Meanwhile, Tom Canavan contrasted Poyntzpass as a shopping centre in the 40�s, compared to recent times. Sixty years ago there were over 80 businesses, including two hotels, six restaurants, a Post Office, courthouse, two banks, four drapery shops and eight general stores, four cobblers, three milk suppliers, ten �huckster� shops, a doctor�s and dentist�s surgery, two joinery workshops, five tailors, three undertakers, two greengrocers, three coal-merchants, two bicycle shops, a corn mill and concrete block maker. Now there are only18 businesses, including three public houses.

Reason for the reduction of the commercial facilities in the village was because many local people preferred to travel to Newry, Banbridge or Portadown, believing they would get better value. But when petrol, �wear and tear� on the car, parking costs, time and other factors were taken into the equation, there might not be such a saving. This point was also made by Tommy Morrow, a boyhood friend of Tom Canavan, who returned to the `Pass after an absence of about 40 years.

Tommy�s mother died in childbirth, when he was ten years old. Three of his brothers were brought up by his father�s family, while the three sisters were reared by his mother�s side of the house. Apart from Tom Canavan, his school pals included Tommy John McSherry and Mick Loy.

�When I was a boy there was no estate called Aughan Park, no Hillside Crescent, nor bungalows on the Bann Road. I would feed the hens for Billy McGivern, Eddie Walsh, John Meade, Mrs McComb and Mrs Allen, who lived in a row of small houses at Chapel Street. I also milked the goats for Tommy McLaughlin and Eddie Magill, helped Hughie Owens with the ploughing, and `walked` cattle to Markethill for Jim Connor and Jim Pat McSherry.�

Recalling that a house belonging to Mrs Loughran had become vacant, Tommy said that he had moved in at the age of 14. And he added: �A lot of great nights were held in that house, with Tom Canavan, Terry Murray, Jim McComb, Seamus and Dan Magill being in nearly every night. The boys would `nick` ingredients from home, like tea, sugar, bread or eggs.�

Among his neighbours were Mrs Eddie Magill, Mrs Rafferty, Mrs John McComb, Sarah Conlon and Mrs Mary Gribben, who supplied him with wheaten farls and butter, along with mugs of tea. But he described how one husband had declared: �That lazy son-of-a-bitch should be out working, - a strong fellow like that.� Tommy admitted that he had been �rebelling against work, society and religion, - I was doing my own thing.�

Meanwhile, Bill Hanna, who lived on his grandfather�s farm at Lisraw, remembered having to walk four miles to school in pouring rain. Transport was a rare commodity, and `Shank�s Mare` the order of the day. They were lucky to have a sandwich for lunch. When the first World War broke out, his father joined the Royal Flying Corps as a mechanic. On demolition, he became a member of the R.U.C., stationed at Jonesboro.

On the day that Bill was born in 1925, the police station next door to their home came under gun-attack. It was impossible for the midwife to reach the cottage, so the father had to deliver the baby, while fending off the assailants. All the windows in both buildings were shattered, and some policemen injured, along with two of Bill�s sisters.

Six months later, their father got `itching feet,` retired from the R.U.C. and emigrated to Canada, where he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He never returned home, and nothing more was ever heard from him!

The scene on a Fair Day at the `Pass was described by Sarah Savage, who wrote about �lots of shouting and roaring.� Her father would sit in a pony and trap, waiting for a lull in the traffic, so that their cattle could go out on the road. He always stabled the mare in Mrs Mann�s yard. Aggie Monaghan would do the unharnessing and supply the feed.

�Dealers would come to Poyntzpass in jaunting cars, in order to meet the farmers with cattle on the way to the fair. Many refused the bids, and did not get as good an offer afterwards. Among the dealers were Willie McSherry, - a nice, dapper little man, - James Magill, John Best, Johnney Canavan, Jamie Lennon and Willie Reilly.�

And Ms Savage added: �One day, Willie Reilly was standing at the door of the Marine Hotel, watching children playing in the snow. Suddenly, a huge slide of snow came off the roof, bringing a large tile with it. Willie snatched one of the children into the hallway, saving its life.�

With Tom Canavan as their representative, the people of the Poyntzpass region were fortunate, indeed. They could be assured that peace, progress and good relations are the policy and practice that would always be to the forefront for this esteemed personality!

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