Brotherhoods and Friendly Societies

11 th June 2013 9 th May 2014 Brotherhoods and Friendly Societies

Francis Clements Crossle, 1847 – 1910

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

A medical doctor in Newry, Francis Crossle was a noted historian and geneaologist, and an expert on the history of Freemasonry in Newry. He served as Master of each of the Newry Masonic Lodges and was founder and first Master of the Francis Crossle Lodge No. 83. He was Deputy Grand Master of the Province of Down from 1901 until 1910.

Réamhrá an Mhéara

Mar Mhéara Chomhairle an Iúir agus Mhúrn, tá an-áthas orm réamhrá an leabhrán seo a scríobh, leabhrán a ghabhann leis an taispeántas sealadach de chuid Iarsmalann an Iúir agus Mhúrn, “Bráithreachais agus Cara-Chumainn”

Cíorann an taispeántas borradh na mbráithreachas agus na gcara-chumann agus leagtar béim ar a n-éagsulacht.

Fud fad an taispeántais léiríonn an libhré beoga, dáthannach agus na hearraí cuimhneacháin na tréithe coitianta éagsúla de na lóistí, chomh maith leis an siombalachas agus na deasghnátha, roinnt acu a théann siar chuig na Meánaoiseanna.

Go minic bhíodh na heagraíochtaí seo i mbun cúram bhaill an phobail a bhíodh i gcruachás agus ar an ábhar sin sa lá atá inniu ann, bailíonn cuid mhór de na heagraíochtaí seo airgead chun críocha carthanúla ar son dea-chúiseanna áitiúla.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na rannpháirtithe uile a rinne taighde agus a scríobh altanna don leabhrán as ucht a gcuidiú agus a gcomhoibriú le haghaidh sholáthar ábhair don taispeántas seo.

Comhairleoir John McArdle

An Méara, Comhairle an Iúir agus Mhúrn

Mayor’s Foreword

As Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, I am pleased to write the foreword for this publication which complements the new temporary exhibition “Brotherhoods and Friendly Societies”, now on display at Newry and Mourne Museum.

The exhibition looks at the growth of fraternal and friendly societies in this area and highlights their diversity.

Throughout the exhibition the vibrant and colourful regalia and memorabilia on display reflects the many common characteristics of lodges, symbolism and rituals, some dating back to the Middle Ages.

These organisations often cared for members of the community who had fallen on hard times and so many of the modern societies carry out charitable works by raising money for many worthy local causes.

I would like to thank all the contributors who have researched and written articles for the booklet and for their help and cooperation in providing material for the exhibition.

Councillor John McArdle Mayor, Newry and Mourne District Council

Mothers’ Union, St. Patrick’s Parish Church, Newry, c.1960

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Shown at the table from left are Mrs Jones, Mrs Labrom, Mrs Major, Mrs Weir, Mrs Grills, Mrs Furness, Mrs Lowans, Miss Swanzy and Miss Swanzy. The Mothers’ Union is a group within the Church of Ireland that undertakes charitable work in support of families.

Introduction

Brotherhoods and Friendly Societies are multipurpose organisations with origins dating back to medieval times. These societies were formed for a number of reasons including religion, politics, recreation and charitable support. Over the past three centuries the number of these groups has increased significantly, particularly in the late Victorian period.

In the Newry and Mourne area a number of Brotherhoods have flourished, including Freemasonry, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Loyal Orange Order, Royal Black Institution and Irish National Foresters. These organisations have their origins in medieval traditions of craftsmanship and chivalry and while often very different, have similar characteristics such as hierarchies, processions and regalia.

Members of Newry Round Table at a function c.1973 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection Newry Round Table was established in 1959 and closed in 2005. Membership of this organisation, which raised money for charity, comprised professional and business men under the age of 40.

The ethos of charity and community also led to the development of societies formed to provide humanitarian and professional support for charities and members. These include the Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel, Soroptimists, Women’s Institute and the Round Table. Church groups have included the Mothers’ Union, Presbyterian Women’s Association, the Knights of Columbanus and the Archconfraternity of the Holy Family.

