He described many of the cabins as being well-equipped and furnished. Some skippers even brought their wives along on the trip, especially in the summer months. One barge-owner had a large gramophone playing on deck; his wife was knitting and changing records.

Mickey�s father, Joe Waddell, was on the maintenance staff of the Newry Canal, along with Peter Campbell, Paddy Hanratty, `Butter` Burns, Frank Cross, Willie Crothers, and Hugh Convery. The Crack Bridge below Mickey�s house was a meeting-place for all the local characters, - such as Frank Monaghan (of athletic fame), `Crab` Kelly, Bob Woodside, Tom and Bobby Sterritt, as well as John Minnis.

They staged plays all over South Down and South Armagh, with Mickey Waddell in the cast. One memorable occasion was the performance of �Macook�s Corner� at the official opening of Poyntzpass Parochial Hall in 1947. Finally, after courting at the Imperial and Savoy Cinemas, Mickey and Mary were married at Newry Cathedral in 1950.

Taking up employment at a chemist�s shop in the `Pass, the newly-weds were invited to join the Jerrettspass Dramatic Society by the late Pat Byrne, whose father and mother were natives of the area, his grandfather having been the local shoemaker. Other members were Pat and Maureen Brooks, Sarah and P.J. O�Hare, Hugh McConville, Minnie Savage and Colin Baxter.

The former footballer and inter-county hurler commented: �Pat Byrne, as well as producing, was also a very talented actor. He was a man of vision, who decided that, if we were going to do plays, and tour the country with them, we were going to aim high. He wanted us to compete at the highest level.�

Working in a chemist�s shop gave Mickey the opportunity to study some of the unique personalities, who lived in the locality. There was an old bachelor, living at Loughadian by the name of Ownie Duffy, upon whom he based one of the characters in a play, for which he was nominated for the F.J McCormack Medal for Best Actor in the All-Ireland Drama Finals. And Mickey also won the Best Actor Award at Dundalk Dram Festival.

Finally, under the watchful eye of Pat Byrne, - whose portrait hangs in Newry Library, - Mickey was permitted to produce some plays, the cast including Jim McHale, Nan, Pat and Tom Canavan, Mick Kavanagh, Mickey Daly, Terry and Agatha and Annie Murray, Frank McSherry, Bridie McKee, Mary Murphy, Pat and Phil Monaghan.

After a lapse of some years, the group was revived by Fr Sean Quinn, while Mickey also contributed short sketches in the Scor competitions, on behalf of the Redmond O�Hanlon G.F.C. Then, in 1981, a Newry Drama Group, including his brother-in-law Mickey Mathers, staged a show at Newry Town Hall, in which the `Pass veteran played a small part.

He recalled: �I really enjoyed my return to the Town Hall, - a fitting, final stage performance, back where it all began, 40 years before.� And, of course, it was also close to where this versatile and popular personality started in his first job!

But there were other forms of entertainment in the Poyntzpass area, back in the 40�s. And Jimmy Smith, who lived about three miles from the town, but now resides in Blackburn, recalled in the `Before I Forget� journal the all-night dances, where there were �always more men than girls. Mostly there were quick-steps and foxtrots, with a few old-tyme and square dances thrown in. When `the Lancers` were played, all hell broke loose. Girls� legs were flying in all directions, when they were swung.�

But it was no fun for young lads, working long hours on local farms during the war. Since they did not get home until 7.30 p.m., �there was little time to cycle the seven miles to Newry for a bit of entertainment. On a Saturday night, it was an awful rush to get to town for the second half of the `pictures.` In the darkness, the black-out meant that cycle lamps had to be shaded.�

Jimmy Smyth described how his mother would walk the three miles to Poyntzpass and back, carrying a heavy basket in each hand, including a stone of flour for bread-making. Poyntzpass Fair was held on the first Saturday in the month. Since there were few cattle trucks, `wee fellas` were recruited to walk the cattle, guiding them through crossroads, and past gaps in the fields.

�If the farmer sold his livestock, we would get a shilling and purchase a four-penny `slider` from Tommy Price, the ice-cream man, then get a lift home in a van or spring-trap. If unsold, it was a matter of walking the animals back home, and having a free tea,� he added.

Were those the `Good old days,� - full of innocence, free from the modern-day pressures? And who would choose to part with the technology, now available at home, in business, sport and entertainment? Maybe I should have put that question to Mickey Waddell!

< Previous Page