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A former boarder at St Colman's College has written an open letter in support of keeping the Sean Hollywood name on the new Theatre Conference centre at Bank Parade in the city. Diarmuid McKeown was a pupil at the school in the 60's and he says that there should be an exception made to the Councils policy of not naming buildings or sites after people.
He fondly remembers Sean Hollywood as an excellent teacher who shared his passion and inspired his pupils.
To the people of Newry and the wider Newry, Mourne and Down District and beyond
I recently learned of the campaign to retain Sean Hollywood's name on Newry's new Arts Centre. The news brought back some wonderful memories of a man who, more than half a century ago, made a lasting impression on me.
I was a full-time boarder at St Colman's College, Newry, from 1964 until 1971. Sean Hollywood was my English teacher during my later years there, and I remember him with enormous affection and admiration.
Sean was much more than an excellent teacher of English literature. He had a passion for poetry, drama and the theatre, and, perhaps more importantly, a remarkable ability to communicate that enthusiasm to his pupils.
Two memories in particular have remained with me throughout my life.
The first is of seeing Sean perform with the Newpoint Players in Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! It was quite an experience to see one's English teacher transformed into a character on stage. His involvement in theatre was not simply an extracurricular interest. It was an essential part of who he was.
My second recollection is rather more personal, and one which has stayed with me for some fifty-seven years.
Around 1969, Sean arranged to take a small group of us, three or four boys, to a performance in Newry by the celebrated Irish actor Micheál Mac Liammóir. It was his celebrated one-man show The Importance of Being Oscar.
I particularly remember,the preparation for our outing.
In those days, although St Colman's had an official school uniform, we did not ordinarily wear it. Yet, for this particular occasion, we were each kitted out in a blue college blazer bearing the St Colman's crest on the breast pocket and the accompanying blue-and-white tie.
We were evidently going somewhere important, and we were expected to look the part!
The performance itself was memorable, but what happened afterwards was even more extraordinary and unexpected when Sean took us backstage and introduced us personally to Micheál Mac Liammóir in his dressing room.
At sixteen years of age, I doubt that any of us fully appreciated the significance of meeting one of the great figures of Irish theatre. Mac Liammóir, co-founder of Dublin's Gate Theatre, was already a legendary figure in Irish cultural life.
It was only in later years, reflecting upon that evening, that I came to appreciate what an extraordinary privilege Sean had arranged for us.
And that, to my mind, captures something essential about the man.
Sean Hollywood did not confine education to the classroom. He opened doors. He introduced young people to literature, poetry and the performing arts, not simply as subjects to be studied for examinations, but as experiences to be enjoyed and treasured throughout life.
I know that many other former pupils and lives that he touched throughout Newry and beyond have similar memories of his kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm.
I was delighted to learn that his niece, Councillor Doire Finn, is campaigning to ensure that his name remains associated with Newry's Arts Centre and I have gladly added my signature to the petition.
I understand that the Council adopted a policy in 2020 concerning the naming of public buildings after individuals. Whatever the merits of that policy, I would respectfully suggest that the present circumstances are fundamentally different.
This is not a proposal to confer a new honour by naming a building after someone for the first time. That decision was taken in 2003, when the Arts Centre was named in Sean Hollywood's memory.
What is now proposed is the replacement of an existing cultural facility which has borne his name for more than twenty years.
Surely the continuation of that established name should be distinguished from the naming of an entirely new institution. Even if the Council considers its policy applicable, these circumstances provide a compelling case for an exception.
To remove his name now would be to undo an honour already bestowed, rather than merely decline to bestow a new one.
A community's cultural heritage is not simply a matter of buildings, however impressive or modern they may be. It is also about the people who inspired others, nurtured talent and enriched the lives of those around them.
Sean Hollywood was one of those people.
I would respectfully ask the elected representatives of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to reconsider this matter and find a way of preserving his name in the new Arts Centre.
Nearly six decades after sitting in his classroom, I still remember Sean Hollywood with affection and gratitude. Surely that is as fine a testament to a teacher as one could wish for.
Let us ensure that future generations have the opportunity to know whose name the Arts Centre bears, and why.
Diarmuid McKeown
Former pupil, St Colman's College, Newry
1964–1971
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MLA Paul Frew, Assembly Chairperson, Committee for Justice has written a letter encouraging citizens to share their views on the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill before 25 September.
As Chairperson of the Assembly’s Justice Committee, I am encouraging people across Northern Ireland to share their views on the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill by responding to our Call for Evidence.
The Bill aims to improve the experience of victims and witnesses in our justice system by strengthening their rights as well as improving protections and increasing support for them.
Proposals include the establishment of an independent statutory Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses, enhanced support for victims of serious sexual offences and better safeguards for those affected by hate crime.