From the Industrial Revolution onwards, movements for the welfare of factory and mill workers began to emerge. These were formalised as Trade Unions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Using documents and objects, this exhibition gives a brief overview of some of the Brotherhoods and Friendly Societies in the Newry and Mourne area. This material provides a colourful and wide ranging insight into the origins and traditions of these organisations which have made a significant contribution to the community.

Menu card, 1938

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus is an Irish Catholic fraternal organisation for lay men dedicated to the service of Christ in daily life. This card is from one of the social events held by the Order to celebrate religious festivals.

Golden

Jubilee of Annalong Women’s Institute, 1987 Courtesy of Jean Gordon Pictured at a Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Annalong Women’s Institute. Front row (left to right): Helen Livingston, Chairperson of the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland, Jean Gordon, President of Annalong Women’s Institute, the Duchess of Abercorn, past President of the Federation and Lady Anthony Hamilton, current President of the Federation.

A lifelong member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 284 Newry

Councillor Charlie Casey

I have been a Hibernian club member since I was 18 or 19 and I have been a divisional member since the late 1980s. The difference between a club member and a divisional member is that a divisional member is involved in making decisions on the day to day running of the club and the division. The club members are people who avail of the social amenities of the club such as a game of pool, darts or a social drink.

In our division we have a management team, which is made up of senior officers including the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and management team members. We meet each month and discuss various items including management of our licensed premises and correspondence from other divisions. We also facilitate visits by Hibernian branches from across Ireland, North America and Scotland.

Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Newry Division 284, c.1964/65 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Pictured

at a function in Newry Town Hall are front row (left to right): N. McDonald, J. Hogan, P. McAlinden, J. Farrell, T. Hogan, J. McAleavey, W. McMahon. Back row (left to right): J. Hanna, S. Magill, H. Marley, P. McAleavey, G. Taylor, D. Hogan, J. Devlin, F. Small.

I am currently President of Division 284 and this is my fourth year of office. I see myself as fronting an organisation that is well established in Newry. We are a faith and family based organisation, although the connection between ourselves and the Catholic Church has lessened in recent years.

The Hibernians contribute to the whole community and in 2011 we raised in the region of £10,500 for good causes such as cancer charities.

Membership of the Ancient Order of Hibernians has fallen away in recent years; I remember there were divisions in Glen, Bessbrook and Killeavy but they no longer meet. Currently in our division we have 60 or 70 divisional members and 100 – 120 club members. We have a close relationship with Glassdrummond AOH Division 473, near Kilkeel which is a very active group.

Many years ago when clubs were thriving more than pubs, we had bars on each of the three floors in the Hibernian Hall in Newry. There was a bar, snooker table and card room on each of the three levels and each floor had a different clientele.

During the Troubles, the AOH in Newry did not parade. We resumed our parades in the 1990s and we parade on the 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption and on the 17th March, St. Patrick’s Day. Each year a branch of the AOH hosts the main parade and we also may receive invitations from other divisions to attend a church parade. We do not currently have a band, so when we parade we often join forces with Glassdrummond Pipe Band.

Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 284, Newry on parade in Newry on 15th August 2005 © William McAlpine Members of the St. Joseph’s Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe Band, Division 473, Glassdrummond, 1951 Courtesy of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 473, Glassdrummond Front row, third from right (seated) is Joseph Higgins who is still an active member of the current band. The Higgins and Davey families have been closely associated with the Hibernians in Glasdrummond for many years.

Irish National Foresters, Ballyholland – Branch Fr. John Rooney No.

407 and Branch St. Ita No. 409

Joan McAteer and Paddy McKevitt

The history of the Foresters dates back to feudal times when serfs and peasants met in secret. Their lives and those of their families were at the mercy of the landlords who, on a whim, could and did evict these people from their homes. As a consequence, a self help and benevolent society was formed by the poor for the poor and so was born the Ancient Order of Foresters which has now spread throughout the world embracing many nationalities.

