�These achievements were due to the members and leaders working hard for the good of the club, and I hope that the community will be proud of them� Kate added. �Some of the first members got married, and their children have come to the club. One lad said that, if the Youth Club had not been there, God knows what trouble he would have got into, - which makes it all worthwhile!�

Congratulating those who have been committed to the club for 15 years, such as Georgina Jennings, Eamonn Heaney, and Francie McCaffrey; also Nicola Watson, Tress Kelland, Kylie and Mark along with committee members Maria Murtagh and Mickey Heaney, the supervisor stated: �The area should feel proud to have a hall which caters for all, no matter what age, religion or culture.�

The first-ever prize-winner at Newry Musical Feis in 1924, Arthur went on to win the coveted Countess Markievicz Cup on three consecutive occasions. Chairman of the Old Newry Society, that genial personality was also choreographer for Newry Musical Society, as well as Warrenpoint Pantomime. And he pioneered participation at International Folk Festivals in various European countries.

Also among his dancers were Donal Fegan, Oscar Traynor, Nellie Fox, Genie McKevitt, Rita Markey, Madge, Rhoda and Bernadette Sheridan; Margaret, Marie and Catherine Nolan, Peter and Mena Tumilty; Sam and Mary Hughes; Teave Carroll, Thelma Marley, Eilish Toner, Rose Markey, wife of the late Dan Hogan; Margaret Price (Mrs Donal McAlinden), and Harold McLaughlin, who married Madge Sheridan.

One of Arthur Burns� major productions was an Irish Ballet, `The Children of Lir,` which won top marks at Dundalk Feis. Described in the Press as �A most wonderful entertainment, the cast included Sadie Fearon, Phyllis McAteer, Pat Hughes, Brian Matthews, Patsy Cunningham (Rostrevor) Gerald Hobden, B. McCombe, Margaret Nolan, Pat Evans, Dan Norris, M, McElroy and M. O�Rourke.

Sadie Nolan, who always danced `King of the Fairies` at various Feiseanna, had a spectacular career. She appeared on the first UTV programme featuring Irish music, song and dance; toured Ireland in a show along with Mickey Brady, produced by Radio Eireann personality, Eric Boden; and also won All-Ireland Scor competitions with St Peter�s Warrenpoint and Carrickcruppen. She and other members of the Arthur Burns School had audiences with three popes.

Performing at concerts organised by Bro Beausang and Arthur Burns; Fr Conway; as well as the Armagh/Down Leader Group, Sadie also visited hospitals at Christmas, along with Charlie Smyth, Terry Rafferty and Alma Brown as accompanist, entertaining the patients.

Her performances prompted one songwriter to dedicate a tune, -, `The girl with buckles on her shoes.` And Newry�s Poet Laureate, the late Joe Guinane wrote the lines: �Daffodils could dance upon the green, erect and swift, or like a bird in flight. I know they would choose Sadie as their Queen of dancing, beauty and for heaven�s delight.`

But tragedy has also touched this talented artist. Her father, Michael Fearon was a seaman on board the vessel, `Olive`, under Captain O�Keefe, which was leaving the Albert Basin for Liverpool, as another ship was entering the harbour. However, it ran aground, and Michael Fearon, who had just received the First Mate�s Certificate, threw a steel rope to the other crew. However, it got caught around his leg, which had to be amputated.

Sadie recalled how her father had once said: �I�ll never call you a dancer, until you get a cup.� Mr Fearon died in 1949; and one year later she won five trophies at Warrenpoint Feis. Sadie was inconsolable.

Incidentally, it was while dancing at the `Point Panto that she met he future husband, Richard McGuigan, a joiner, who built the stage sets. He was a cousin of ace-comedian, the late Christy McGuigan, who had also met his wife, Jean, through the Warrenpoint Pantomime. Richard has been involved conveying Down players to `away` matches.

Sadie�s brother, Joe, a former bank employee and Boy Scout, had served his time with the grocery firm of Brendan Gallagher, a Scoutmaster, before joining the staff of Quinn the Milestone (now Dunnes Stores). They had two sisters, Phil and Lizzie. Joe�s son is Dr Michael Fearon, while a daughter, Paula is a nurse. On leaving Abbey Yard, they moved to Daisyhill Gardens. Sadie has three daughters, Mrs Maureen O�Hare, Mrs Roisin McGivern and Michele McGuigan.

A unique aspect of Sadie�s career came when she was invited to train seminarians at Omeath in Irish dancing. One of the Rosminian priests was organising a concert, and the trainee priests would be playing both roles.

There was an ecumenical dimension, as Sadie Fearon gave lessons in Irish and Scottish dancing at St Patrick�s Church Hall on the Downshire Road in Newry. Her pupils won a top prize for Scottish dancing, - in Scotland! However, some Catholic woman complained to Fr John Lynch, Adm. She got short shift!

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