Remembering Newry Town Clerk Gerald Cronin

The Cronin link with local government in Newry continued after the death of William Cronin, who had served as town clerk of Newry for almost four decades, when his nephew Gerald took over the role in 1947. Over 43 years in local government, he served as assistant town clerk, and was town clerk for over 30 years.

Many notable achievements were completed during his tenure. In the post-war period more than 1,500 new homes were provided and major improvements, such as the installation of bathrooms in the Council’s pre-war housing were carried out. Flooding in the west of the town was alleviated by the construction of a dam in Rooney’s Meadow (now Jennings Park playing fields). The Clanrye river was also cleaned and retaining walls were built, with shrubs and trees planted along its banks. 

Many redevelopment schemes were completed, notably in the North Street / Water Street area and the new dual carriageway at Abbey Way, made possible by vesting all the properties from Trevor Hill to William Street. Three modern bridges were constructed over the canal and a footbridge over the river. 

In 1951, Newry had the distinction of being the first town in the British Isles to be completely lighted with fluorescent street lamps. Representations were also made to ensure the new harbour would be sited at Warrenpoint and that the town would be provided with a modern hospital building at Daisyhill.

Recognition for these achievements were rewarded when he was honoured with an MBE in the New Year Honours List in 1968.

In the early 1970s Newry was gaining a reputation as one of the most progressive towns in Ireland. The advent of the Troubles halted the progress as the Council dealt with damage and destruction, including the burning of the Town Hall, when Mr Cronin was ordered to lie face down on the stairs as bombs were being planted upstairs and in the hallway.

In 1973 he oversaw the reorganisation of the local urban and rural district councils into the newly formed Newry & Mourne District Council, taking on a new title of District Development Officer. 

Outside of his civic duties Gerald Cronin was a member of Greenore Golf Club, and a keen supporter of local charities. In 1942 he was one of 21 founder members of Newry Bachelors’ Club, whose main purpose was to “promote romance and encourage marriage”. To help achieve this goal, an annual dance was organised every February, with the money raised going to local charities. Renowned throughout Ireland for the excellence of their dances, in 1948, so numerous were the applications for tickets that nearly one thousand pounds had to be returned to people who had applied too late, as the dance sold out weeks before the event. Over 500 attended the seventh annual dance in 1949 in Newry Town Hall, where dancers attended from Dublin, Waterford, Limerick and Cork.

When a member married, he received £10 from the club’s ‘Marriage Fund’. By 1948 only nine of the original members remained a bachelor. On his marriage to Sheila Devenish-Meares in December of that year, he relinquished his membership of the club and his role as Chairman. 

As the club developed, a newspaper, the Bachelors’ Press was produced, and a male voice choir was formed. More annual charity events were organised – a party was held for the children from the Mercy Home on the Saturday before Christmas and a popular reunion dinner was also held every November. 

Gerald Cronin retired from Newry and Mourne District Council in 1978, receiving warm tributes and a scroll signed by colleagues past and present and a portable television. He died at the age of 79 in August 1993. 

Newry and Mourne Museum offers free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00pm. To book call their Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.

The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am – 4.30pm. For further information email: museums@nmandd.org or visit www.visitmournemountains.co.uk