WHAT a contrast there was between two of Newry�s most historic thoroughfares, which ran parallel, about 40 yards apart, - Chapel Street and Kilmorey Street.

Having a middle-class ethos, and on the main road to Warrenpoint, Kilmorey Street consisted of ornate dwellings, pubs, clubs and business premises. And it produced a plethora of priests, doctors, chemists, church organists and journalists.

Meanwhile, Chapel Street was the familiar route to St Mary�s Cemetery and Ballyholland. Many of its residents were employed at mills, factories and the docks, apart from all those forced to emigrate, due to massive employment.

There were the exceptions, such as stockbroker, Pheilim Magennis, - whose sister, Nan, wed the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Frank Aiken; - historian and linguist, Tomas McArdle; architect John Duffy; Town Inspector Eugene McKevitt; Housing Manager Brendan Carroll; printer Tom McKeown, as well as a brace of councillors, butchers, bakers and tradesmen.

Main features of Kilmorey Street were the Christian Brothers� School, later the St John Bosco Youth Club, now the Gateway Club; the Independent and St Joseph Band Club, and the Gasworks, converted into the Bunscoil, as well as the headquarters of the All-Ireland Trade and Industry Board.

Oldest house in the street was that of bookmaker Paddy Murtagh, two of whose sons were priests, - Fr Jack, who was CC at Glenn and Burren, who later survived earthquakes in Peru; and Fr Raymond, who has been over 30 years in Kenya. A Boy Scout and fine golfer, he was a member of the Newry Shamrocks squad, captained by Tony Hadden, which won the County Senior Championship. Also Pat and Margaretta, who has a shop in Mary Street.

Another notable resident was Willie McGivern, a founder and chairman of the Newry Gateway Club for 30 years, appointed Head-postmaster at Newcastle. On the Abbey CBS side which won the Corn na n-Og trophy, he was captain of the Mitchels squad, that collected the Down Minor League and Championship in 1956, was also in the Shamrocks side which won the County Senior crown in 1960.

Willie�s brother, Eddie, also served in the Post Office, and is a member of the Cloughmore Male Voice Choir. Their uncles, Eddie and William, were joiner and plasterer.

Meanwhile, the late Bob Bryson starred for Newry Town, Linfield and Glasgow Rangers. And he was in the `Blues� side, involved in the notorious battle with Belfast Celtic, which resulted in the Celts going out of football.

Back in 1921, the Black and Tans broke down the door of a house in the street, seeking leading republican Patrick Fearon in connection with the killing of a policeman on Hill Street. Unable to find him, they abducted 29-year-old William Hickey, who was employed on renovations to Newry Cathedral. His body was found with the throat cut, in a ditch on the Armagh Road.

The Murray family were well-known, - Danny, a pharmacist, played the trombone, while Andy was a grocer, and Jim a Customs officer. A sister, Mrs Imelda McFeeley, was an opera singer. Son of another sister, Mary, was consecrated Bishop of Bristol.

A popular musician was barber, Aidan Finnerty, who was in the Sammy Jones Dance Band and the Jackie Hearst Ceili Band. Aidan�s brother, John, was manager of the Newry Labour Exchange.

One of the best-known characters was Tommy Byrne, ice-cream vendor, proprietor of Lily�s Shop and the Satellite Caf�. Other personalities were Joe Ward, painter and decorator; Leo Devine, plumber; Pat and Kevin Hollywood, accountant and office manager; Jack McKenna, potato merchant, whose sister, Anne, was a fine tennis player; Maurice Mathers and John Teggart, breadservers.

Mons Josef Delafaille was organist and choirmaster at Newry Cathedral for over 20 years, also a fine billiards player. He was succeeded by compatriot, Auguste Toremans, who married Patsy McKenna from Mary Street. `Gussie` later became organist at St Catherine�s Dominican Church, as well as musical director of the Newry Musical and Orchestral Society.

A family of journalists also lived in Kilmorey Street, - Jack Gracey, who was employed by the Belfast Telegraph; his son, Tommy, who worked for the Irish Independent, and a grandson, John Wall (Irish Times). John�s brother, Pat, resigned from the RUC and joined the London Metropolitan Police.

There was one aspect of Kilmorey Street, which proved of huge benefit to the town, crossing all barriers, - the St John Bosco Youth Club. Inspired by a young curate, Fr Jim Boyd, - who had visited the famous Boystown, USA, - a group of leading business and professional figures decided to establish a similar venture in the frontier town.

Solicitor Luke Curran, in whose offices at Marcus Square the project was launched, stated: �In the dark days of 1939, when work was scarce and poverty so acute, the need for an antidote for young people to the mounting frustration and desperation with life began to be realised.

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