The Irish National Foresters seceded from the Ancient Order of Foresters in 1870 and today, where there are communities of Irish people or people of Irish descent, you will, more often than not, find a branch of the Irish National Foresters. The Foresters in this country have continued to flourish in the intervening years.

While the secession was final, the rules and regulations were transferred from the ancient order. The Irish National Foresters adopted the motto of Unity, Nationality and Benevolence, and they have upheld those very laudable aims since their formation.

still maintain that system of providing support and assistance to those in need.

The office bearers of the Branches of the Irish National Foresters have titles such as Chief Ranger, Sub Chief Ranger and Senior and Junior Beadles and Woodwards. The Beadles traditionally looked after the ‘door’ of the hall and the Woodwards issued quarterly notices for payment of dues. Individual members are known as ‘Brothers’ and ‘Sisters’.

A branch of the Irish National Foresters was formed in Ballyholland, near Newry, in 1901. It was unique in that it was named after Father John Rooney, while he was still alive, a popular parish priest who ministered in Newry at that time. Around 70 members were initiated, and a hall was built in 1904 which was used until it was accidentally burnt down in 1940. A temporary hall was erected, with a new hall not being opened until 1960.

In 1945 a ladies’ branch was formed which took the name ‘St. Ita’ and was registered under the Friendly Societies Act of 1896.

The Foresters meet every Monday night and hold a Mass every three years at Father Rooney’s grave at Hilltown. During the first weekend in June they attend a Mass at the Ballyholland Mass Rock, a place of worship the Ballyholland Foresters help maintain.

In acknowledging that the advent of the Welfare State reduced the pressure on the work of the Foresters, particularly in this part of Ireland, they

Newtownhamilton Loyal Orange District (LOL) No. 9 William Copeland

The District currently comprises ten private Lodges, including LOL 106 Ballymoyer Synotts True Blue, LOL 117 Newtownhamilton

Whitewater Temperance, LOL 630B Tullyvallen

Guiding Star, LOL 1157 Knockavannon and LOL 1158 Knocknanin (County Monaghan). Also active in the area are a Junior Lodge and a Ladies Lodge. In the past, there were a further seven working Orange Lodges in the District in localities such as Cloghue near Cullyhanna, Osier Hill and Camlymacullough, but these lodges no longer meet.

From the officers of the private lodges are elected the officers of the District Lodge, both these elections take place on an annual basis. The District reports to, and attends meetings of County Armagh Grand Lodge, which in turn reports to, and attends quarterly meetings of The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

Traditionally, the District was described as having a “Goodly Heritage”, being able to trace its origins back to the Battle of the Diamond which occurred on the 21st September 1795 when the private lodge warrant LOL 117 was granted by James Sloan. Newtownhamilton District was granted District Warrant No. 9 in 1814 by County Armagh Grand Lodge and the first recorded District Master was John Simpson, when he signed a proclamation on 5th June 1820.

The ethos and principles of the Orange Institution in Newtownhamilton, as in all other Districts, is based on Biblical teachings; Loyalty to the Crown, Upholding the Law of the Land and Charitable Words and Actions. One recorded example of the behaviour of true Orangemen was during a night of severe social and political strife in a certain town, four Orangemen leaving an Orange Order meeting accompanied an elderly Priest to his home which was a mile out of town.

The District Lodge and all members, pride themselves on their social standing in the area, publicly parading to their annual church services, displaying their banners and regalia, but also in the public use of their halls. Many halls have been renovated and brought up to modern day standards and expectations and are used extensively for public and social events. These activities range from dancing, keep fit, computer lessons, flower arranging, jewellery making and photography to talks on farm and home safety.

A lot of charity work and fundraising is conducted throughout the District, ranging from the Special Needs School at Cootehill, County Cavan, cancer support charities, orphans throughout Ireland, Southern Area Hospice to overseas work such as the Momoko Hospital project in Uganda.

