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Newry Foresters On March To Progress And Prosperity


FEW organisations in the Newry region could claim to have had in their ranks such outstanding personalities as those, who promoted and administered the John Mitchel Branch of the Irish National Foresters over more than 120 years.

Men of such calibre as WF Cunningham, Thomas Price, Frank O’Hare, John McCourt, Joe Connellan MP, Terence Ruddy, Hugh Curtis and Peter Fox, etc., set that fledgling branch on the road to progress and prosperity. They were a credit to their patron, Newry’s famous patriot, John Mitchel.

Pressing the case for a monument in the town centre, Chief Ranger and historian, Thomas Price had stated: “In honouring John Mitchel, we are a paying tribute to one of the greatest Irishmen to whom our country has given birth. He was one of those who `rose in dark and evil days to right our native land.`

“Mitchel could have enjoyed the happiness of the domestic circle with wife and children, secretly grieving at the lot of the down-trodden people among whom he lived. But he was not made of that kind of material, - he loved justice and hated tyranny. His justice-loving soul forbade him from taking the easy path of sympathetic aloofness.

“John Mitchel went out and publicly preached that the life of the peasant and working-class were as valuable and sacred as that of landlord or aristocrat. This new doctrine raised a storm, - and our brave patriot became a marked man. Transported to Van Diemans Land, he returned to Ireland only to die. But his spirit still lives on, guiding the generations, who followed him on the path to freedom,” declared Chief Ranger, the late Thomas Price.

And High Chief Ranger Bernard Larkin, - who had succeeded Frank O’Hare to that supreme post, - referred to the “deep interest in the Branch and the town towards the campaign to have such a monument erected in the town centre to one of Ireland’s greatest sons.”

The epitaph on the statue, which stands, appropriately enough, at John Mitchel Place, has the inscription: “After 27 years in exile for the sake of Ireland, he returned with honour to die among his own people, and rests with his parents in Old Meeting House Green at High Street.”

An outstanding member of Newry’s John Mitchel Branch was the late Joe McCrudden, Branch Secretary and General Secretary of the Irish National Foresters for over 30 years. Speaking at the graveside, his successor Joe McConville stated: “We have lost one of our most capable and longest-serving officers.

“A man of great Christian principles, his thoughts were always of others, while his first duties were to his family. He was a true Irishman who, in his youth, gave his services to the country he loved so well. If called on, he would have paid the supreme sacrifice.”

Chairman of Newry Urban Council, Pat McMahon, - who was also Secretary of the Newry INF Social Club, - said that “the community has lost a staunch champion, who has given a life-time of service to the Branch and the Order.”

Meanwhile, Hugh McKeown (Junior) from Mary Street, journalist with the `Frontier Sentinel` and Secretary of the Nationalist Party, who succeeded the deceased as Branch Secretary, stated that “if ever a man epitomised the organisation to which he devoted a large portion of his life, it was Joe McCrudden.

“As General Secretary he administered the affairs of the Irish National Foresters with firmness and fairness, just as when Secretary of the John Mitchel Branch. Possessing a unique sense of humour, he could silence his critics, tearing an opponent to shreds with a few well-chosen words. And Joe’s agile brain was impressive, as was his gift of oratory, with no empty clichés nor repetition. Audiences at INF Annual Conventions would sit spellbound at his ad-lib speeches.

“Self-educated, Joe McCrudden had an impressive field of knowledge, capable of quoting Shakespeare or Robbie Burns at the drop of a hat. And he was steeped in Irish history. Also, he detested bigotry and sectarianism, his circle of friends including those from all religious and political beliefs or walks of life, “recalled Hugh McKeown.

Born at Glasslough, Co Monaghan, Joe McCrudden took part in the War of Independence, later joining the railways. Posted to Derry, he became a member of the Aileach Branch of the Irish National Foresters. And when transferred to the frontier town, he began a long period of service with the John Mitchel Branch.

Married to Margaret Macken, a teacher from Mullabawn, Joe had three sons, the late John and Jim, who emigrated in Australia and Frank (RIP) who died in Chicago. He was also the father of two daughters, Patricia and Mrs Mary McShane.

Another legendary figure in the Newry INF Branch was Cllr WF Cunningham, who was described in the `Newry Reporter,` where he was a compositor, as “a man whose entire life was devoted to the welfare of his fellow-man.” WF, a native of Chapel Street, who died in 1942, became President of the Typographical Association, as well as chairman of Newry Urban Council. Previously he had been the first Trade Union/Labour representative on the Urban Council; first Labour vice-chairman of the Board of Guardians, and also of the Port and Harbour Trust.

Local historian `Darkie` McKevitt stated: “It was his work on behalf of the poor people of Newry, which ensured that he topped the poll as an Independent candidate at every election. He was available at all times to look after the interests of pensioners, widows and orphans, as well as the unemployed.

“There is no doubt that WF Cunningham, - injured in the First World War, - was one of Newry’s most conscientious public representatives. He spent hours filling in forms, so that the poor could get assistance from the State. He bailed people out of the Bridewell Jail, interred those whose families could not bear the burial costs; fought to retain Newry’s Windmill; and agitated for the building of houses at O’Neill Avenue, - where he later lived.

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© Fabian Boyle 2001-2008