Reader recalls his Newry childhood in North Street

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