FEW of those present at the humble beginnings of Newry Credit Union, in 1963, could have visualised the enormous impact of the fledging enterprise, now thriving on the city�s main thoroughfare.

Three businessmen on Hill Street, - Peter Connolly, Joe Magill and the late Eddie Mackle, - played a significant role in preaching the gospel of `caring and sharing.` They and their colleagues were also involved with the Newry and Mourne Co-operative Society, which produced the WIN Industrial Estate, recently expanded for local industry and commerce.

Also, the Credit Union delegate to Newry Town Centre Partnership Management, Tom Kelly, was appointed inaugural chairman in 2000, promoting various initiatives to make Hill Street and its environs more attractive and vibrant. That role has been assumed by the City Centre Partnership Management, under its chairman, Cllr Jackie Patterson.

One of the projects has been to �identify the huge housing potential over shops, which would appeal to the fast-growing market of young single people and couples, ensuring secure, independent access and car-parking for residents above commercial properties.�

Back in the 50�s and 60�s, the upper floors of many premises on Hill Street were occupied by families of local bank-managers, publicans and businessmen of various sorts. And Fosters Emporium, now SuperValu, accommodated about ten of its shop-assistants on the upper floor. Also hundreds of priests have resided in the Parochial House, since the cathedral was consecrated in 1829.

Those who spent about two decades there included Dean Anthony Davies, Monsignor Arthur Bradley, Canon Kearney and Fr Tom McConville. Best-known among their predecessors would have been the late Frs Jim Boyd, Hugh Esler, Edward Campbell, James Burke and John Lynch.

With the Town Hall at one end, and the Frontier Cinema at the other; two hotels, - the Imperial (now Menary�s) and the Breffni Arms, later the Boulevard (Nationwide); Pagni�s fish and chip shop; Irwin�s Caf�, the Snack Bar, the Florentine Caf� and the Shelbourne; five public houses; and late-opening at the various shops, there was certainly a lively night life on Hill Street!

Recalling how the Breffni Arms Hotel was owned by Richard Garland, who also took over the Newry Mineral Water Company at Water Street, and had stables on the Belfast Road, Cllr Jackie Patterson reported that he had been engaged to ride horses at various shows for Mr Garland.

With regard to the Snack Bar, owned by Maurice O�Rourke, I spent the school holidays working in the bakery. Also there were George McAteer from Ballyholland, and the late Eddie McAlinden, who later had a Home Bakery at Monaghan Street. His journalist son, Martin, a member of the Official IRA, was shot dead unarmed by under-cover soldiers at Ballyholland.

Meanwhile, the former Mayor of Newry described how the Bus Depot had been located at Marcus Square, now the site of Woolworths. During the curfew of 1956, when he and other youths would defy the restrictions of movement on Hill Street, they would be chased by `B` Specials, and hide in the parked buses.

Joe and Minnie Warde had a decorating business beside the Imperial Hotel. And Jackie Patterson was told by their employees, the Tremers brothers, that they were paid their wages by Minnie Warde, after Mass in the cathedral on Sunday mornings! Incidentally, the Imperial Cinema was located behind the hotel of that name; and despite its nickname of `flea-pit,` usually had the best films in town!

To right of the Imperial Hotel lived the Gibney�s, - Dominic, Noel and Leonard, - Luke Curran, the solicitor; Bertie Trodden, barber; the Carlingford Lough Commission offices, and the present Northern Bank. Then came Paddy Mallon�s chemist shop; Pat O�Hare the bookie; Duffner�s photographic studio; Cahill brothers; Liptons, Duncan Alderdice, Magee�s hardware store, Gibbons, and the Steps to Health chemist shop.

On the other side of Minnie Warde�s was McClure�s pharmacy; the Post Office; Kelly�s greengrocery; Mick Doran the tobacconist; The Newry Telegraph offices; Provincial Bank, - now First Trust, - the Parochial House and Catholic Workingmen�s Club. Opposite were Woolworth�s shop, McAteer�s and Fox�s barber shop.

Of course, Newry Cathedral has been an outstanding feature of Hill Street for generations. What are now its gardens was a soap factory, destroyed by fire. Most of the menfolk in the frontier town belonged to the Holy Family Confraternity, congregating in the cathedral every Tuesday night, with Holy Communion every month.

As members of the Cathedral Boys Choir, we listened as Fr Boyd regaled his audience with anecdotes about his trans-Atlantic trips to America by ocean liner, making friends on board with film-star Spencer Tracey, who brought the young Newry curate to Hollywood to watch a film being produced. Fr Boyd had founded the St John Bosco Boys Club, based in his visit to Boystown, USA, bringing the legendary Fr Flanagan to visit the scene at Kilmorey Street, now the Gateway Club.

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