The County Armagh Twelfth Demonstration is planned for Newtownhamilton in 2013 and we pray for God’s Blessing upon all, as the District goes from strength to strength.

St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge, No. 77, Newry The Early Years

Compiled by Alexander Hanna, and based on the research and publications of Francis Crossle (1847 - 1910)

A warrant was issued by the Grand Lodge of Ireland dated 27th December 1737 and numbered 77, to William Ponder, James Hollyman and John Ard, to hold a Lodge in the town of Newry.

Historic details of Lodge No. 77 during its first 70 years are scant in the extreme as the earliest extant minute book commences on 24th June 1806.

The years 1775 to 1806 are the most puzzling period in the history of Lodge 77. The Grand Lodge Register shows a steady increase of membership until we come to the name of Cornelius Burns, registered 26th March 1775. There were no further registrations until John Clarke, Daniel Turley, Matthew Griffith, Thomas Goodin and John Hanigan, who were all registered on 23rd October 1806. Dr Francis Crossle in his “Sketch of the History of St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge No.77, Newry” published in 1895 could only state that during this period of 31 years the Lodge had suspended its labours. Further research has shown, however, that the Warrant was never cancelled or returned to Grand Lodge.

During the period 1806 - 1810 Freemasonry in Newry was flourishing, with Lodge 77 admitting no fewer than ninety-six new members of whom forty-nine were registered in Grand Lodge.

Membership, however, fell rapidly throughout Freemasonry in the period up to 1824. The Catholic Church debarred members of that faith from becoming Freemasons which affected over half the membership of Lodge 77. Also, from May 1823 to November 1824 all meetings of Grand Lodge were suspended in consequence of an Act for the suppression of certain societies in Ireland. Many members fell away during this time who did not afterwards return. By the end of 1824 there were only fourteen subscribing members on the roll of Lodge 77.

Newry Masonic Hall © William McAlpine Masonic Lodges in Newry met in various locations before the current Hall in Downshire Road was opened in 1887. Local lodges, including Lodge 77, hold their meetings in this venue.

The Lodge continued to meet, but membership struggled from 1827 to 1850 with an average of 8 members on the roll. New members were initiated regularly during this period but withdrew quickly, possibly due to the high rates of emigration at that time.

The Lodge however became reinvigorated from 1850 onwards with the installation of William Sutherland Fraser Murray as Master and many new members being registered with Grand Lodge.

1887 was a very important year for Lodge 77 as on 27th December it celebrated 150 years in existence. A special communication of the Lodge was held in celebration of the eminent Freemason Bro. Francis Clements Crossle who was installed as Worshipful Master. At this meeting Bro. Crossle gave an eloquent historical address on the rise and progress of Lodge 77.

Under the original Warrant, Lodge 77 has continued to meet to the present day and it is the oldest Lodge in Ulster and the sixth oldest in Ireland, having celebrated 275 years of continuous working on 27th December 2012.

Courtesy

This stone came from the front wall of a house which stood in Lower North Street, Newry, formerly known as ‘Dirty Lane’. According to Francis Crossle this house was the original meeting place of Lodge 77. The stone bears Masonic symbols and is now located in the Masonic Hall in Downshire Road, Newry.

Members of St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge, No. 77, Newry, 1988 Courtesy of St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge, No. 77 Lodge No. 77 is the oldest in Newry as well as in Ulster. This photograph was taken to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Carved stone, 1738 of Alexander Hanna

Mourne Presbyterian Women

Ann Blue

Mourne Presbyterian Church Kilkeel, was founded in July 1696 and from the early 1900s there has been a women’s organisation as part of church life. Although the name may have changed, the aim has remained the same, that is: to encourage women to become disciples of Jesus Christ in love and unity through obedience to God’s Word, seeking to serve Him using our gifts and talents and to be involved in local and global mission.

