A formidable array of personalities have been at the helm of the Omeath Guild, over the past 42 years. These included Mary O�Shea, a former teacher at Newry CBS; Maura Brown, Postmistress; Doreen Rooney, skilful Bridge player; Anna O�Connor, a director of the Credit Union; Eva Molloy, who organised craft shows; greengrocers, Peggy Kennedy and Rosaleen Murphy (nee Phillips); Josephine McAuley, jeweller; and the late Sheila Byrne, who owned a souvenir shop in Carlingford.

There were also Maura McQuaid and Maud Brennan, whose sons, Seamus and Eamonn, are present and past chairmen of the Omeath Development Company; Eileen Howe and Christine Doyle, whose families have been in the licensed trade; Addie O�Neill (nee Boyle), Angela O`Callaghan, Dympna Woods, Josie Magowan, Margaret Phillips, (a native of Ballyshannon), Kathleen McKevitt, Eileen Gallagher Maureen Martin and Mona Daly.

By coincidence, the father of the two brothers, Tommy Mulligan, - a musical virtuoso, who trained or conducted most of the bands in the Newry region, - was a close friend of Omeath-born Michael Boyle, both having served in the Fourth Northern division of the pre-truce IRA. Michael and his brother, Hugh, had to leave their homes, after the formation of the Irish Free State, having been on the republican side in the Civil War.

After residing for a time at Chapel Street in Newry, Hugh Boyle emigrated to Birmingham, where they settled. However, Hugh (junior) a Ryder Cup golfer, represented Ireland in the World Cup, partnering Christy O�Connor (senior).

Another son, Fr Willie Boyle, was a member of the Birmingham Six Committee. He performed the prison wedding ceremony of Paul Hill and the niece of the late President John Kennedy. However, after the release of the `Brum Six, Fr Willie came under intense harassment from relatives and friends of the Birmingham bomb victims. So he was transferred to Florida, where he still ministers.

An encounter between the Omeath-born priest and a Newry couple was recounted by Noel Haughey. He, along with his wife, formerly Margot Carroll, were visiting Florida at the time that the Republic of Ireland were playing in the World Cup, and were being taken on a group tour of a local church.

The parish priest, Fr Willie, recognised their accent and asked what part of the north they came from. When told they were from Newry, he pointed out that he had lived on the High Walk in Chapel Street.

Hugh Boyle�s brother, Michael, made his home at Mary Street in the frontier town, having a green-grocery business in Newry market. Every Thursday, memories of his guerrilla days would be revived when, selling herrings at the market gate, he would be situated close to the haberdashery stall, operated by his old comrade, Tommy Mulligan.

His republican past would emerge on Saturday nights when, after ablutions in the big tin bath before a roaring fire, he would sit us on his knees, and sing ballads such as �The Boys of Wexford,� and �the Night that Newtownhamilton barracks went to blazes.�

Easter Sunday was a red-letter day from the late 40�s to the early 70�s, when my father and fellow veterans of the Old IRA would be in the front rank of the Easter Commemoration Parades, tasking it in turn to lay a wreath at the republican plot.

Like all herringmen from Omeath, he would drive by horse and cart to Kilkeel, early in the morning, to purchase the silver-gleaming fish. Plying his trade in the market, he would entice shoppers, describing the herrings as �fresh, fair and lovely, like a newly-married woman,� and promising that they would �melt in your mouth, and run down your belly like a race-horse.�

The legendary Miss Ethel Fitzpatrick described how, �every Friday, the herringmen would come round, hawking their wares. They would arrive in bright, navy-blue carts, which were gleaming with shoals of silver herrings, shouting �Harns alive.� The women would come out and buy a half-dozen, wrapped in newspaper.

During summer week-ends, my father operated a jaunting-car at Omeath. We would set off by pony-and-trap, the 40�s equivalent of a Merc. Then, on Monday, as the rest of the family settled down for the holidays in the cottage at Cornamuckla, my father and I would return to Newry, where I would assist in his various enterprises.

It is difficult to be objective when describing one�s father. But it can be truly said that Michael Boyle was hard-working, completely honest, generous to a fault, good-natured, humorous, and dedicated to his family. He never took a holiday, and his only vices were an occasional Woodbine and a bottle of stout.

His first allegiances were to family, faith and fatherland, - a true son of Omeath!

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