However, within six months, the new industry faced an industrial dispute, as over 100 workers went on strike. The general manager placed the blame on the �irresponsible action� of the AEW district official, Norman Young. But the union official alleged that an employee had been �victimised,� that he was asked to do a skilled job, but told the Production Manger that he was not qualified to do it, and was sacked. The rest of the workforce had walked out.

Though that dispute had been resolved, it was the harbinger of difficult times ahead, and the industry, which had been established amid such optimism, vanished within two years. As one local newspaper proclaimed �Seenozip means see no jobs.�

There was a sequel in 1963, when two of the directors appeared at the Belfast Commission, charged with fraud, concerning machinery worth �35,000, and also the non-payment of National Insurance contributions in respect of six employees, costing �693. Machinery, installed at the Newry plant, was stated to have cost �150,00, though bought by the company for one-third of that cost. A fine of �1 each was imposed in relation to the National Insurance, with the repayment of the �693, while defendants agreed to pay back the �35,000 in instalments.

Of course, while some of the industries in the Newry area employed mostly women, some trades and occupations had predominantly male workforces. These included dockers, milk, coal and postal deliveries, bakeries, the building trade, mechanics and bus-drivers. Changes have recently taken place with regard to the postal service and bus-drivers.

One Newry industry, which was practically a male preserve, was the famous McCann�s (Victoria) Bakery at Castle Street. Founded in 1837, it was taken over by Irwins, about five years ago. The general managers included Frank O�Hare, Jack Moore, Gerry Murphy and Colm Mathers. Mr Murphy, goalkeeper on the Armagh squad in the 1953 All-Ireland Final against Kerry, became President of Newry Chamber of Commerce, while Mr Mathers is married to Mary Carroll.

Among the best-known employees were Jim Rowntree, Sean Kennedy, Hugh Kimmons, Mickey Keenan, along with Messrs Crimmons and McCrink. The bread-servers included Paddy Rafferty, Hugh John McConville, Gerry Keenan, Sandy Wright, Geordie Murphy and Kevin McBride.

Constructed on the site of the ancient Cistercian Abbey, many artefacts relating to that period were found at the bakery. Stormont Prime Minister, Terence O�Neill toured the premises in the 60�s, being shown around by the company chairman, Squadron-leader Myles McCann, who had been a prisoner of the Japanese during the last war.

Of course, distilleries were also `no-go� area for female workers. Two were located in the Ballybot area, and one in Monaghan Street. The latter was described in the `Newry Review` of 1815 as �one of the most complete concerns of its kind in Ireland. The owner, Mr Caulfield, has spared no expense. It is provided with a very fine steam engine, with power equal to twenty horses. And it produces excellent whiskey.�

There were three large breweries in the town, also at Ballybot and Monaghan Street. But, by 1868, only one was still operating, that of Messrs Henry and Co. of Queen (now Dominic) Street. It had survived a fall-off on demand for Newry ale, and by the early 1870�s, Henry�s Ale was in great demand in Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester.

Strange to relate, the town was importing large quantities of spirits, during the Great Famine, despite having its own distillery. About 12,000 gallons of British spirits and 1,000 gallons of rum and other foreign spirits, as well as 14,000 gallons of wines came in through the local port in 1846, according to �A Picturesque Handbook to Carlingford Bay, and Watering Places in its vicinity.�

Apart from the distillers, there were also bonded warehouses, one owned by Henry Thompson, whose premises at Trevor Hill later became the Parochial Hall. Another famous bondstore was the property of Duncan Alderdice and Co., located at Monaghan Street. The company also owned two former hotels on Hill Street, - the Imperial and the Victoria, later the Ulster Bank.

According to the `Cuisle na Gael� publication: �The biggest bonded concern in Newry was that of Matt Darcy and Co., which occupied a large part of one side of Monaghan Street. The company had representatives on the road in Ireland, England and Wales. Such was the demand for whiskey during the Great War that Darcy�s sold their stock at a large profit, and subsequently retired from the business.�

A fine archway at the Darcy site, crowned with the company motif of harp, shamrock and coronet, was demolished for a shopping arcade in Monaghan Street. However, one building, designed by the well-known Newry architect, W.J. Barrie, still stands. It is the public house, operated by Jimmy Keenan, designed by the same architect responsible for Newry Parochial Hall.

Of course, women were forbidden to �darken the doors� of public houses for a century afterwards. Still, the amount of alcohol being consumed in the frontier town prompted the `Apostle of Temperance,� Father Matthew, to launch a crusade at St Colman�s Cathedral. What happens at Temple Bar in Dublin these nights, would be small beer compared with the taverns of Newry in those �good old days.�

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