The group provides fellowship and gives women the opportunity to meet twice monthly when we spend time getting to know each other in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. This is a lovely way for new members in the church to make friends quickly. Throughout the year there are a variety of programmes ranging from cookery demonstrations, fashion and home spun talent, to missionaries home on furlough giving us an update on their work.

Also throughout the year we are involved in catering, either providing dinner for group outings or funeral teas – a service much appreciated by bereaved families. However the biggest of these is our annual Harvest sale, a very busy day when we provide hundreds of ‘Mourne fries’, soup, homemade breads and cakes to people in town for the ‘Fair Day’. It may be hard work but it is also a day of great fun as we try to keep abreast of all the orders. The kitchen is probably the place where we really get to know one another at a deeper level as we work together.

Of course there is a purpose in all this work and that is to raise funds to help support our missionaries, Deaconess’ work and charities as they reach out to a needy world with practical aid and most importantly, with the good news of salvation, which is, God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Most members will not serve overseas as missionaries but as Christians we are called by Jesus to share our faith wherever we are.

Although we have our own PW group within Mourne Presbyterian Church, we are part of a much bigger organisation throughout Ireland. Each year we hold our AGM in the Assembly Buildings in Belfast and it is wonderful to see the main hall filled to capacity over a two day period as thousands of women share in fellowship as we praise and worship God together.

Mourne Presbyterian Church Courtesy of Mourne Presbyterian Women

What it means to be a member of the Royal Black Institution Councillor David Taylor

I have been a member of the Royal Black Institution since I was 18. To qualify for admission you have to be a member of the Loyal Orange Order. My Preceptory, Olive Branch RBP 348, meets in Sheepbridge Orange Hall. I am also Chaplain for this Orange Lodge, but at District and County level it is regularly a common occurrence that an ordained Minister assumes this role.

The Royal Black Institution has a strong Christian ethos and members have to attend eleven lectures which are based on Scriptures from the Holy Bible. This is designed to teach members the learnings of the Bible and encourage them to live their lives according to Scripture. There is no set time in which the lectures have to be completed, but you are encouraged to undertake them in as short a period of time as work and other commitments dictate.

Membership of the Preceptory plays a considerable role in my life as it is a very active organisation and meetings take place on a monthly basis. The internal structures are usually based on an officer team of five, which include the Worshipful Master, Deputy Master, Chaplain, Treasurer and Secretary. The Olive Branch Preceptory is part of Newry Royal Black District Chapter No. 4. District meetings occur on a quarterly basis and deal with general business relating to the ten Preceptories from Newry City, Bessbrook and Warrenpoint who are members of this District. Newry No. 4 is a member of County Down Royal Black Chapter

which meets on a half yearly basis in various venues across County Down and holds regular events.

My Preceptory attends three main parades each year; the Scarva Demonstration on the 13th July, the last Saturday in August and our District Church parade and service which takes place one day after the last Saturday Demonstration in August. We are accompanied by the Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band, and have had a long association with this Band.

In 2011 the Newry Royal Black District Chapter hosted the last Saturday Demonstration. Each year the host district is given a sum of money raised on that day to donate to local charities. Newry was given £3,000, which we donated to three charities; to Newry Hospice, a local cancer charity and to the local RIR Association, as one of our members was killed whilst serving in Afghanistan. At a local level many Preceptories run functions to raise funds for charitable organisations.

Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band at the Scarva Demonstration, 1962 © William McAlpine The oldest of the marching bands in the Newry area, with origins going back to 1884. At first it was known as Sheepbridge Flute Band. In June 1908 the band was granted premises by Hunter Moore, a prominent solicitor in Newry. Following his death in 1923 it was renamed in his honour.

Members of Newry Royal Black District Chapter No. 4, 2005 © William McAlpine Pictured parading in Newry after returning from the Scarva Demonstration on the 13th July 2005.

