Always interested in greyhounds, he and his brother Jimmy won many prizes, especially at races in Dundalk. And as a long-time friend of major award-winning owner and trainer, Brendan Matthews, they have been present at many triumphs, including various Derby wins.

Indeed, the main sport in the `Back of the Dam` was greyhound racing, which involved not just the Pattersons, but also Eamonn Toner, Seamus McGreevey, Tom Donnelly, Joe Morgan and Councillor Barney Maguire, a stevedore, who was President of the Newry and district Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, and also of the C.B.P.PU.

Apart from the mayor and Barney Maguire, other councillors from this area included Tommy McGrath, stonemason, union leader, chairman of the Newry Branch of the Irish Labour Party, and the only member of Newry Urban Council elected to Newry and Mourne district council. He was born at Downshire Court, an entry which linked North Street and Water Street. And Cllr Brendan Curran, a native of Castle Street, was the first Sinn Fein chairman of Newry and Mourne district council.

By coincidence, the first chairman of Newry and Mourne district council in 1973 was an Independent, John `Covey` McAteer from Ballyholland. Exactly 30 years later, another Independent councillor, Jackie Patterson, resident in the same locality, was elected Mayor of Newry.

Among the merchants who thrived in the `Back of the Dam` were Vincent Toner, Eamonn Fitzpatrick, Charlie McGreevey, Jimmy Boyle and Peter Rushe, Tom McNulty, Sandy McKee, Paddy Doorley, Richard Garland, Campbells the shoemakers; the O’Callaghan brothers; Bannons, Brackenberry’s, Jimmy Magee the barber; Tweedie’s pawnbrokers; Collins the butchers; and Boden’s bottling plant, while Sean O’Driscoll’s family owned a public house.

The characters included `Banner` Blair and John Magill of the A.O.H.; Arthur Keenan, a blacksmith; Tommy Price, the ice-cream man; Paddy Pearse, who had a pet-shop; Tommy Spencer and Charlie Cunningham the cinema projectionist. One grand old lady, Margaret Ann McKeown, had 12 children. When her husband died, she opened a greengrocery shop to help rear her children.

One of the most esteemed figures was the late Eddie McAteer, poultry-merchant in North Street, historian and musician, founder of the Pioneer movement in the region. His son, Sean was also a poultry-dealer and dedicated Gael; Frank spent most of his life in Dublin, while Andrew was a lamplighter and historian.

An `Old North Street ` exhibition was staged at Newry Library by the Craobh Ui Fiaich of the Gaelic League, organised by secretary, Seamus Mac Dhaibhead, editor of the `Cuisle na Gaeilge` journal. It attracted tremendous interest. The Newry branch won a national award, which was presented by Taoiseach, Charles Haughey.

Just over 200 years ago, the `Newry Chronicle’ recorded the establishment of a Theatre Royal in Market Street, at the bottom of High Street. It reported that “the demand for tickets was so great that six rows of the pit will be railed into boxes. The area has a real coterie of resident gentry, a well-informed rural class and aspiring merchants.”

So it was no surprise that a `ladies stays-maker` from London advertised in the local press that “being encouraged by the ladies of Newry, I have decided to open a business in North Street, and carry on stays-making in all its branches, for example, French, Italian and riding stays.”

And what well-dressed lady, erect and stiff as a poker, would dare to appear in public without a hat. So milliner John Cunningham announced in the press that he had “embraced this opportunity to extend my most grateful acknowledgments to the ladies and gentlemen, who have countenanced to patronise my business.”

Meanwhile, the Earl of Kilmorey had been given a grant by Parliament to erect a retaining wall along the bank of the Clanrye River, where it flowed through the town. This was intended to drain and reclaim the swamp, and to lay out streets for buildings.

Gradually, a new town centre emerged from the bog beside the tidal river. A majestic gothic cathedral, ornate banks and business premises challenged the supremacy of the `Back of the Dam.` The focus of trade began to shift to the more central thoroughfare. And the writing was on the wall when the Earl of Kilmorey built a `butter-crane` on Merchants Quay. By coincidence, a Buttercrane shopping centre was sited in the same locality, more than 150 years later!

And history could repeat itself in the old North Street area, with the regeneration of that historic location, wiping out that eyesore and nightmare for residents, known as the Flats. The mayor will be pressing for housing and community aspects to be given top priority. It is a challenge and opportunity for the planners, to avoid a repetition of that architectural monstrosity!

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