ONE of the oldest public housing developments in Newry was the “Red Row” at O’Neill Avenue, a distinction shared with John Mitchel Street.

And a unique feature was the fact that eight of the original tenants, back in 1926, were members of the RUC, based at the Bridewell Police Barracks in Kilmorey Street.

From those homes came notabilities such as Fr P.J. O’Hanlon, PP, Mullabawn; Fr Tom McAteer, CC, Lurgan; Father Tom Bradley, White Fathers; Sister Joan McAteer; Councillors Pat Quinn-Bennett, Frank Mulligan and Colman Rowntree; accountant Edward O’Hanlon; his brother Seamus is a teacher; while Paddy is a financial adviser; architect John Duffy; airline pilot, Teddy McCourt; and Rita Gallagher was a teacher.

Other residents included Brian Fearon, poet; Jackie Gorman and Seamus Jennings, hairdressers; Captain Paddy Lambe, Knights of Malta; Sean McAteer, poulterer; Jim “Darkie” McKevitt; Jim Rowntree, Hugh McKenna, “Dollar” Duffy, Hugh Gorman, joiner; Andrew McAteer, gas lamp-lighter; Billy Scott, coalman; Brian Burns and Barney Curran.

Also on the list of personalities would be Arthur Bole, Benny Fearon, Bobby Carson; Dessie, Malachy and John Cunningham; Sidney McGovern, Paddy and Peter McAteer, Sean and Noel McKevitt, John McEvoy, Leo and Owney Harbinson; Davey Stack, Peter Shields, Maxi McAllister, Joe McAnuff, Peter McAnulty and Pat O’Neill, barmen.

On the sports front were Ritchie Hollywood, who “discovered” Pat Jennings and Peter McParland, after whom a nearby park has been named; Oliver and Colman Rowntree (Irish Champion boxers), Oliver McGauley, (angling), Gerry McAnuff (athletics). Tom Gorman (Newry Shamrocks GFC); Sean McAteer (hurling) and Sean Og McAteer (Newry Mitchels and Down P.R.O.), Artie Green, John Lundy, Brian Fearon, Oliver and Larry Boyle (soccer).

And in the musical sphere were Leon Scott, prominent on the showband scene, while Pat Sheridan was composer of Ireland’s ill-fated entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Former resident, Margaret Comer (nee McAteer), now Librarian at St Colman’s College, who helped organise a memorable re-union of ex-pats, three years ago, recalled the rich diversity at the Avenue in 1938, when the family, including her sisters, Mrs Anne White and Joan (a nun), came to live there.

“In the 50’s, our play-grounds began to disappear, as 22 new houses were built. But many of us had become teenagers, and such games as skipping, rounders and marbles were left aside as childish things.”

Maybe the largest family in the entire estate was that of Barney Curran and his wife, formerly Maggie Murphy from Church Street.

The children are Mrs Kathleen Heaney, Mrs Margaret McKay and Mrs Doreen Iutzi (both in Canada), Doreen (RIP), Mrs Bernadette Bannon, Brian (Boston), Mrs Carmel Thompson, Desmond and Gerard (Canada), Kevin and Noel.

Community relations have been excellent, as exemplified by next-door neighbours, Michael Boyle (Old IRA) and Mrs Elizabeth McElroy (British Legion.) At her funeral, Catholic neighbours carried the coffin for some distance, a tribute to her esteem, especially long service to the Gateway Club, which has been continued by her daughter, Sister Sylvia.

And when her son, Ian McElroy, died recently, there was a similar, public, cross-community expression of sympathy at his funeral service. A sister, Mrs Ena Nummy, died some years ago.

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