THOUGH regarded as a busy shopping thoroughfare, Monaghan Street in Newry has also been home to many residents from all walks of life, including sport, music, high technology, commerce and community action.

One of the best-known was the Darcy family, - Marie and her five brothers, - Adrian, Pat, Kevin, Seamus and Eamonn. Indeed, Seamus was in the Northern Ireland squad, which drew with England at Wembley, and Scotland at Hampden Park in 1952.

Other families were the McCormacks, - Charlie (RIP), Vincent and Billy, all involved with the INF. Vincie, a High Chief Ranger, played a prominent role in the community movement, along with architect John Duffy, married to his late sister, Phyl. Billy became a trade union activist, while Charlie was employed at McCann�s Bakery.

Next door lived Mr and Mrs Ned McGuigan, whose daughter Rose worked in Malocca�s ice-cream parlour in Warrenpoint, and later emigrated to the United States. A brother of Mrs McGuigan, Mickey Flanagan and his wife, who resided in the next house, operated a Spar shop.

Nearby were the Mulhollands, whose father, Johnny, worked on the railways. Son Jimmy was also a railwayman and Forester, while Johnny (Junior) was a prominent member of Newry Shamrocks GFC, as well as gateman at Pairc an Iuir. Sisters were Lily and Chrissie.

Jackie Hearst of Ceili Band fame lived above the present Pat Duffy�s `Shoe Hospital.` Evacuated from Belfast during the early `Troubles,` he resided with his mother, sister Evelyn and niece Agnes Storey, who married Brendan Mackin from O�Neill Avenue. His father, Paul, was a well-known quiz-master.

Other well-known residents were Felix McCourt, caretaker of Newry Town Hall; the Goldings, with their children Pat and Brian; Bridie and Peter O�Hare, with their sons, � David, Pierce and Jeffrey; and a Mr Mackin, who worked with the shire horses, used to pull McCann�s bread-carts. Also Charlie and Petie Rodgers, as well as Mrs Collins, who husband was a sea-captain.

Nearby was Garvey�s `eating house,� always packed on Fair Days and Market Days. The owner kept pigs at the rear of Hollywood�s garage. Marie Darcy (now Mrs Roe) recalled witnessing their slaughter, also the squeals as they realised their fate was nigh. Some people kept pigs in their back-garden as extra income, even in the 60�s.

Marie and Sonny McCullagh would collect skins from door-to-door, to help feed Garvey�s animals. They would carry buckets full of slop the length of Monaghan Street, including potato skins, cabbage leaves and dinner left-overs. She recalled how �as teenagers we used to scoff at friends, by loudly demanding that they collect the `skins,` which were rotting in storage. If your pal was chatting up a girl, it was guaranteed to turn her off!�

Men from Crossmaglen and Mullabawn would sit on the window-sill outside Garvey�s, eating their meals. And since few people owned radios during the war, so Bridget Garvey would turn up the volume in the front room, while neighbours would sit outside, listening to the news and variety programmes. Nearby was a building where German prisoners-of-war were guarded by British soldiers. They would make wooden toys for local children.

Originally, Marie�s folk had resided where Hugh McKenna later had an off-licence. The Kavanagh family, cousins of her mother, lived there. They consisted of Paddy and his children, - Tony, Carmel, Joseph and Anthony. Marie and her husband, Maurice Rowe, a native of Castle Street, have three sons and a daughter. They are Martin, a milkman, also a soccer coach; Mario, a student; and Maurice, a painter, as well as Mrs Emma Rodgers.

Among the local traders were Mallons the cattle-dealers. A son, Dr `Sunshine` Mallon, nicknamed because of his optimistic prognosis; also Leo (of the Horse-shoe), Jack, Ronnie, Dr Francis, Patsy, Maureen and Sheila. The latter married Mick Ward, former principal of St Paul�s High School in Bessbrook.

Other cattle-dealers were Larry Keenan and the Brady�s, who were also green-grocers. They consisted of Jim, Harry, and Pat, Nellie, Molly and Dora. One long-time business is that of Pat Duffy, who has operated a shoe-repair shop for many years. A native of John Martin Gardens, Pat had spent two years with Vincent Toner�s electrical firm, until moving into his father�s premises, which he named the `Shoe Hospital.` Trade is booming.

Pat has two brothers, Terry, a compositor with the Newry Reporter and former Scout Leader, and John, a Bass Charrington executive; also four sisters, - Mrs Maureen Byrne, Mrs Rita Goss, Mrs Eileen McElroy and Mrs Joan Kenny. Married to Anne McSherry from Whitecross, they have a son, Kieran, a draughtsman, and two daughters, Elaine (Louis Boyd Stores) and Roisin, a student.

Describing how Sandy McNeill would drive cows from his land at Derrybeg to a yard at the back of Benny Hollywood�s garage, Pat also referred to the Pigs� Abbatoir, on the site of Dunnes� Stores, - an employee was Seanie O�Hanlon, later employed at the supermarket. Smyth�s Rag-store was nearby, while there was a watering trough at the bottom of Monaghan Row.

Pat�s boyhood friends included Eugene Rushe (Crusty Corner), Pat McStay, (West End Stores), Brian Pentony, Terry McCartan and John Roberts. A keen photographer, He and his family now reside off the Rathfriland Road.

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