The Justice Committee has an important role in scrutinising legislation - and hearing a wide range of views helps us to understand better how proposed laws could affect people in practice.
We want to know whether the Bill goes far enough, what impact it could have and where improvements might be needed. Your experiences and insights can help shape our consideration of this important legislation and contribute to improving support for victims and witnesses in the future.
Behind every case is a person whose life has been affected by crime. That is why it is so important that we hear directly from those with lived experience, as well as from families, community organisations, support services, legal professionals and anyone else with an interest in the issue.
I would encourage anyone with relevant views or experience to take a few moments to respond to our Call for Evidence and make sure their voice is heard.
Our online Call for Evidence is now open and will close on 25 September. You can respond to it at https://lk.cmte.fyi/vandwocbill
Or send your written submissions, comments and evidence to the Justice Committee via email at: victimsandwitnessesofcrimebill@niassembly.gov.uk or write to the Committee Clerk, Room 345, Parliament Buildings, Belfast, BT4 3XX
Kind regards,
Paul Frew MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Justice
Northern Ireland Assembly
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Readers letter from Patrick James White
Hi,
I read your Story on Catherine Byrne/Butterfield with much interest as these name were household names while growing up in Newry. I was born in Upper North Street in 1943. and later moving to Church St. and O'Neill Avenue.
My Father was born in Poyntzpass, Co Armagh. It was Mary Rose Butterfield Garland, Castle St that brought my father to run the funeral home at 21 Lower Water St. Peter McCourt, Water St. was also working in the funeral home. Peter's mother Anne was a sister of my Great grandmother Mary Butterfield McConvill, Bavan, Mayobridge.
As a young boy I was well acquainted with Richard Garland and his wife Mary Roach Garland born in Chicago Illinois. On my many visits at Catherine's Mineral Works, Water St. It was Catherine's stepson who taught my father James White how to row so well as Peter was an expert rower in the Newry Rowing Club. Old Jock White, Warrenpoint baths had many sculls and my father was the only person Jock allowed to row back and forth to Omeath on many summer Sundays with a boat load of us children while my mother remained on shore praying for our safe return.
Catherine's husband Henry Butterfield was the son of James Butterfield & Mary Ryan Mayobridge. I believe James had a whiskey distilling brewery on Water St. later Catherine Boden's property. Had many old chats with Donal O'Donnell Newry Reporter on these Newry related families.
Thank for the Memories.
See the Newry Museum story that started Patrick's reminiscences at Newry Spirit Dealer Catherine Boden
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Dear sir,
Whilst canvassing over the past week, many voters have rightly voiced their anger at a council who seemingly cannot even arrange for their bins to be collected. On each occasion, I try to explain to people that this is part of a wider cultural and political problem within our council. Not unlike Stormont, our council thrives on a culture of division, dysfunction and secrecy – where anyone who tries to speak out publicly is silenced and maligned. After 8 years as a councillor I saw things go from bad to worse as council management, under political cover from Sinn Fein and the SDLP in particular, made decisions to exclude dissenting voices from discussions, cut valued services and facilities and press ahead with expensive pet projects at great expense to the ratepayer. It was particularly galling to learn last week that our CEO is the highest paid Chief Executive in Northern Ireland, yet when it comes to a range of indicators, from planning to enforcement matters, our council often ranks 11th out of 11.
The recent industrial action is a perfect example of our council’s priorities. In late 2021 Council and the unions agreed a pay deal with a number of other conditions. Despite councillors being promised that part of the reason for this year’s rates increase was to service this deal, that agreement remains unfulfilled. After almost 2 years of management intransigence, workers have been left with no alternative than to engage in industrial action, and I stand by their decision to do so. These workers are doing what we all have a responsibility to do – speaking truth to power and standing up to those in positions of authority who have gotten away with their shambolic management of our district council for far too long.
In our council, there can be no doubt that the tail wags the dog. Council management calls the shots and councillors respond by rubber stamping officer’s reports and lambasting anyone who dares challenge (particularly Alliance and Independent councillors). On the rare occasion councillors do begin to voice concerns, they regularly cower under the contrary opinion of expensive consultant’s reports or legal advice keenly tailored to back up management’s original position. In most other council areas, councillors call the shots. But not in Newry, Mourne and Down. The two largest parties in the area, Sinn Fein and SDLP, have failed to provide the leadership and scrutiny required of local elected representatives. Therefore it is vital that all ratepayers use the council election on the 18th May as an opportunity to vote for change. To vote for candidates who will work for them, not council management.
