Meanwhile, Fr Campbell, an historian, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of local families; Fr Hugh Esler revived Gaelic games in the Newry area, being mainly responsible for Pairc an Iuir, now Pairc Esler, while Fr Lynch is commemorated at the GAA Park at Ballyholland, and Fr Burke by the Canon Burke A.C.

But back to the Credit Union and its early days! One of its midwives was Peter Connolly, whose family have been in the footwear business on Hill Street since the 1920�s, he being born and reared there. Peter, who located the first premises for the embryonic body at Merchants Quay, served as president, as well as other posts, and was first president of the Newry and Mourne Co-operative Society.

Incidentally, John�s brother, Peter, ran a grocery shop near the Frontier Cinema, having served his time with Barney McVerry. His son, Francie, was very active in photographic circles. Another brother, Michael, married the daughter of publican and grocer, Felix Larkin at Francis Street, - their son, Tom, has been chairman of Killeavy GFC.

Credit Union pioneer, Peter Connolly�s father died in 1948; so the 17-year-old had to leave the Abbey secondary school, in order to assist his mother in running the business. His sister had entered the nursing profession. Peter married Lilian Carlin, whose family had a record shop opposite. Their son, Mark, was killed in a car crash, while two daughters, Sheila and Clare are involved in the business. Sheila is also a Credit Union supervisor.

Newry Credit Union was born in 1963, at a meeting attended by a young teacher named John Hume, vice-president of the Irish League of Credit Unions. Those present were John McCloskey (first president), Eddie Mackle, Peter Connolly, Arthur Morgan, Joe Magill, James McCoy, Louis Boyd, James Gunn, Hugh J. O�Hare, Sean Hillen and ATGWU organiser, John O�Donnell. A public meeting was held at the Town Hall, addressed by John Hume.

The premises at Merchants Quay were owned by WV Hogg, long-time president of Newry Chamber of Commerce, and leased to Newry Agricultural Society. Two rooms were rented by the Credit Union at �90 per year. Then John O�Donnell allowed his union offices on Hill Street to be used. Manager of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Mick Donovan, guaranteed sufficient funds to cover loans.

Arthur Morgan, an accountant at Armaghdown Creamery, explained: �The whole purpose was to get people saving together, lending to each other at a low rate of interest.� And Gerry Murphy, who was manager of McCann�s Bakery, praised the role of women, stating that �without their support, the Credit Union might not have achieved such success.�

After a period at Catherine Street in the 70�s, the head offices moved to Hill Street, including long-time manager Joe Hughes, who retired four years ago. Joe, a native of Boat Street, had been manager of Newry Mineral Water Company, where another veteran employee, Ethna Gorman, had also been on the staff. Ruth McCreesh joined The Credit Union staff in 1969, while Marie Hollywood became an employee as a teenager in 1971.

Brendan Jackson took over as manager, educated at St Josph�s High School in Newry, then the Abbey, graduating from the UU with a degree in Communications. Then followed six years with Newry and Mourne Co-operative, and five with Banbridge Enterprise Centre. His father, Peter Jackson, has been involved with the Meadow Community Association, as well as the Whitegates project.

Peter Connolly described how, at an AGM in the Ardmore Hotel, �people came up to us, and talked about the influence which the Credit Union had on their lives. One man told us: `I am grateful to you boys. You put me on my feet, so that I was able to start a business. Now I am earning a living from it!�

Former Town Clerk, the late Gerry Cronin, who resided beside John Mitchels� statue, was invited by Cuisle na Gael to retrace his footsteps from the Town Hall along Hill Street. On the right he would have passed Mc Millan�s jewellers, Magowan�s the printers; George Massey, tobacconist and hairdressers; Lockharts, Tylers, Leesons; Kennedy�s. Martin, Nesbitt and Irwin; McAreavey, and Newells.

On the other side were the Ulster Clothing Co; Kinnear�s, Donaldson�s; Protestant Workingmen�s Club; Hale�s olde world pub; Orr�s the jewellers; the Shelbourne Cafe; O�Hagan and O�Hare�s chemist shop; Warnocks; Kelly and Calvert�s (Golden Teapot); the Mascot; Star and Garter Bar, - later Speedy Cleaners; Turner�s greengrocers; Gray�s china shop; Shepherds and the Maypole; the Florentine Caf� and Fosters (now Supervalu and the Newry Democrat.)

When Tom Kelly, treasurer of Newry Credit Union, was appointed first chairman of the Newry Town Centre Partnership in 2000, he stressed that �our responsibility is to protect the integrity and vitality of the town centre, which is not just certain streets in Newry, but everything within the boundaries set by the council. Nor is it solely about retailers, but also about people who live and visit here.

�The Partnership is an opportunity to promote what is good about Newry and its people, harnessing the abundance of talent for the common good. We have gone a long way towards re-establishing a sense of civic pride, building partnerships and trust between various bodies that represent Newry, as well as public and private interests. After 30 years on the map for all the wrong reasons, now is the time to redress the balance,� stated this grandson of an esteemed chairman of Newry Urban Council, also named Tom Kelly.

< Previous Page