Memories

Memories containing the words .

Kevin Woods

29 January 2017

Catching Trout in the River Lane
Just across from the home of Patsy and Eithne Mc Kevitt on the River Lane there was a pool that had trout in it in the 1950s.They were small when we first spotted them. We would get into the river in our bare feet and catch them, trapping them between hands fingers and the wall.They were light brown in colour speckled with bright red and black spots.After catching them we would release them back into the pol

A year passed by,I was 11, and to us they now looked liked they had doubled in size.This time we caught them and brought them home to the pan.By the time they were topped and tailed there was pretty well nothing on them- barely a mouth full.

Looking back it seems extraordinary to me now that there were trout there. God knows where they came from and He also knows where they went to.50 years on the beauty of them in the water far outweighs the memory of what they tasted like.

There were also trout in the steam at Mountain Park when we were children. They were more elusive that the River Lane ones.We could never catch them though someone must have for they are gone too and only God knows to where..More > (0 comments)

Denis Cregan

29 January 2017

Carlingford Festivals & Gymkhanas.

I remember the sports day / Gymkhana in the “Yanks” field on the way over to the “far Pier” with 3 legged races, brawny adults Pitching sheaves of Hay across a high rope between two poles, multi coloured raffle tickets being sold for much longed for prizes, tea, Oriel minerals and iced cakes being served in a tent and just the sheer excitement of all the activity and entertainment.
Then there was the highlight of the “Water sports” taking place on the near pier beneath St. John’s Castle, the “Greasy Pole” pillow fights. How no one got splinters or worse from this activity remains a wonder. Getting on was the greatest obstacle and was the source of much advice, banter and always the source of exciting new vocabulary for the younger audience.
The Pipe Band like the pied piper attracting an increasing throng of followers as it paraded down Chapel Hill, along Dundalk Street, past the Square and on up Newry Street to the outside of the Town hall and to the stage for the street races and activities.

The fancy dress parade on Newry Street packed with adoring parents, colourful & creatively attired parade participants (both willing and unwilling) frazzled but enthusiastic organisers and throngs of amused, bemused but definitely entertained spectators.
I won a prize once dressed up in old Newspapers with the slogan “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”. Mum was delighted, I was mortified!
The Egg & Spoon races, the three legged races and for another highlight of the day, the Bogey Race.
The “Bogey” (home made go karts) of dubious construction, shot down Castle Hill at breakneck speeds, no brakes, lousy steering, scattered spectators and worn out shoes, but what a thrill!.

The slow bicycle race calmed things down a bit with expert contestants and the secrets of softened tyres, skilled braking (for those fortunate enough to have brakes), contorted bodies perfecting the art of tilting bikes and limbs in opposite directions and the thrill of the win! and then Eddie arrived with his ultra modern Triumph bike and wide tyres to conquer all. I’m sure his bike was illegal, it must have been, where were the judges, is it too late to set up a court of enquiry? …..no bitterness there then! I’m joking of course.

It was a great day, everyone knew everyone, we cheered, we jeered, we clapped, we laughed, we loved every minute of it and as soon as it ended we began looking forward to the next year.

Thank you Kevin, for the opportunity and forum in which we can share these great memories.
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Sandra Hampson

29 January 2017

I remember my friends and I hitching a lift from Dundalk to Carlingford on a sunday to hear the music in the Fjord pub. (1969 ish)More > (0 comments)

Pat McKevitt

29 January 2017

The Circus
An annual attraction was the visit of the circus. Duffy's circus was the firsr one I remember and later Fossetts' circus replaced it. One memory is of Paddy McMahon from the Greenore Rd. riding the bucking bronco ( a mule or a jinnet )and ,to grear cheers holding on to the end without being thrown off once. The 'strong man' in Duffys' or possibly, Fossetts' was a man named Moriarty. While the visit of the circus was an annual event 'Pitch and Toss@ was a regular pastime and on Sunday mornings and on other suitale occasions was played with quite a degree of intensity just off the lane running down from the Tholsel.
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Sean Kearney

29 January 2017

Memory: Visiting Carlingford
As child of 10 or 11 I visited my Uncle Pat Joe Kearney (my dad is Des Kearney) when he lived up the hill and we had a wonderful week visiting relatives and playing round the town. 3 real memories that stay with me are getting in trouble for trying to empty the well in the back yard and making it muddy, helping to ring the church bell, and going to church after visiting relatives who were harvesting the previous day and watching my dad kneel down and and leave two piles of wheat grain on the floor that had collected in the turnups of his trousers the previous day. All things that would never have happened in Blackpool. Your website has jogged so many ageing memories Thank You.More > (0 comments)