Also in the Newry Town team was Gerry McGuigan, the outstanding captain for Damolly in its hey-day. He played alongside Pat Curtis, �Pa� Hollywood, Alec Reid, Bobby Turley and Johnney McCaigue. Pat Hillen was a senior referee and later a Traffic Warden.

Employed at the plant from 1947 to `59, Gerry McGuigan recalled such workmates as Hugh, Pat and Tommy O�Gorman, Tommy Jones, James Graham, Patsy Taylor, John Thompson and Tommy Rafferty. And among the women who worked there were Kerry Bradley, Lily Carr, Maggie Markey, Alice Savage, Cora Mullen, Bridget Taylor, Lily Brown, Jackie McKeown, Doris Bradley and Greta Berry.

Leaving the factory, he was employed by the firm of Toases� for a period, and then spent some years in Birmingham, where his sister was residing. Returning home, he got a job at Bessbrook Products, working alongside Derek O�Brien, Dan Hogan, Joe Smyth, Peter Auden, Oliver and John Rooney, John and Jimmy McKevitt, while his former workmate, Frank O�Neill was a lorry-driver.

Living at Slieve Gullion Road in Newry along with his wife, formerly Maura Keenan from High Street, Gerry has 12 children, one less than his father! Eldest is Pat, a teacher in Armagh; Maureen is employed at Savages� newsagents; Paul is on the management of a steel company; Brian is a Fire Officer; Jim is a senior social worker Gerald is a publican; Elaine is Co-ordinator of the Clinic at Rathfriland; Fiona and Anne are nurses; also Christine and Karen, housewife; while Mark is in management.

Another sportsman was John Lundy, goalkeeper and Man United fanatic. A native of Linenhall Square, he and Lottie McKeown were a comedy duo who took part in Top Talent Contests, and also entertained senior citizens. Recently, he was on a life-support system at Craigavon Hospital, after a major operation. His wife reported that, while semi-conscious, he spoke of his time at Damolly factory.

But one of the best-known personalities to emerge from Damolly village and mill was Frank O�Neill, close friend of two Newry-born World Cup and F.A. Cup heroes, Peter McParland and Pat Jennings. Indeed, the International goalkeeper officially opened Frank�s sports-shop on the Mall, which was later destroyed in an arson attack.

Frank was suspended by the G.A.A., because he headed the ball into the net, while playing for the Abbey C.B.S. in a Corn na n-Og Final. Shortly afterwards, at the age of 14, he left school and started work at Damolly factory, where his uncle, Owen was works manger.

After some years, during which he was in the squad, which won the Newry and district Works League and Cup, he emigrated to Birmingham. His lodgings were next door to the home of Omeath-born Hugh Boyle, who had lived at Chapel Street, in Newry, before bringing his family to `Brum. One of the sons, Hugh, became a Ryder Cup golfer, while another, Father Willie, was on the Birmingham Six Committee.

Peter McParland�s brother, Frank, was a lodger with the Boyle family, while `Supermac` was in digs with Aston Villa team-mate and Republic of Ireland captain, Con Martin, on the other side of the city. The five would join up with Danny Blanchflower, who starred with Peter McParland in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. During the close season, they would play cricket for the combined Villa/West Brom team at the Robin Hood Stadium in Birmingham.

Indeed, Frank O�Neill was present at Wembley Stadium, when `Peter the Great` was involved in the controversial F.A. Cup Final between Villa and Manchester United. After a clash, the Man United goalie Ray Wood was stretchered off. Peter went on to score two brilliant goals. Frank has attended nine F.A. Cup Finals, the 1966 World Cup Final, and the 1968 European Cup Final, which Man United won. His companions included Dan Hogan, Hugh and Tim Casey, Frankie O�Hanlon and Raymond McGovern.

On returning home from Birmingham, Frank was employed at Bessbrook Products, playing for the factory side, which won the prestigious Bessbrook Cup and the Mourne League. Married to Teresa McAleavey, they have two daughters, Anne and Janet. In the 70�s, Peter McParland was appointed manager of the Glentoran side in the Irish League. So he asked big Frank to look after the youth section, and also act as scout for the Belfast club.

There will be enormous pride and satisfaction, especially among the community at Damolly, when the commemorative plaque is unveiled at the Albert Basin, in honour of Frank�s uncle, the heroic Charlie O�Neill. It will recall a traumatic period for the O�Neill family, the victim�s friends and neighbours, and the entire region, that awful day in 1937.

Thousands took part in the cortege, as factories, shops and offices closed as a mark of respect for the 26-year-old coal-worker who, despite being unable to swim, had not hesitated to dive into the water in an effort to save the lorry-driver, whose vehicle had toppled into the Albert Basin.

A work-mate had twice tossed a life-belt to young O�Neill, but he had been unable to catch it. Both men then sank beneath the surface. It was almost two days before Charlie O�Neill�s body was recovered. As the Mayor of Newry, Jackie Patterson said, when supporting the erection of a plaque: �No greater love can any person have, than to lay down their life for a friend!�

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