Dr Patrick Brown MLA, MLA for South Down
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As the GCSE and A-Level exams are now in full swing, we know that this can be a difficult time for both children and parents, especially with the effects of the pandemic still being felt. It’s the first time in two years that school children in Northern Ireland have had to sit exams - the pandemic meant that GCSE and A-level examinations were cancelled in both 2020 and 2021. However, last September, some normality returned to the classroom and our volunteer counsellors at Childline have been speaking to lots of anxious children who are worried about their looming tests and results.
Our Childline practitioners delivered 1,734 counselling sessions to children and young people, across the UK, who had concerns about exam stress and revision in 2021/22, which was a 62% rise on the previous year. When talking to Childline counsellors about their upcoming exams this month, children shared that their worries were affecting their mental health, anxiety levels and ability to sleep. Some young people also shared that they were struggling to focus and concentrate, find the motivation to study or were feeling the pressure from parents and teachers.
As a parent, the most important thing you can do is to remind your child they’re not alone. Be supportive and help alleviate any worries by talking to them about their exams positively and praising their hard work. Try not to put unnecessary pressure on your child to achieve high grades and remind them it’s not the end of the world if they don’t get the grades they wanted, as there are always other options open to them. We all want our children to succeed, however our own wants can sometimes be the trigger to these issues, so try to reassure them that everyone’s different and it’s not necessary to compare themselves to friends.
When it comes to revising, try to give your child space and time to do so, and encourage them to take regular breaks, eat snacks and exercise. Try to be relaxed about chores or untidiness and understand they might be moody. If you are worried that your child is struggling this exam season, perhaps talk to their teacher with them about what steps can be taken to help them through this period and what is being done at school to support students.
If they are finding it hard to talk to you, let them know they can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk. The Childline website has a range of support for young people, including a safe and moderated chat area for young people to discuss their concerns with others their own age, and the Calm Zone which has been a great source of support for children and young people during the pandemic.
If you’re a parent or carer with concerns about a young person’s wellbeing in the run-up to or after receiving their exam results, our Helpline is also available to offer guidance and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.
Yours sincerely,
Mairead Monds,
Team Manager, Childline NI
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Sir
Nobody has ever questioned the right and duty of the EU to protect the integrity of its Single Market from unacceptable goods being brought into the Irish Republic across the land border with Northern Ireland. But how much would it matter for that stated purpose whether an unacceptable item was intercepted at Belfast docks, or at the land border itself, or at any point in between?
In principle it matters not at all; in practice it is universally agreed that it would be prudent to keep all checks and controls away from the actual border, while the last option has the distinct advantage that it not only makes it possible to focus just on the imported goods destined for export to the Republic but also covers goods produced in the province for export, which obviously will not be picked up at any point of entry.
Why then is the EU so insistent that its checks and controls must be misdirected to all the goods imported into Northern Ireland, most of which stay in the province and so need not concern the EU, when it should concentrate just on the goods which are being exported to the Republic?
Yours faithfully
Dr D R Cooper
Maidenhead
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Precious Life have responded to an open letter from “Supporting Women Newry” that Newry.ie published earlier this week. In their reply they say that "If one baby is killed by abortion in any health and social care setting, it is one baby too many."
Dear Members of ‘Supporting Women Newry’,
You claim your objection to Precious Life’s protests outside abortion centres is “not about abortion.” You state that “you do not and will not debate” with Precious Life the issue of so-called “termination of pregnancies.”
Therefore, we can only respond on the basis that you are accepting abortion kills babies and hurts women. You have no idea how abortion impacts the emotional and psychological well-being of women. We could arrange meetings for you with many women who are suffering after abortion, but as you “will not debate” we can only presume your refusal means you do not care about them enough to even listen to them.
Precious Life was formed to be a voice for the unborn child. We will always speak out where and whenever the life of a baby is in danger of abortion. We will always debate and highlight the issue, and not be side-lined by nonsensical, and indeed hypocritical arguments that basically say, “you have the right to protest - but stop protesting!”
It must first be stated that Precious Life have the right to protest without fear of intimidation and harassment from the “Supporting Women Newry" Group.
Our placards that state ‘Babies are killed in this building’ could only be ”grossly offensive” to those who don’t want people to know that fact, and would rather it was covered up and kept hidden.
If one baby is killed by abortion in any health and social care setting, it is one baby too many.
The fact that babies are being killed is grossly offensive to us, and to all right-thinking people of Newry. Babies do not deserve this. And what’s more they cannot change any policies or laws within the womb, so we must be their voice.
Also, the hundreds of thousands of people across Northern Ireland who pray regularly will be somewhat bemused (or even offended) by your assertion that praying is “highly objectionable and offensive behaviour.”
People in Northern Ireland are also well used to various protests of one kind or another.
You tell us to take our protest away and go to the places where the politicians gather. We already do hold many protests where politicians gather – especially the pro-abortion politicians from Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance.
But babies are not being killed where politicians gather. Therefore, first and foremost, we go to the places where the babies are killed.
