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Fitting Newry Monument To Heroic Dockers And Seamen
(Part 2)


By the late 30’s, a Newry dockers’ social club had been founded by Paddy McKevitt, Barney McEvoy, Dan Rice and Owen Fox. Music for social functions was provided by Vincent Lowe, Jackie Hearst, Henry Curran and Jimmy Baillie. A distinguished visitor was Ernest Bevin, secretary of the ATGWU and later Minister for Labour. Playing host were Michael McKevitt, president of the branch.

Meanwhile, Sean Patterson described how, “as a boy, growing up in Drumalane, I would cycle down to the Victoria Locks, and hitch a ride on the `Olive`, `Walnut`, `St Colman’ or `St William.’ It was a strange experience, seeing ships sailing through the heart of the countryside at Fathom, on their journey into the town; or to watch a vessel rapidly rising to canal level, as the sluice gates were opened and the Victoria Locks flooded.

“I spent many happy hours at the winches, or in the forge, cracking away to the lockmen. And, on a winter’s night, waiting for a ship, I was enthralled as Paddy Turly recalled how he was woken in the darkness on the `Mango,` as she went on the rocks at Arranmore. The lock-men were kindly individuals. Padge Hollywood or Mickey Matthews would put in a kind word for me, so that I would get a trip up to the Albert Basin.

“My father, a great story-teller who fuelled my interest in all things maritime, recounted his own memories of the Newry colliers. His uncle, Michael Cahill, had been an engineer with the Fishers’ fleet; and he loved telling how Michael had been chief engineer on the `Jasmin,` when she made her maiden voyage to Newry, and faced a hurricane.”

Recalling how he had met Captain Brian O’Keefe, master of the `Olive,` Sean described being handed the wheel of the 700-ton coaster. And “with white knuckles, steered it between the banks of the Newry Canal.” The O’Keefe family from Bridge Street produced five sea-captains, while their neighbours, the Hollywoods also had several captains.

The port historian reported how he had known many of the seamen on Fisher’s boats, such as Kevin Holland, John Craven, Mick Bell, Paddy and Murty Duffy, John McGrath, Willie Cahoon and Paddy McKeown. The coal-importing firm was established in 1852, using small schooners. And the Newry Steam-Packet Company operated a cross-channel passenger and livestock service in the 1870’s.

The Newry collier fleet had expanded in the late 1940’s, when the Albert Basin was a hive of activity. Fishers colliers were discharging on one side of the harbour, while the m.v. `Dundalk` loaded cattle for export to Liverpool, and coal was imported by Lockington’s.

Also, the docks provided an additional income for farmers, who would hire out their carts to help distribute the cargoes. About 30 or 40 carts would be lined up along the Buttercrane Quay, awaiting their turn to load from the ships. And when livestock would be transported to Birkinhead, several `cattle-men` would travel on the ships to look after the animals.

Incidentally, there was an element of farce, when it was reported in 1929 that the `bottom had fallen on Newry Canal.`Many believed that a plug, which had been accidentally pulled, out, had allowed the water to drain into the Clanrye River. In fact, a new pipe had been laid, as part of a sanitation scheme. While a culvert was being built, the canal wall was breached, allowing the water to escape!

According to the `Exploring Living Memory` project, Paddy McShane was a stevedore with Fishers, having about 36 dockers to unload their vessels, while Barney Maguire had a group of 20 dockers, discharging coal and timber for other importers. An Irish Labour councillor, Barney Maguire was President of the CBPPU, as well as of the Newry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association.

However, by the 1950’s, the number of dockers was reduced, as steamers had been replaced by larger vessels, which could carry twice the cargoes with the same manpower. And two huge cranes at the Albert Basin cut the number of dockers needed. Coal imports had dropped sharply; so the Newry Port and Harbour Trust realised that closure of dock facilities was inevitable.

The run-down began, as it was decided to move to the deep-water facilities at Warrenpoint. Then, in 1968, the `St William` collided with and wrecked the gates of Victoria Locks, with the result that several vessels were trapped for weeks. Finally, in 1974, the Dutch tanker, the `Anna Broere` became the last commercial vessel to sail from the Albert Basin, along the Newry Canal and out through the Victoria Locks to the open sea.

The 80’s witnessed major moves to regenerate this historic waterway, especially with the establishment of the Newry Canal Preservation Society, headed by Rowan Hand, John Donnelly, Andrew McAteer, John Fisher and Cllr Arthur Ruddy. Newry and Mourne district council took control of this unique stretch of water, including the renovation of the Victorian Locks as an amenity area.

Ten years ago, the passenger ship, the `Balmoral,` berthed at the Albert Basin as part of the `Newry 850` celebrations. Then Sean Patterson, Anthony Russell and John McCabe persuaded the captain of the `Asguard`, - the Irish National Training vessel, which had taken part in the Tall Ships Race, - to sail into the Albert Basin, as part of the Newry and Mourne Famine Commemoration in 1996.

And to mark the 150th anniversary of the reconstruction of Newry Canal in 2000, a floating theatre was berthed at the Albert Basin for three months. When the last ship sailed from Newry port, over 30 years ago, that historic event was covered by press and television. But few members of the general public showed any interest. The closure coincided with the Ulster Workers Strike, which brought down the Power-sharing Executive, and led to Direct Rule for almost 25 years. So, for the frontier town and the North as a whole, it was the `End of an Era.`

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© Fabian Boyle 2001-2008