And the legendary goalkeeper added: �I�ve been one of the lucky ones. That�s why I have tried to put something back into the game. Soccer to me is still the greatest game of all, - I only wish that I was starting out again!�

Meanwhile, Pat�s former neighbour and soccer star, Peter McParland can also reflect on a glorious career, which has not diminished his modest demeanour. One-time captain of the Northern Ireland squad, Danny Blanchflower commented: �Peter�s inspirational play helped to put us on the International map. He used his brains to save his legs, and he had the wonderful flair of turning defence into attack with a simple pass. Peter was the finest inside-forward in British football.�

However, other sportsmen have also resided in the Chapel Street/Kilmorey Street area, such as John and Oliver Rooney, Bernie Hughes, Dessie McGennity, Tom Tumilty, Frankie O�Hanlon and Oliver McGauley, as well as Mick McAteer, John Fox, Paddy Gribben, Eddie McDonald, Peter Feenan and Anthony Duffy, who played for the great Newry Celtic side.

Dessie McGennity has been secretary of the Newry Pools League for many years; also pioneer of junior soccer in the Newry area, along with the late Eugene Markey. Bernie Hughes has produced champion boxers at his club in Derrybeg, while his brother Jimmy played for Belfast Celtic. Pat Price became a champion boxer, while Brian Burns was a noted athlete.

John Rooney and his late brother Oliver, who later moved to Drumalane Park, were deeply involved with the Newry Shamrocks AC, and John was in the Newry United squad, along with Pat Jennings, which won the Irish Junior Cup. They also played for Newry Town.

Describing the �great community spirit in Boat Street during his boyhood,� John Rooney related how �everybody helped one another in time of trouble or bereavement. They also shared the joys of good times like weddings, Christenings, First Communion and Confirmation, Christmas and Easter.

�All doors would lie open. If someone slept in, and it looked like they would be late for work at the mill or factory, or as dockers at the Albert Basin, they would be knocked up. And of a child came home, complaining that they had been given a thump by a local adult, they would get another clout from their parents, who knew there must have been a good reason.�

One of the most esteemed personalities was Peter Carr, who had a leg amputated, and walked two crutches. Regarded as a Father Confessor, congenial, with wisdom and compassion, he was also a point of contact for emigrants from the locality. Another handicapped resident was Emily McGivern, a familiar figure in her wheelchair, always cheerful.

Among the characters were Paddy `Dollar` Duffy, caretaker of the Independent Club; Jackie Loye, breadserver; garage-owner, Barney Cregan; furniture merchant Ownie Reilly; sea-captain, Sam McMillan; Hugh Grant, lamplighter and actor; Teddy and Noel McLaughlin, who played in St Joseph�s Band; Willie Rafferty, market-trader; Paddy Markey, street-cleaner; Paddy Price, father of `Bo-Bo�; and Billy Grant, whose grandson is proprietor of the Ambassador Restaurant.

Little enclaves like Custom House Avenue were also lively communities, and Carmel McKeown, sister of printer, Tom, and wife of Noel Carroll from the Green Road in Bessbrook, recalled being sent by her aunt Minnie Smith to Paddy Rice�s pub for cans of Guinness. These would be drunk, while her grandmother would be reading articles from `Ireland�s Own` to her friends.

Carmel�s great uncle, William Burns, was a founder of St Catherine�s Brass and Reed Band, while her uncle, Billy Gribben drove a gas-works van. They lived beside the Carr family, - Luke, John Willie, Pat, Davy, Margaret and Lily, - and other �great neighbours� like sea-captain Dessie Keenan and barber, Seamus Jennings.

Meanwhile, sportsman Dessie McGennity�s family had moved from the Workhouse to a castle above the High Walk on Chapel Street. Des was only seven-year-old, and recalled how frightening it could be, especially on winter nights, when the wind would be �howling like a Banshee�, with the shutters banging. It was bitterly cold, with the stone floors, walls and stairs; lack of heating, while the outside toilet was �little more than a hole in the ground.�

That unique building, owned by the Earl of Kilmorey, was constructed by a Major Halliday as an Inland Lighthouse, but became known as `Halliday�s Folly.` A large stone in the grounds is inscribed with the date 1828, but Dessie has failed to establish its history, despite research at Newry Library, etc.

The McGennity family emigrated to Coventry in 1939. However, it was a case of �going from the frying-pan into the fire,� as the English city was the target for a German bomb blitz. They spent many nights in underground air raid shelters, emerging to find their home and entire streets a mound of rubble.

Returning home in the 60�s, Dessie and his wife, Brea, resided in the Derrybeg estate, involved in the community association. He became doorman at the Independent and St Joseph Club. Junior soccer being dormant, Dessie and the late Cllr Eugene Markey formed the Winter League, which later developed into the Carnbane League. And he has been long-time secretary of the Newry Pools League.

A strong advocate of civil rights, Dessie played host to some English students for the massive Newry March after Bloody Sunday. So impressed were his guests that they secured Dessie a job as porter at their university. Eugene Markey, who wrote a satirical column for me in a local newspaper, penned the note: �Des McGennity is at Nottingham University, reading gas-meters and pornography!�

A few years ago, Dessie, Paddy Smith and Frankie Keenan, all of whose families had resided in the castle above the High Walk, re-visited the scenes of their boyhood, climbing over the wire and high wall to gain access. It was a macabre trip `down memory lane`, not like the reminiscences that enlivened the proceedings at the Streets Re-Union!

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