Newry Soroptimist Fashion Show, Newry, 1961

Courtesy of Soroptimist International Newry and Mourne Fundraising for various charities has been an important role of the Soroptimists. In the early years of the Newry branch there were strong links with the Samaritans and fashion shows were a popular form of fundraising for this charity.

Soroptimist International

Newry and Mourne

Helen Patterson, Hilary Halliday and Jacqueline Turley

Soroptimist International is a world-wide volunteer service organisation for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.

The first club was established in California in 1921 and in 1956 a group of women came together to charter a club in Newry. The first President was Eileen McKinstry and initially the Club held their meetings in members’ homes, progressing to The Ardmore Hotel and now, in recent years, The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre.

In the early years the Club focused on raising funds for local charities, particularly the Samaritans which had just been established in Newry and were in need of funding. Some of the fundraisers included a Fashion Show which was held in Newry’s premier department store, Fosters, and by all accounts was a very glamorous occasion.

Newry Soroptimist function, c.1972/3 Courtesy of Soroptimist International Newry and Mourne Pictured at a dinner in a local hotel are back row (left to right); T. Mallon, M. Maginnis, W. Gordon, M. Sloan, E. McKinistry, M. Sweeney. Front row (left to right) E.E. Paul, F. Ewen, W. Poole, I. Wylie, T. Norris, K. Ferris, M. Gileece.

Thirty years ago, a Public Speaking competition was initiated to give girls an opportunity to develop their confidence and communication skills. This is still ongoing and many girls have benefitted from participating in this competition.

Another success over the years has been the Christmas Charity Fayre in Newry Town Hall which was established by Margaret Niblock and now organised annually by Margaret McArdle. This event gives local charities an opportunity to showcase their charity and raise money.

Today our activities are wide and varied. Service is the lynchpin of our organisation. Members serve in many organisations such as The Samaritans, Homestart, Victims Support, Women’s Aid and School Boards of Governors. More emphasis is now put on fundraising for our international charities. Over the last four years we have helped raise £1 million to help women and children in the aftermath of the war in Sierra Leone.

We are also very involved in highlighting the issue of Trafficking and in 2011 hosted a major conference in Newry attended by over 100 delegates from the statutory and voluntary sectors.

The chartering of the Newry Club in 1956 gave business and professional women a platform to support local and international charities. Over the years many longstanding friendships have been established. Some of the iconic members have included Renee Wylie, Eithne Doran and Maura Keenan. The Club has produced three Regional Presidents, Edina Rafferty, Sylvia Abbot and Helen Patterson.

Almost 60 years later the Club is still flourishing. We continue to promote the aims of Soroptimism while at the same time having fun and friendship. The Club is open to all women and we invite new members to join us.

Members of Soroptimist International Newry and Mourne, 2006 Courtesy of Newry Reporter Members are pictured at their Golden Jubilee Dinner in Dromantine House. The Soroptimist Club of Newry and District gained official status in the worldwide Soroptimist movement in November 1956

The development of Trade Unions in the Newry and Mourne District

Tom Moore

Trade Unions were first formed in the 1740s to promote and protect workers’ interests. Through my own personal family history, I have first-hand experience of their importance to the welfare of workers. On two occasions my father was severely injured while working as a labourer at

Newry Docks, and my mother also suffered poor working conditions as a servant girl.

In May 1889, the 18 locally active Trade Unions agreed to work together in common interest, forming the Newry United Trades Council. Such developments encouraged Trade Unions at a national level and thus emerged the British Trades Union Congress and the Irish Trade Union Congress. The regard in which the Newry body was held, was shown by the ITUC holding its 1903 and 1925 Congresses in Newry.

Health Service staff, 1982 Courtesy of Tom Moore Local National Health Service workers campaigning in Newry as part of a national pay dispute. Workers are pictured marching along Monaghan Row from Daisy Hill Hospital.

James Fearon, 1874 – 1924

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Born in Castle Street in Newry, James Fearon was a trade union activist in towns and cities throughout Ireland, including Newry. Often called the ‘Third James’, Fearon was a contemporary and friend of James Connolly and James Larkin. The hall of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union in Newry is named after him.