Telling us to take our protests away is, at best contradictory, at worst, hypocritical. You object to Precious Life. You have the right to protest about it. And you show your objection by protesting on the road opposite us. You protest at the ‘place’ of your objection.
Likewise, we protest at the 'place' of our objection – the abortion centres where babies are killed.
In conclusion, we appeal to you to stop your weekly protests against Precious Life’s work to protect unborn babies. We appeal to you to help us support women in Newry who are struggling with an unexpected pregnancy. We appeal to you to please show compassion for those little human beings, those ‘little women’ living and growing in their mothers' wombs.
And please remember, every member of ‘Supporting Women Newry’ was also once an unborn baby in their mother’s womb. So please respect that the right to life needs to be unimpeded for all other unborn babies. Without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless!
If you are truly concerned about protecting the “most powerless” then please join our protests calling on the powerful in Government to leave alone the most powerless of all – a little baby in her mother's womb, a future citizen of Newry, maybe even a future staff member of Daisy Hill.
Precious Life
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Supporting Women Newry have sent an open letter to anti abortion group Precious Life appealing to them to stop their protests outside all healthcare settings claiming that their behaviour is "impacting on the emotional and psychological well-being of people".
Supporting Women Newry have counter protested against demonstrations by the pro life group outside the John Mitchel Place Clinic and Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry in recent months.
Dear members of Precious Life
We have attempted on numerous occasions to put forward Supporting Women Newry’s position regards your protests outside our much-needed health and social care facilities and latterly, the pride of our town, Daisy Hill Hospital. Our attempts have been met by online abuse and offensive “praying for our souls”. We are well aware that matters of the utmost importance are not necessarily best served in the sometimes-combative arena of social media posts, so we want to reach out to you in a different format, through the news media, to appeal to you to stop the weekly protests outside all healthcare settings, but most importantly for the citizens of Newry, Daisy Hill Hospital.
No-one is denying your right to protest; we in Supporting Women Newry uphold the right of all citizens to peaceful protest. But with rights come responsibilities and your right to protest does not trump the right of every patient, staff member and visitor to go about their business at Daisy Hill Hospital without fear of intimidation and harassment. In most other settings your protests may not raise an eyebrow, but when patients are already vulnerable, grieving and or traumatised, your approach goes well beyond the free speech and right to protest debate. That’s even before the staff are taken into consideration. We in Newry and its surrounding areas have so much to thank the staff in Daisy Hill for, especially in the last number of months. You cannot fail to see the added burden you are placing on staff who have given their all to be met every Wednesday by placards announcing “Babies are killed in this building”. They do not deserve this. And what’s more they cannot change any policies within their place of employment.
We do not and will not debate with you the issue of termination of pregnancies. Our objection to your protest is not about abortion. Our objection is to groups of people with grossly offensive placards standing outside the entrance to our hospital. Most recently you have stood outside the Mental Health Unit and a group of your supporters went onto Trust property and started to pray outside the maternity unit. This is highly objectionable and offensive behaviour. If one person is traumatised by this in a health and social care setting, it is one person too many. The list of complaints grows by the week.
So, please show compassion for your fellow citizens; those human beings, whether adults or children, whether staff or patients who use our wonderful Daisy Hill. Respect the need for all to be unimpeded in accessing healthcare or their place of work. You have no idea how your behaviour is impacting the emotional and psychological well-being of people, some of who need every ounce of strength that they can muster. Go to the places where the politicians gather and have your protests there. Take your protest to the powerful and leave the powerless alone.
Supporting Women Newry
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The NSPCC is looking for young people to join a new group that gives them the chance to shape and influence the charity’s work, and ensure they are at the heart of our decision making.
We are launching the Young People’s Board for Change, and want to recruit 15 members aged between 13 and 16.
The Board members will use the platform to raise awareness of what matters most to them, take action and make change happen. They will also have a big role internally advising staff and trustees.
The young people will take part in new experiences and opportunities, meet other young people, as well as develop confidence and learn life-long new skills, such as campaigning and public speaking.
Over a two-year period, members will take part in residentials, meetings and workshops, and campaign to share their views and opinions.
We want as many young people as possible to have the chance to apply, so we are encouraging parents and carers to speak to their children about this exciting opportunity, and teachers and other professionals to share details with their students and through their networks.
At the NSPCC, we are committed to ensuring that young people are empowered and that their opinions are listened to. It’s vital that we put children and young people first and embed their views into everything we do in our fight for every childhood
Readers can find out more at NSPCC.ORG.UK or for informal chat please contactparticipationteam@nspcc.org.uk.
The deadline for completed applications is 11th January and interviews will be held between 18 – 21st January.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Anderson
National Head of Service
NSPCC Northern Ireland
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