Railway historian, Michael Boyle, an engine-cleaner, who became a boilerman at Daisyhill Hospital when the railways closed down in 1965, has recalled such workmates as Phil McCorry from John Martin Street, who started work as a Boy Porter, became a guard, later a porter and ticket-collector. His father had been a shunter at Edward Street Station.

Other railway employees were Barney and Jimmy O�Hare, Reggie Hunter and John Mitchel from Caulfield Place; Jack Kane of Magennis Street, Billy Rodgers and Paddy Quinn of Dominic Street; Frank Sheehan from Edward Street; William Clarke, Mary Street; Tommy Keeley, Chapel Lane; Bob Irvine, Mullaghglass; Jemmy Black from Ballinacraig and Bob McKee of Merchants Quay. Firemen included John O�Hare, Gerry Fegan, John Hillen, Jack Black and Jimmy Dennison and Jimmy Neary.

First train to operate from the Newry station was in 1849; and though originally intended to reach Rostrevor, never got beyond Warrenpoint. Horse-drawn trams were used for the remainder of the journey. The Dundalk, Newry and Greenore company started running trains in 1873, terminating at Edward Street Station.

Meanwhile, the advent of the railways began to have an adverse effect on Newry, which had become a major manufacturing centre as well as a major harbour, with a direct service to America. Indeed, trade had been developed with cities as far away as New York, Rotterdam, Spain and London, being the fourth port in Ireland. By 1811, passenger services took over from goods. More than 5,000 people passed through the local harbour, en route to Canada and the United States, between 1845 and 1850.

But the mushroom growth of Belfast, the coming of the railways, as well as the inability of the Victoria Locks at the entrance to Newry Canal to cater for larger vessels, along with a major development at the `Point harbour, led to a diminution in business over the years, and its eventual closure in 1974. Sadly, the first canal in the British Isles sank into dereliction, rubbish-strewn, its wildlife and angling threatened with extinction. There were even proposals to cover it over.

This was the signal for that genial columnist, Rowan Hand, along with painter, musician and cyclist John Donnelly to galvanise a vigorous campaign, with aim of restoring and developing the potential of that unique stretch of water. And what dramatic changes have taken place, as the Albert Basin is now a thriving centre of commerce, with major developments on the way.

And, in recent years, ships have sailed proudly back along that scenic route, gaining a tremendous reception. They included the `Asguard` and `Tall Ships,` as well as flotillas of small craft, with skipper Rowan Hand leading the way.

This former boy scout and grand-nephew of the late Archbishop Francis Carroll, Primate of Liberia first got his love of boats when taken by his father, the late Cllr Gerry Hand from Mary Street, to watch ships being unloaded at the Albert Basin.

On leaving the Abbey C.B.S., he enrolled at the Marine Communications College in Belfast, training as a radio operator. Then followed a spell, sailing the seven seas, impressed by the power and spectacle of the South China Seas, as the ship ploughed through mountainous waves.

Returning home, he was employed as an Oxfam organiser and swim-pool attendant, before joining the local `Frontier Sentinel` as a photo-journalist. When the newspaper closed in the 70�s, Rowan was employed by `Independent` Newspapers in Dublin, later engaged as an R.T.E. presenter. But the `Troubles` were at their height, so he decided to move North, being appointed Head of News and Current Affairs at Radio Ulster.

At a reception for the media at R.U.C. Head-quarters in Belfast, Rowan and I were reminiscing about our boyhood at Mary Street in Newry. Veteran B.B.C. journalist, David Capper over-heard the conversation and enquired: �Where is this Mary Street?� Rounding on him in astonishment, Rowan declared: �Sure there is only one Mary Street, - that is Mary Street, Newry, of course.�

Accepting voluntary redundancy from the B.B.C., the enterprising all-rounder started a video business, with high-profile clients. And he was appointed Head of Media Studies at Newry College of Further Education, which was involved in the launch of a novel Radio an Iuir station. Meanwhile, this articulate communicator regularly contributes to the `Nationwide` programme on R.T.E. television.

Of course, the sea still holds great interest for Rowan Hand, having been a deep-sea diver, yachtsman, as well as a member of a sub-aqua club. And, of course, the canal still holds great fascination, especially with the World Angling Championship being held on the waterway, which he and his team helped to save from extinction. Finally, it is ironic that anglers, worldwide, converged on this historic stretch of waterway, in 2004, exactly 30 years after it ceased operating as a channel of commerce.

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