Many stories are told about the courage of local workers and their families in the pursuit of better working conditions. An example is the Newry Dockers’ Strike of 1907, led by James Fearon, organiser of the National Union of Dock Labourers. Newry dockers refused to unload coal boats from Belfast, in support of dock workers in Belfast who had gone on strike after their demand for union recognition was rejected by employers. The Newry action later turned to dealing with local grievances which caused great hardship amongst dockers’ families. James Fearon continued to campaign for workers’ welfare in Newry after the strikes ended in February 1908.

After the grim years of the 1930s and World War II, there was a post-war boom with new industries developing in Newry. This led to further local expansion in trade unions including a branch of the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives for labourers, craftsmen and engineers in the 1950s. The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s saw instances of Trade Union activists leading campaigns on unemployment, welfare rights, protection of health services and trade union recognition.

Closures of local manufacturing firms spurred Trade Union representatives to seek support from local interests and Newry & Mourne Co-Operative was established in 1972 with the objective of promoting and creating jobs.

Following several nights of sectarian murders in the district in January 1976, a protest rally was organised by Newry & District Trades Union Council. This provided impetus for the Northern

Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to publically launch its “Better Life for All” Campaign, a forerunner of the emerging Peace Process.

The government decision in the 1980s to discontinue support for trade union education was exempted in Northern Ireland in recognition of Trade Union work in reducing sectarian tension in the workplace.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the staff and volunteers of Newry and Mourne Museum for their assistance in this exhibition and accompanying booklet:

Louise Canavan

Joanne Cummins

Alexander Cupples

Alan Freeburn

Conor Keenan

Greg McAteer

Shane McGivern

Frances Potts

Anna Savage

Dr. Robert Whan

We are grateful to Ann Blue, Councillor Charlie Casey, William Copeland, Alexander Hanna, Hilary Halliday, Joan McAteer, Paddy McKevitt, Tom Moore, Helen Patterson, Councillor David Taylor and Jacqueline Turley for contributing articles to this booklet.

We would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who contributed to the exhibition through donations, loans, expertise or memories particularly:

Tony Carroll

Jim Donaldson

Jean Gordon

Joseph Higgins

Christina Joyce

Andrew Kernaghan

Alex Lyons

Gerard Maguire

William McAlpine

Joan McAteer

Seamus McAteer

Mary McDowell

Hugh McKenna

Paddy McKevitt

Margaret McArdle

Samuel Taylor

Lenny Taylor

Jacqueline Turley

We are grateful to the Northern Ireland Museums Council for funding conservation of a number of artefacts in this exhibition.

Compiled by Noreen Cunningham, Dr. Ken Abraham and Declan Carroll

Publicising a social function held in Sheepbridge Orange Hall, Newry. Dances, concerts, socials and guest teas were often organised by Orange Lodges in their halls.

Every effort has been made to correctly attribute photographs used in this booklet and accompanying exhibition.

Invitation card, 1933 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 473, Glassdrummond on parade in Kilkeel, 2011

Photograph includes Christina Sloan (centre) and William Davey (extreme right), who are longstanding members of this Division.

Beating the Lambeg Drum at the Twelfth Demonstration at Newry, 1962

Lambeg Drums are used by the Orange Order at their traditional parades. The origins are not clear, but they may have come to Ulster with English settlers in the 17th century. They are beaten with curved canes and are one of the loudest acoustic instruments in the world. The Lambeg Drums are also played by the Royal Black Institution.

Photomontage, 1983

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

“Londonewry, A Mythical Town. # 1” 1983

By

Seán Hillen,

a Newry born artist, this photomontage comprises an image of two Orangemen taken at ‘the field’ outside Newry at the Twelfth Demonstration with an image of Cleopatra’s Needle, an Egyptian obelisk which used to be sited near St. James’s Park in London. The artist chose the latter image because of Egyptian influence on Orange Order symbols.