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Come To The 'Point


WARRENPOINT, when en fete for the annual Maiden of Mourne Festival, has an ambience of prosperity, enhanced by the landscaped Square, sea-front and Promenade, transformed into a virtual arboretum of flowers and foliage.

The atmosphere recalls the early 50`s, when Reeds “box factory” employed over 500 people, Dow-Mac cement plant was at full production, while a huge increase in house-building was provided by local contractors, Carvill and Felix O`Hare, with a combined workforce of over 900 workers.

Meanwhile, thousands of day-trippers from the Newry area, and as far away as Mid-Ulster, would pour into the `Point by coach and train every summer weekend.

And while the men-folk would cross by ferry-boat to Omeath, in search of cheap drink and fags, mothers and children would avail of the amusements at Ireland’s largest Square, including circus, swings and roundabouts, side-shows, ice-cream carts and tea-rooms, Orange and Hibernian parades and celebrations, - without a bit of bother!

Visitors could relax in the Municipal Gardens, listen to the bands, watch their “betters” playing tennis, stroll along the pebbly beach, (what has changed!) maybe have a “dip,” or watch the yachts and rowboats on the Lough.

Later, joining up with the inebriated menfolk, laden with contraband from the South, - including tea, sugar and butter, - they headed home on the sing-along buses and steam trains.

Those were the days when the ‘Point Pantomime Club was launched, providing homespun entertainment for the next 50 years. At the helm was producer Frank Hanna, aided by the script-writing and comedy duo of Christy and Jean McGuigan, a partnership which ended with Christy’s early death.

Employed at Reeds plant, this irrepressible character felt confined within the factory, and took a job as postman, a familiar figure, cycling around the town, with a cheery smile and a wave for his multitude of friends. He also operated a ferryboat to Omeath during the summer.

Meanwhile, Jean, whose mother was married to a naval officer, as were her two aunts, spent her early years in London, where she learned ballet and step-dancing. One night, during a visit with her mother to the local Music Hall, they were seated in the front row.

During the interval, Jean climbed up the steps on to the stage, and performed a quick tap-dance, much to the amusement of the audience, and the embarrassment of her mother.

On return to Warrenpoint, little Miss Greenhill continued her interest in dancing, and later joined the Pantomime Club, based in Mary Street. It was while typing the scripts for Christy McGuigan that they met and romance blossomed. There is one daughter, Joanne McStay, who is also involved in the Panto, as well as two granddaughters, Sian McStay and Terri McGuigan.

Meanwhile, one of Jean’s sons, Christopher, is also stage-struck, inheriting his father’s sense of comedy, as well as being a gifted musician, A CD of his own compositions, entitled “All growed up,” has just been released. There is another son, Patrick.

The ‘Point Panto Club has been the launching pad for several careers, including Clodagh Rodgers, runner-up in the Eurovision Song Contest; Oliver “Big O” McMahon, and “Patch” Connolly, who has featured on stage and BBC Television, etc.

Other artists have included Bobby Reoch, Brian Gallagher, Mary Savage and Margaret Hughes, John Boyle and Aveen Kinney, accompanist. Producer, since the demise of Frank Hanna, has been Elizabeth Boyle.

Of course, this tranquil resort has produced a wealth of talent in all fields, including Bishop John Crawford; Dr Liam Bradley, historian; Council chairmen Jim McCart and Peter Grant; Sean Crawford, teacher, linguist, dramatist and historian; his brother, Vincent, Town Clerk of Warrenpoint; Thomas Caulfield Irwin (“Ireland’s Wordsworth”); prolific writer, Denis Donoghue, whose father was an RUC Sergeant at the local police station; and Pat O’Neill, MP at Stormont and proprietor of the Crown Hotel.

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© Fabian Boyle 2001-2008