeavy, while Rowen Gallagher won the Under-18 category with a black-and-white shot of Binnian and Wee Binnian in the Mournes.

From ancient sun charts to glossy photo spreads, calendars have always been more than a way to count days - they are windows into our past and present. Whether advertising local businesses in 1891 or showcasing breathtaking landscapes in 2025, these timekeepers remind us that while the years may change, our connection to place and community endures.

The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422. 

Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.

Visit their website at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk