Richmount News April 2021

Working together for all in our community The Stage is Set In this issue:

For a return to the community centre Our Garden Party - Thursday 27 May

Murder at Ballyfodrin

Our Activity Programme

Our Sewers –quilts for older people - Warm Well Connected

Child buried at foot of bed - murder ?

Before the NHS - Rural Dispensaries

Our meals on wheels service Our outdoor stage is now on site. We have a substantial activity programme planned for the summer months. See pages 9 & 12 for details. Our first major event will be our garden party planned for Thursday 27 May. The highs and lows about cholesterol

Back to Normality Get connected - IT training We would all hope that there will be a return to a degree of normality after 24 May, however, we will have to accept that Poems from Dessie McKittrick. social distancing and the wearing of masks may be with us for some time to come. Richmount Drumalive - Great exercise, Once we get details of the relaxation of restrictions we will mood enhancer and stress buster. immediately put plans together for the full reopening of the Richmount Centre. We have a large programme of activities Our Big Day Out 23 June lined up as outlined on page 9 &12. Our first event will be our garden party and we hope to be able Trip to Scotland 28 August to have a reasonable number of people along. Joe Garvey the Association’s chairman Despite the Covid restrictions the community association’s and editor of Richmount News, is no volunteers have been very busy and working away making stranger to bringing meals, writing and distributing these community magazines awards to the Community making up food parcels , organising and delivering Zoom association wining sessions and our local sewers who made so many items under basically all the awards the Warm Well Connected Scheme. that could be won. Howev- There has also been a lot of working going on in the back- er, this time the award was ground to secure funding for safety equipment to make our for him: See page 3 Centre Covid Safe and to ensure we have a full activity programme when we do return. See centre pages from the See our Centre Page Spread from the Portadown Times Portadown Times Volunteers Thanks to all our funders : The community association does not have any paid staff . We Armagh City Banbridge Craigavon Bor- rely on our volunteers to provide our services. We would wish ough Council , Department for to thank all those volunteers who helped us over the past year . Communities ,Cooperation Ireland, Arts However, we need more. We would welcome people who could Council for Northern Ireland, assist with: Bookkeeping, gardening, cutting hedges, general Community Federation Northern Ireland, maintenance, cleaning, food preparation, organising activities TADA RSN, Halifax Foundation, ASDA for older people, befriending, cleaning, general administration, Foundation, CLEAR Project, Heritage videoing, writing and so on. It can be rewarding and good for Fund, Department of Foreign Affairs & career enhancement . Please join us - Don’t wait be asked. Trade and the Community Fund which is Just contact us by text on: 07934186635 or supporting the publication of this email: [email protected] magazine

Our Planned Outings & Trips ( Deposits would be refunded in event of Covid restrictions which would result in cancellation) Our trip to Scotland: A few places left but all single rooms are booked. Only some twin/doubles left. Our Big Day Out Wednesday 23 June

Meet Jamese McCloy, the sheep and the dogs at Glenshane Country Farm (Sheep Dogs at Work) You will be assured of a great experience & welcome by Jamese See ; www.glenshanecountryfarm.com/

OUR BIG DAY OUT Heading to an extensive Garden Centre for retail therapy then to the mountains near Glenshane in South Derry. Meet the sheep and command your own sheepdog. We will finish off with dinner followed by a night of storytelling and craic in a traditional restaurant and bar that has been in the same family for 5 generations. ( Do not expect to be home before 10.00pm ) Trip includes all admission fees, evening meal and return coach from the Richmount Centre

Colemans Garden Centre, Templepatrick, gardening , shopping and coffee for those that want to relax. Great food , craic and banter at Friel’s Swatragh

Good Relations Awards 2021 Joe Garvey - good relations champion By Martelle McPartland

At a special Award Celebration held by the NI Community Relations Council on Wednesday 31st March Joe learned that he was one of eight nominees to receive the coveted Highly Commended award. The overall winner was Baroness May Blood. The Good Relations Awards, recognises good relations champions for their peacebuilding work in local communities throughout Northern Ireland. This year there was a very high number of nominees but Joe’s work in developing good relations shone through. At the ceremony Joe’s work in good relations was high- lighted. When Joe came to the Community Association, ten years ago he developed a corporate identity with the motto “working together for all in the community”. One of Joe’s first objectives was to establish connections and goodwill with the local immigrant population, mainly Bulgarian and Ukrainian. It started off with a multi-cultural food festival.

Joe has since nurtured the relationship between these communities and the indigenous population. There have been numerous Joe Garvey , Chairman of Richmount Rural programmes for ethnic minorities and many joint projects. There Community Association recognised as a are currently two Bulgarian representatives on the Association’s good relations champion management committee. Joe has also been successful in offering the hand of friendship and cooperation to groups and communities outside the Richmount area including people from the Garvaghy Road area.

Joe instigated a £50K peace monument in the village – the only one under the Peace through the Arts programme in the former Craigavon Council area. It was entitled “All together Now”. The good relations work by Joe is ongoing and has involved cross border activities and schools from all sections of the community. His persistent message over the past ten years is to respect the other person’s culture. The promotion of the local and wider community being connected would be one of the keys to Joe’s success in promoting not simply good relations but endeavouring to ensure that all in the community get equity of access to services. He organised many intercultural and cross community celebrations They were encouraged to celebrate their diversity, accept their differences, agree to differ but always respecting each other. Joe is clearly seen as someone who is trusted by all in the communities. Through Joe’s efforts the local community hall is now seen as a shared and safe space for all. He has tried to ensure equality for all including health and wellbeing, the opportunity for cultural expres- sion, but doing this in an inclusive way and across the segregations that can occur within cultural groups.

Joe has proved to be a dynamic worker for good relations in his locality and further afield and a voice for all. His enthusiasm in this field is exemplary and how one person can change so many perceptions as regards to religious and cultural differences is evidenced in his many projects and justified awards.

Joe is not only a man of vision in this field, but he has worked tirelessly and more importantly, voluntarily, to improve good relations . He has also become a lifeline to other ethnic groups in the community, and to other community groups where he frequently assists them including filling out forms, offering his time and advice and assisting them with grants.

In conclusion his work in good relations, though unpaid, is colossal. For ten years he has been steadfastly promoting Good Relations in all aspects of his work and his many good relation projects, too numerous to mention here, have had a positive impact on all. Joe is a champion for all in the community but it is also important to note, that he does not receive any payment for his good relations work yet his achievements are phenomenal. Joe is to be presented with a certificate in the near future. Earlier in the month Joe was also highly commended in the Armaghi Community Awards Congratulation to Joe on his success. 3

A Mysterious Crime by Martelle McPartland (Part 1)

The sad case of little Patrick Breen an eight year old child from Ballyfodrin, Portadown Co Armagh, who was abused, murdered and dumped in a quarry hole.

On Tuesday the 1st June 1909, little Patrick Breen left his home at 2.30pm to go to Thomas Crockett’s fields to herd in cattle. He never made it to Crockett’s farm.

Shortly after midnight his little body was found by a search party that included his father and brothers at a nearby quarry hole after his hat was found floating ominously in the water.

This is the sad story of a poor boy in rural Co Armagh and how he fell prey to his neighbour who murdered him. The scene of the tragedy was near a quarry in the townland of Ballyfodrin about three miles from Portadown. A fairer spot for so foul a crime could scarcely be conceived, lying right as it did in the garden of County Armagh in a district famous for the abundance of its fruit. A short drive from Portadown along the Moy Road through smiling orchards and delightful landscapes brings the visitor to a by-road leading to the Dungannon Road. Just off this narrow thoroughfare, in the townland of Fara guarded by hawthorn hedges glowing in the bloom of early summer, and perched on top of a hill was a cottier dwelling tenanted by a labourer named Breen and it is his son Patrick, a sharp little boy of close on nine summers who was murdered on Tuesday under strange circumstances.

Living in the house were also his two grown up sons, his daughter Lizzie, a Quarry-Hole where the body of the boy Breen was discovered The members of the police shown are Constable Phillip Carroll, strong looking girl of eighteen and two Constable James Primrose and Acting Sergeant J.J Kearney, the first little children, the younger aged three. mentioned pointing to the spot where the unfortunate lad was taken from The mother died after her last child was the water. The quarry- hole was situated at a place called Ballyfodrin three weeks old, and since then the duties some 3 miles from Portadown in the Moy Road direction. of the little household were carried on by

Photo: Shanks, Portadown . Source : Weekly Telegraph, June 12 1909 the eldest girl, Lizzie.

It was on a Tuesday the male members of the family went to their work as usual; the father going to Mr Johnson’s where he was employed , and the boys to their agricultural pursuits with other farmers further afield. Patrick normally went to school, but on that day he was kept home, his sister’s explanation being that she wanted to repair his clothes. The home was a humble one, with the earthen floor so characteristic of labourers’ dwellings in every part of Ireland and the poor little boy, needless to state, was never luxuriously clad. The girl was out in the forenoon, but returned home at noon. She was admitted by the boy, who remained indoors until 2.30pm when he left for the house of a famer named Thomas Crockett, who resides on the other side of the hill about half a mile away. It was his custom to go there to herd cattle after his return from school and his favourite route across the fields took him past the quarry hole in which he was fond of fishing in his own juvenile way.

Fishing hooks were given to him from time to time by generous neighbours who liked the young lad.

His sister said that when he was leaving home she had warned him to stay away from the pond and he replied that he would only go to the shallow part. She watched him go down the field and lost sight of him at an apple tree a few yards above the pond, which lies in a hollow and is not of large dimensions, being only ten yards long by four yards broad, varying in depth from two to eight feet.

That was the last time the child was seen alive, and it is one of the extraordinary features of the case that the police have not been able to lay hands on a single person save the girl who saw the boy at any time that day.

It was his custom to return home every night with his father at 10.30pm, but on that night the father returned alone. He was asked where Patrick was, but he had not seen him that day, and was very much surprised by his absence. A search was at once made; the first place that was suggested was the quarry hole. Several neighbours gathered around the Breen House and formed a search party, which included his father and brothers who had all been at work all day. Lights were obtained and the first thing that was seen was the lad’s hat floating on the pond. A grappling iron was also sent for, and after midnight a man called Thomas Robinson, found the child’s body a short distance from the bank.

He brought the child’s body ashore and carried him home to the little house on the hill. The police were informed at nine o clock on Wednesday morning and an inquest was arranged for that evening. The little lad Patrick Breen was well liked and a good On the Wednesday night the Coroner , Mr Atkinson held an wee worker . He often fished with his stick, a bit of inquest at Drumnevin, near Portadown, on a boy named string and some hooks given to him by some kindly Patrick Breen, aged 9 years, whose dead body had been neighbours. The bait would have been worms or tiny bits of bread. found in a quarry hole at Ballyfodrin. ( This photo is only a representation ) Dr J. A. Corbett went out to examine the remains and during the course of the inquiry pointed out to the inquest jury suspicious marks on the body that his professional eye detected. There were, however, no external indications that it was anything other than a drowning accident, but it was decided to postpone the inquiry until the doctor aided by Dr George Dougan, (JR) made a post mortem. He noticed marks on the leg and throat, but no one had the slightest suspicion that it was anything other than a drowning accident. It was believed by the relatives and neighbours that the unfortunate little fellow had fallen into the pond while he was engaged in his favourite pastime and lost his life.

The boy, it appeared, had previously left home in good health. Dr Corbett, who examined the body, said there were abrasions on either side of his throat. Parts of his body were black and discoloured There were abrasions on both thighs. On the right shin there were several black marks about the size of a shilling, which appeared to have been there previous to death. On the back of the right leg below the knee there were a number of abrasions, and the joints of the fingers there were also black marks. The marks on the throat, witness considered, were caused previous to death. He had made a post-mortem examination in conjunction with Dr Dougan , and said that his death was due to strangulation. He did not think the death was due to drowning. The doctors were scarcely prepared for what they found for they were able to tell with a certainty that the unhappy lad had been strangled and afterwards thrown into the pond. That he was dead when he entered the water there was no doubt. There were none of the usual appearances of drowning, and the tongue was so tightly clenched between the teeth that the doctors had to force the mouth open with one of their instruments. .

There was no water in the lungs or stomach and other signs known to medical men in cases of drowning were entirely absent. Both sides of the throat were covered with abrasions, caused evidently by a violent clutch of the right hand of a grown up person. These marks were numerous, and the boy’s thighs and right shin, right leg below the knee and joints of his fingers were also marked and bruised. Marks on the child’s body suggest that he had been a victim of a brutal outrage, and it is thought that after his cry to escape that whoever had attacked him, the fiend, at once caught his throat to drown out his shouts, and in his frenzy, whether deliberately or not, strangled him. It was plain that the lad’s life had been literally squeezed out of him by the powerful grasp of his killer. The drowning ‘accident’ was now a murder hunt.

The task that lay before the local police of solving the mysterious murder of poor little Patrick Breen, of Drumnevin, was one of the most difficult ever set before criminal investigators at that time. If it ever was to be known however, who perpetrated the crime, which was one of the most dastardly in the history of Co Armagh it would be discovered by the gentleman who had charge of the case, District Inspector Hussey, who one of the most experienced police officers in Ireland. He has had many intricate cases in his hands, but freely admitted that this was the most puzzling of the intricate cases he ever had.

The Murder Map

Quarry Hole

Home of Breen

Home of accused

Crockett’s Farm

The sensational turn that the doctors’ discoveries gave the case put the police on the alert, and from the very start they were confronted with difficulties. The pond was only forty six yards from the by road, and fifty yards from the nearest house, yet not a soul could be found who saw the boy or any suspicious person in the neighbourhood. The father was carting manure up and down the road all day saw nothing wrong, and his sister passed close to the road at six o clock in the evening close to the pond gathering whins for firewood. She was in and about the field for over an hour and saw no trace of the deceased. There were no marks of a struggle on the bank, which had however, been trampled over very considerably by the time the police were sent for. There are in all four dwelling houses within two hundred yards of the pond, which is only about 220 yards from the Great Northern Railway line to Dungannon and the same distance from the quarry in which four men were at work. They had been interrogated by the police and neither heard nor saw the boy. No one saw him and no one heard him and the police, therefore, had to investigate the case without a single clue to help them.

As they inquired further into the case these difficulties deepened. Every person in the locality was questioned, every house was visited and all with the same result plus no tramps were seen that day.

However, is was not a district frequented by gentlemen of the road and it was noted for its peacefulness. It was generally believed that the boy was attacked on his way to Crockett’s and that his assailant hid the boy in the whins, with which the adjoining fields abound, until nightfall, probably concealing himself at the same time. When it was dark then the lad was carried to the quarry hole and thrown in.

This, however, presented problems ,for the doctors were unable to state how long the body had been in the water or how many hours prior to their examination death had taken place. The fields and hedges had been searched over and over again by the police, who had been incessant in their inquiries since the inquest. Not the slightest trace of a struggle ccould be found, but it can be understood that a frail and not too well nourished little boy could not offer much resistance to the attack of a man frenzied by passion, if the theory was a correct one.

It was unbridled passion by the assailant that resulted in the lad’s death.

The lad never reached Crockett’s, but what happened to him after his sister lost sight of him at 2.30 pm was an absolute mystery. He was a general favourite in the district and had his young life not been so cruelly cut short he would have reached his ninth birthday the following August.

Upwards of a dozen police scoured the countryside in quest of information, but without result. District Inspector Hussey was on the scene himself and went over the ground again. The vicinity of the pond was closely searched once more and it was considered that the water could have been pumped out for an examination of the bottom. The probabilities were that such a proceeding would lead to nothing, but no stone was being left unturned by the authorities to discover the perpetrator of the crime. The pond contained a small number of pike, but the theory that fish of that kind, vicious as they are, did not cause the marks on the boy’s body. This was confirmed by the doctors and by those who saw the remains.

District Inspector Hussey visited the scene of the crime again and though his team had spent considerable time investigating the case and interviewed upwards of 100 persons no motive could be assigned for the dreadful outrage.

The Inquest

The adjourned inquest on the body of Patrick Breen, aged eight years, which was found in quarry hole at Ballyfodrin, near Portadown on 1st June was held in the house of Mr David Carrick on Tuesday evening by the Coroner, Mr Atkinson. The jurors having answered to their names, the Coroner inquired if there was any further evidence. District-Inspector Hussey said he had no further evidence to offer that would any way assist the jury in finding the cause of death. The Coroner, addressing the jury, said it would now be their duty to find verdict in accordance with the evidence given before them on the last occasion. The evidence of the doctors was that the boy was not drowned, but that in their opinion death was caused by strangulation.

It was a melancholy thing to think that such a crime could be committed on an inoffensive young lad in such a respectable neighbourhood but there was no evidence to show who strangled the lad. The constabulary continued to pursue their inquiries, and how they might be able bring the guilty person to justice. The coroner was quite sure that if any of the jurors who could give them any assistance, which would enable them to so that they would not withhold their aid. Replying to a juror Dr Corbett said the boy could quite easily have got out of the water if he had fallen into it, because there were large stones in the quarry hole and there was a ledge where he was found.

The jury returned the verdict to effect that the body was maliciously, feloniously, wilfully choked, strangled and suffocated by some person or persons unknown. Two RIC officers arrested Joseph Shortly after the termination of the inquest District-Inspector Hussey Annesley from Ballyfodrin arrested a young man named Joseph Annesley, aged 17 years, son of a farmer residing in the locality. The accused was conveyed to the Edward Street police station in Portadown, where the murder charge was entered against him. The announcement that an arrest had been made caused a great commotion in the town, and the car in which the District Inspector and his prisoner drove into and through the town was followed to the police station by an enormous crowd of people.

ACCUSED REMANDED

On Wednesday morning Joseph Annesley was brought Before Mr. T. D. Gibson, R.M., in the dayroom of the Edward Street Police Barrack, Portadown, and charged with having in the townland of Ballyfodrin, on the 1st June 1909 , wilfully murdered a boy named Patrick Breen, aged eight years.

THE MURDER CHARGE.

A youth named Joseph Annesley, aged 17 years, was indicted for having murdered Patrick Breen, aged 8 years. Mr R. F. Harrison , and Mr. Thomas Harrison (instructed by Mr. Kilkelly, Crown Solicitor), appeared for the prosecution; and Mr. George Hill Smith (instructed by Mr. Edward O’Hagan ) defended the prisoner. In opening the trial, the judge said under ordinary circumstances a case of murder was a most painful one, but this was no ordinary case. The details of it were painful, and the evidence would be very nauseous.

Counsel described the scene of the alleged murder, and proceeded to outline the evidence to be laid before the jury. The body of the deceased boy Breen was found in a quarry hole, and death did not result from drowning. The doctors' evidence went on to show that it was due to strangulation. Counsel went on to describe the alleged relationship between the accused, and suggested that the lad was strangled by the prisoner. Having seen what he had done, the accused threw his victim into the quarry hole.

Detective Inspector Hussey described a map which he had made of the scene of the tragedy. John Breen gave evidence as to the condition in which he found his brother (the deceased) on 2nd June. To Mr. Smith—The Annesleys were always very kind to the deceased, who used to play with the prisoner. Witness found deceased's hat, but was not present at the finding of the body.

Eliza Robinson said she was there when they found the body in the quarry and stated: “There were marks on the neck and lower part of the body, and the tongue was between the teeth and his clothes were all disarranged. ”

Thomas Robinson, husband of last witness, stated that he recovered the body from the water and that the child was lying at a depth of four feet.

Dynes Hunniford, labourer, said he saw deceased about 11-30 am on the day in question on the path and his sister was with him. She was carrying a bucket, and they both returned home. Henry Blacker, farmer, said on the 1st June he was working in a field, and saw deceased in front of his own house and his sister, Lizzie, was with him.

Elizabeth Breen, sister of the deceased, said her mother was dead. Most 17 year old country lads would have been absolutely terrified On the Ist June she kept her brother at home of appearing in court especially on a charge of murder but as we will from school in order to mend his clothes. About find out later Joseph Annesley didn’t seem too perturbed. a quarter to two o'clock deceased went down the road, and she saw Annesley walking about. At 6-30 pm that evening witness went to gather whins for the fire at the lower quarry, and while doing so observed the prisoner passing down the road. When she saw him he dropped his head, and did not speak to her, which was most unusual. When her father came home that night after ten she and her brother John went to the quarry hole, where the body was subsquently found.

The prisoner did not attend the wake or the funeral.

Part 2 to follow in the next issue of Richmount News

Richmount Meals on Wheels For the past four months we have been making substantial traditional meals for older people. The charge was £4 per meal plus £1.50 for a dessert. This was popular with some people even getting three meals at a time which lasted them for a good part of the week. We also are aware that this was a lifeline to some people.

However, over the last few weeks as people are becoming more mobile the demand has started to fall so that we are now only making 20 meals at a time. This service has to be subsidised but- On the 7 April the main meal was turkey , ham and stuffing with carrots and sprouts with the decrease in demand the unit cost of meals increases. We with mashed and roast potatoes and gravy. are very grateful to DART Community Transport for delivering the meals free of charge. It could possibly work if volunteers would prepare and cook the food but it would be a long term commitment on volunteers. Therefore, unfortunately this service will cease at the end of May. Traditional Arts Project This is a unique arts project which will link in with our heritage project. All the artists have been appointed and there will be an arts and crafts display and sale near the end of the project. We hope we will be able to hold these workshops on Thursday afternoons in the community centre—some will be outside activities

The areas to be covered are :

• Traditional Pottery with Ciara Campbell . The pots will be fired in our outdoor kiln at the Community Centre

• Musical instrument making with Bruce White

• Woodcraft with Steve Ryan

• Willow crafts with Stephen Mackey

• Collecting stories and recording them with Martelle McPartland

There is something for everyone in this project and we invite people to participate

Our Garden Party Thursday 27 May 2021: Starting at 2.00pm

We will be entertained by Colin Harney Food will be available (May have to be pre packed –Covid safety )

Booking for this event is essential. Numbers may be limited to comply with any restrictions.

Cost per head will be £5 per person

There will be also a session of Richmount Drumalive. So all those who were supplied with Drumalive kits please bring them along. Richmount Drumalive. Great exercise, great Please book early. craic & fun and a great stress buster. We will be having it live soon in the Centre. All that is needed is a gym ball, drum sticks, a basket and Email; [email protected] some music. Join us at the garden party for a or text 07934186635 session. You will enjoy it.

This was a full page feature in the Portadown Times on 2nd April 2021 April 2nd on Times Portadown the in feature page afull was This We are very grateful to Carmel Robinson and the Times for the extensive extensive the for Times the and Robinson Carmel to grateful very are We pandemic the during community the for activities our of coverage

Get Connected If there is one lesson we should have learnt from the pandemic and that is the need to be connected. So many people lost out on not being on the internet and able to communicate with others, see what is happening at a local level and how the internet can be of service. For example where do you find telephone numbers of shops or businesses—telephone directories are a thing of the past. Getting older is not an excuse for not wanting to learn about how the internet can be of service. Remember most of us were not brought up in the computer era. We have all the equipment at the Community Centre to get you started. It maybe that you need help on a one to one basis and this can be provided. We have a number of 10in digital tablets which would al- low people to use the internet. Including searching for information, sending emails, Zoom, Facebook and home shopping including buy- 10 in tablets for use by older people. ing from your local supermarket. They come complete with protective We do not just give these tablet aways. They were funded by the screen, cover and a keyboard although Department for Communities as a means to help reduce social isolation most people are happy with the on- so we have a duty to ensure that they are used for this purpose and do screen touch control keyboard. not end up being given to the grandchildren to play with. To obtain one you must commit to use it for your personal use and undertake some training. For people who do not have Broadband they can be used anywhere where there is Wi-Fi such as at the community centre. They will, however, remain the property of the community association.

Just let us know if you would like to get connected.

Fabric Arts /Good Relations All types of fabric art can be supported in this project which will trace our history and conflicts on this island from earliest times through to the present day and the efforts of our Community Association to foster good relations with all in the community. Four or five large wall banners will be produced which will form part of an exhibition on good relations. The project can involve quilting, embroidery and the production of computer generated images printed on to materials—training will be provided as part of the project. There will also be the opportunity for those not engaged in the art work to come along to a series of talks/ discussions on the subject. Maintaining good relations in our communities is as important as it ever was. The lectures/discussions will be advertised on Facebook . Interested in getting involved? Let us know

Richmount News—How much is it worth to you ? By Joe Garvey When I first joined the community association over 10 years ago I recognised that there was a need to communicate with our community and we started to produce Richmount News. Up until recently we hand delivered some 1200 copies in the community but with each copy costing over £1 each to print we have to secure funding, which is not always easy. Over the last 10 years there has been a phenomenal growth in social media such as Facebook and these magazines can easily be accessed on Facebook or our website. We have been producing these magazines on a very frequent basis since the onset of the pandemic. Not only do they bring you the local updates but also local stories and information on our local heritage. We bought our own printer which can do a short run of copies and we hand deliver them to 120 people we think could not access them via the internet. Printing our copies does save some costs but a lot of time goes into the production of these magazines.

In a recent survey on Facebook a large number of people indicated that they Edition 1 Nov 2011 would prefer hard copies. However, to do large print runs would cost a lot of money . Also, we would have to get volunteers to deliver them across a wide geographical area. The question I pose to you is how much would you pay for a copy if they were available in shops ? Remember the shopkeeper has to get money for selling them . Would £1.50 seem reasonable? If you would like to see this magazine continuing we do need your response.

The Community Pharmacy by Paula Morgan Highs and lows of Cholesterol

If you have high cholesterol, then you are not alone!

Many of you may have been prescribed a ‘statin’,a drug to lower your cholesterol level.

High cholesterol is caused in various ways, the foods you eat such as meat and dairy products, being overweight, being inactive, family history, age and overall health.

Your body needs some cholesterol to function properly, but getting more than you need can happen from eating too many cholesterol-rich foods. This can cause a build-up of plaque in the arteries which can then lead to blockages and contribute to heart attacks, strokes and poor circulation. So it is good at this time of year to think about making healthy lifestyle choices.

Doing more exercise is an obvious choice! Try to do whatever you can to be active. Perhaps you could start with a 15minute walk every other day and increase gradually. This will not only help tone up muscles but also lift your mood and avoid weight gain.

In your diet, cut back on high-cholesterol foods like fried foods, sugary desserts and fatty meats. The six best foods to include in your diet to lower cholesterol are

1. Wholegrains- Oats, Brown and Wheaten bread. Try porridge oats with chopped apple

2. Oily Fish- Aim for two meals per week with salmon, mackerel or tuna. Try roasted salmon on a bed of leeks/ tomatoes. The Omega-3 oils in these fish have many health benefits or you could take a supplement

3. Nuts/Seeds- Sprinkle a few nuts or milled flaxseed on meals

4. Legumes- Remember we talked about these ‘superfoods’? Taking some exercise has many beneficial Beans, lentils and peas are cheap but full of goodness! Try affects on your health. baked beans on brown bread.

5. Sprouts- Love or loathe Brussel sprouts they are really good for you!

6. Apples- Yes have saved the best to last! An apple a day may indeed keep the doctor away. Apples contain pectin, this is fibre which helps to lower bad cholesterol.

For further advice or information contact Paula Morgan, Orchard Pharmacy, 23 Mandeville St, Portadown Tel 02838 332824

From Stone Age giants to the 20th Century - 5 millennia of heritage at Ballintaggart, Portadown A Community Heritage Project

Health services before the NHS by Joe Garvey Prior to the introduction of the NHS people generally had to pay for their health treatment . Whatever our concerns may be about the NHS it is no doubt better than went before for the vast majority of people. The National Health Service, was launched on 5 July 1948 by the then minister of health, Aneurin Bevan, the objective was provide healthcare that was free at the point of delivery. It wasn’t actually implemented, however, until 1951.

Health is part of our heritage and we want to examine the type of health services which were offered to people over time. Life expectancy has increased considerably in this island due to a number of factors including : availability of good food, better housing and working conditions, reduced infant mortality , vac- cinations against major hitherto serious diseases , and both the availability of preventative and curative medical treatments.

Over the next couple of issues of this magazine we will look at what people who were ill could expect by way of treatment . This will cover a wide range of methods and practitioners from the Druids, Shamans , Apothecaries and even the local barber. Medicines made from plants goes back to earliest times and invoca- tions to the spirit world or deities were also employed. In this part of the world we often resorted to “Charms” to relieve our suffering.

The Rural Dispensary In this article we are going to look at a method of delivering health services to the poor in the latter half of the 19 Century and first part of the 20th Century. This was the role of the rural Dispensary. In the period in question in this area the two local dispensaries were located at Loughgall and Tartaraghan .

Sickness in rural Ireland before the NHS was a serious business. Medical help was hard to find. In 19th and much of 20th century Ireland, unless one could pay for a private doctor, the options were a visit to the poorhouse or work- house, a place that was generally hated and feared in equal measure, or getting word to the dispensary doctor. The “ Dispensary ” was built in 1820 from black quarried basalt and lime. In 1860 it was owned by He, (almost always a man) could be visited at his dispensa- the McGann Family and the road outside was ry, in modern terms a clinic for ‘walk-in’ patients, but known as McGann’s Hill. Around 1860 it was run more likely he would have to make the often arduous as an Inn. journey on foot or by horse and cart to his patients’ homes. In 1900 it operated as a Dispensary. Dr George Many spent a lifetime in this profession, caring for the poor Dougan had his surgery in the house 2 days each in both rural and urban, though predominantly rural areas. week. The house was purchased by George The dispensary doctor differed from a private doctor, or Lutton ,who was the local Blacksmith, in 1934, most modern general practitioners today, in that he only and during World War 2 the doctor trained the attended to the poor who could not afford to pay for a locals in first aid. The dispensary continued for a private doctor. The dispensary doctor was appointed by couple of years after the end of the War. The local government. house is now occupied by George Lutton's grandson, Alan Hughes with his wife Rosemary The 1851 Act established 723 dispensary districts through- and family. out Ireland, to be governed by the boards of Guardians of The house also has a benchmark or crow’s foot the Poor Law Unions. The dispensaries were to be man- chiselled into its base which is a standardised aged by a committee elected from the Guardians and from surveyors mark of height above sea level. local rate payers.

To attend the dispensary, one needed to have a colour-coded ticket, dispensed by the committee. A black ticket entitled the holder to be treated at the dispensary itself, while red allowed the patient to be visited by the doctor in his or her home .The Irish dispensary doctor had to be a veritable "jack of all trades." He had to be somewhat of a universal specialist-surgeon, physician, obstetrician, gynaecologist, anaesthetist, and expert in sanitary science; for he was the medical officer of health for his district, all in one person, not to speak of his other activities, for he was his own dispenser, and also, in most cases, registrar of births, deaths, and marriages.

Originally he would have been on duty for twenty-four hours a day, for seven days a week, during from forty-eight to fifty weeks a year for whoever can get a ticket to for his services; and it was not difficult to obtain these, seeing that they are on issue by wardens and guardians who are, in many cases, grocers or publicans, and who dispense them . It was claimed that these often came as a bonuses with quarter pounds of tea or a few bottles of stout, irrespective of the medical needs or financial circumstances of the applicant.

In 1859 Dr. Stewart handed in his quarterly report which showed 123 were treated at the dispensary and 51 visited tickets and 76 children successfully vaccinated. The committee cancelled relief ticket No. 356, the person being considered able to pay for medicine and not entitled to relief.

One of the prominent doctors in the Tartaraghan dispensary was Dr Stanley. The Stanley family were substantial landowners in the area and it seems Dr Stanley used premises probably in his ownership just past Derrykeevan crossroads. There was an ongoing dispute over remuneration between the Guardians and Dr Stanley and he eventually resigned much to the regret of the local community. In 1861 it was reported that his annual salary has been increased to £80 per year. However, it has to be remembered he always had to have fresh horse ready and he had a very large geographical area to cover and on roads that were often no more than dirt tracks.

Some time after Dr Stanley’s departure the dispensary was relocated down the road towards Portadown to the black stone house which most The Tartaraghan Dispensary also acted now identify as being the dispensary. as the local registry office in addition to the medical services it provided. Over time the dispensary services became part time and there was no This framed sign still hangs proudly in longer a requirement to have a live in doctor. In the past people would the “dispensary.” have trudged miles to call the doctor out on an emergency but with the advent of telephones and motorised transport this became less frequent. Dr George Dougan was one of the dispensary doctors who operated from the “black stone house ” Just past Derrykeevan Cross roads is the former With the advent of the second World War Tartaraghan Dispensary. and the introduction of the NHS the local This was operated on a full rural dispensaries ceased. The “Dispensary” time basis by Dr Stanley. in Derrykeevan was purchased by George It is believed that it is this Lutton in 1934 who was a blacksmith in the house was the used by area. A section of it was used for the Dr Stanley as a dispensary. dispensary

Loughgall Dispensary District was the most active in County Armagh having dealt with almost 3000 patients. In 1835 it is recorded that, at Loughgall, the medical officer, in addition to his salary of £50 per year, was provided with a house and garden rent free and received 2s 6d when he visited a patient who lived over two miles away. At that time, the av- erage cost of medicines per person was 7½d per year. The majority of poor people had access to the benefits of what was called ‘dispensary relief’ provided they had a ticket . Dispensary House, Loughgall: The old dispensary quarters now form part of the ‘The Dispensary House Gallery’

Blacksmith George forges link with the past. By Joe Garvey This was the headline in an article that appeared in the Belfast Telegraph 39 years ago . At that time the last blacksmith in the area was George Lutton who had a forge beside Wright’s filling station in Derrykeevan. George lived in the nearby dispensary. He was a spritely 84 in 1982 and was still working in his forge. Just over 100 years ago there were five blacksmiths along the seven mile stretch of road between Portadown and the Birches. George’s was the last. George’s father built the forge and installed a set of bellows with a chimney and they continued to be in use until The late George Lutton at his forge in Derrykeevan At the time of the interview with Douglas Sloan George was shoeing a small horse that had been brought by trailer all the way from Donacloney. He said that when it came time for him to nail down the last shoe and repair the last spade or gate the forge would close down. As a young apprentice and for year’s afterwards he worked a 12 -hour day at the anvil. At that time he would have shod six horses in a single day. He recalled when George Russell brought in a lorryload of 25 donkeys to have their feet repaired before being exported to England.

An important section of the work in the early days was shoeing the horses which drew turf from the bogs at Annaghmore and Derryloughan. The standard charge for a set of four shoes was only twenty pence. George operated the forge six days a week at time which knew nothing of overtime or demarcation. After George Lutton died his family donated his blacksmith tools and equipment to Ardress House so local people could see and enjoy them.

My own childhood recollections of the Lutton’s Blacksmith’s were that it was a great day out. Nellie our mare was hitched to the cart and off we went to Lutton’s for her annual shoeing. It was early summer and the joy of being allowed to pump the big bellows was unbelievable. There was a distinctive smell about the place especially when the hot shoe was placed on the horse’s hoof and the smoke and acrid smell filled the air. There were always characters about and I remember being treated to ice cream, sweets and lemonade by Corny Mulholland from Fara at the adjacent Wright’s shop which was down steps which always seemed to be Nellie the Corglass Donkey bedecked with fresh vegetables and rhubarb and then down the hall to an Aladdin's cave I've just received a photo which has filled my heart with joy of goodies. It reminds me of some happy times when I was just a boy The photo I refer to is the donkey and the trap Simple pleasures of a bygone era. With Glen and Jean and Marie having done a minor lap

The donkey's name was Nellie and round the farm she trod I recall at Lutton's Blacksmiths when she was being shod I couldn't help but be amazed at his skill and without ire He hammered and he shaped the iron as he placed it in the fire

When he knew the iron was ready and could now be bent He took it out and cut it – to have it right was his intent He removed the shoes from Nellie and replaced them with his own And all the time kept smiling and never once did moan

But Lutton's Forge has gone now – giving way to modern life They say it's for the better but I still see pain and strife Oh for the days of innocence and wonder and of joy Before television and the phone did all our lives destroy Nellie, the Corglass Donkey, is pictured here However, life moves onward sometimes we wonder how with Glen and Marie Montgomery together with But it's lovely to have memories as those mentioned here just now Dessie McKittrick and Jean Montgomery in the This reminiscing is all right in my office here alone tub trap. On the back page Dessie McKittrick , But, I must go and answer this incessant blasted phone our local bard, reflects on his childhood days living in Bogstown which was located in the Dessie McKittrick townland of Corglass

Infanticide by Martelle McPartland

In the townland of Drumakelly, ‘ridge of the O’Kelly’s’ in the Year of Our Lord 1880

A shocking state of depravity and immorality was made by the Constabulary in the house of a man named John Mc Burney, of Drumnakelly.

It transpired that neighbours of the Mc Burney family had suspicions that the young girl, Rachel Mc Burney, had been hidden away with a child and that the child had been born some days previously. The neighbours suspected that Rachel had concealed the birth of her child, which was a crime at that time punishable by jail, and had possibly even killed her new-born baby. Several of the neighbours went on foot to the local RIC station and reported their suspicions.

From this information Constable James Byrne proceeded to the town land of Drumnakelly, about six in the evening, on the exceedingly delicate mission of ascertaining whether a young girl named Rachel Mc Burney had concealed the birth of an illegitimate child to which she had given birth a few days previous. The Constable, satisfied of the truth of the report, returned to town, and reported what he had heard to Sub inspector Ware. The latter, accompanied by Head Constable Bailie, Constable Abercrombie, and Constable Byrne, proceeded to the house of John Mc Burney , about nine o clock in the evening.

The neighbours, knowing the police were going to come to search the Mc Burney house gathered outside their houses to witness the spectacle as it would have been considered a huge scandal in the area. It can be surmised from the neighbours’ actions that there was little consideration for the young girl who had given birth, but rather a delight in seeing her persecuted for her actions.

The mother of the girl suspected was the first they met and they at once asked to see her daughter Rachel. The old woman replied that she was in one of the neighbour’s houses.

At which point the neighbours loudly protested that she wasn’t in any of their houses.

Constable Byrne and Abercrombie looked into some of the The RIC officers arrived at the home of John McBurney in search of Rachael and any evidence adjoining houses, but failing to find the girl there returned to the of the concealment of a birth. They were watched house, and, having obtained a light, the former went into what by a crowd of neighbours turned out to be a little bedroom, and there, concealed in a dark corner, beside a little shake down bed, was the girl Rachel.

The old woman, during the search for the girl, made some slight opposition and got into a passion, declaring that ‘there was nothing there,’ meaning that the girl was not in child, but as there was as yet no positive evidence as to the truth of the report, it was not actively followed up, and nothing was found.

Rachel was wearing a plain dress and her hair fell down over her shoulders and she stood whimpering and crying when she was charged with concealing the birth of her child. She protested that she had no baby, but based on the evidence given by her neighbours she was taken into custody.

On the way to town the girl protested her innocence in the most emphatic terms. She solemnly assured them that she never had a child in all her life, but if, by any possibility, such an event could have happened, it must have been when she was asleep, and altogether unknown to her. So steadfast and determined was she, indeed that the Sub-inspector was almost inclined to doubt the accuracy of the information which he of which he had just received.

At the barracks, Dr W. Stewart was sent for, who, upon the evidence which a medical examination afforded, gave it as his opinion that she had given birth to a child about six days previously

Notwithstanding all this, the girl vehemently asserted that it was all false and during the night reiterated over and over again her entire innocence. The next morning at nine o clock, which was a Sunday, Sub-inspector Ware, Head Constable Bailie, Con- stables Byrne and Abercrombie and Sub constables Christie and Mortimer, proceeded to the girl’s house . Constable Byrne described it as a ‘comfortable farmhouse’. It had four compartments, a kitchen, a weaving shop and two bedrooms. Having searched fruitlessly in the three rooms, Constable Byrne went into the room in which he had found the girl the previous evening.

It It was a very small room, with a lath and plaster wall dividing it from the larger bedroom where the older people slept. In this room, as already mentioned, there was a shake-down bed, which is some straw and chaff placed upon a few boards some inches off the ground. The Constable overturned the straw, took away the An examination of Rachael was carried out by Dr Stewart who boards and began to search under it. He observed was of the opinion she had given birth to a child six or seven nothing unusual until he came to the foot of the days earlier. shake-down bed, where he observed a piece of rag sticking out of the clay of the floor. He put the stick which he had in his hand into the ground and watched as it sank. He lifted away some of the clay and he at once discovered something and called out to the Sub –inspector who was in the next room. He came down and the Constable lifted what appeared to be a small parcel out of the hole and laid it on the floor. It was the body of a newly born, full-grown, healthy male child, naked, with its flesh discoloured and several black blotches on its body. It was wrapped in an old bit of carpet the end of which had been protruding out of the ground.

The infant’s tiny body was placed in a box and brought out to the horse drawn car and the mother and her younger sister, named Elizabeth, an innocent young looking girl were arrested. The father, who was eighty five years of age and another daughter were both discovered to be of weak intelligence and were left behind. A brother, who had recently returned from England, and who, we understand wanted the unfortunate girl out of the house, was also left.

Before starting the journey to the jail the prisoners were sat at the hedge way until the rest were ready to leave the house. While they were sitting, Sub-constable Christie, who was nearest to them strained to hear a conversation between the mother and daughter. He clearly heard the mother say to her daughter, “we should have had it buried.”

The baby was brought to the courthouse where it was examined by Doctor Stewart who said that in his opinion, the baby had been born six or seven days previously, which exactly corresponded with the previous examination Doctor Stewart carried out on Rachel. On being confronted with the evidence Rachel admitted the whole thing but maintained that the child was stillborn.

The prisoners were remanded into custody until 3 pm the following day when they were again brought before Captain Whalen. Rachel Mc Burney had the appearance of an ordinary respectable country girl. She was rather good looking, had red cheeks, fair hair and complexion, and had a very decent appearance. Throughout it all she was quite calm and still and seemed to accept her position with a sort of hopeless resignation.

Dr Stewart was the first witness examined and he stated that he had made a post mortem examination of the child that day and it was a full grown healthy child. There were no marks of violence on the body, the lungs had been inflated and the circulation of the blood had been established. He believed that from the state of the heart and lungs that the child was born alive, and had breathed. He stated: “I believe that, having regard to the fact that there are no marks of violence on the body, it must have died from the effects of suffocation under the bedclothes, owing to want of proper attention.”

Rachel Mc Burney was charged with concealing the birth of her child and her mother, Mary Mc Burney, for aiding and abetting her in the accomplishment of the crime and they were forwarded for trial for next Armagh Assizes.

A jury was sworn in. The Coroner asked Dr Stewart, ‘What is your opinion as to the cause of the child’s death? Dr Stewart replied, ‘I believe it was suffocated.’ Coroner, ‘You believe? Is there any positive medical evidence of cause of death or is this merely a suspicion? Dr Stewart, ‘Yes, this is just a suspicion’. Coroner, ‘then in fact you have no positive evidence as to the cause of its death?’ Dr Stewart, ‘I have not, but I believe suffocation was the cause.’ The jury retired and returned half an hour later and handed over their verdict. Rachael & Mary McBurney were tried at the ‘That the child was found dead, without any marks of vio- Armagh Assizes lence, but as to the cause of its death, there was not sufficient evidence to show.’ The baby was subsequently buried in a little box.

The Richmount Sewers & Warm Well Connected Project Reaching out to older people in a practical way. Following on from our production of PPE for nursing and care personnel in the middle of 2020 there was a demand from people wanting to learn to sew or improve on their sewing. The community Association already had sewing machines and overlockers. We formed three sewing groups. The beginners and improvers. A beginners’ course started when we could get them together as a group but very shortly under the direction of our tutor, Norah McCrory they came “experts” and called themselves Richmount Sewers Anonymous. Then in February we got another two groups started. Again, a beginners class and an improvers class who called themselves respectively: The Richmount Little Sew & Sews and the Richmount Sew Sew good. The fact is that they are all incredibly good sewers now. We applied earlier this year for a grant to TADA RSN for a project under its Warm Well Connected programme. Our application was successful, and it allowed us to have our tutor and buy materials to make “winter warmers”. We elected to make lap quilts for older people and some draught exclud- ers. Our initial target was 20 quilts before the end of March, but we have actually made 50.

This is a great example of a community response to helping older people, but it was a great experience for the members in each of the sewing groups. Amidst all the gloom and doom of the pandemic the people in each of the sewing groups really enjoyed themselves and the “craic was mighty”

There is an interesting twist to the story. A lady of some 89 years who hails from the Derrymacash area was given one of the lap quilts. She was overjoyed that people she did not know had made this for her. However, she Florence Moorhead, St Francis was not going be left out and she decided she Nursing home with a quilt specially would do her bit to help the project, so she made for her by Nora Woolsey from Nan Carville got a quilt but felt the Richmount Sew Sew Good Group started knitting chunky woollen socks for the she had to something in return Florence was a long term resident of older people. Some of these have gone out to so she started knitting chunky Derrylettiff Road. people who were getting quilts. woollen socks

BOGSTOWN

The neighbours call it Bogstown but to me it was my home The magic memories of this place remain with me where ere I roam Although no running water, electricity or plumbing There hardly ever was a day that there wasn't someone coming

For it was such a happy home and all were welcomed in As in mother's eyes to do aught else would really be a sin She enjoyed the laughter of the children playing games Keep you stories & And often she was not aware of even half the players names poems coming in.

The happiness I witnessed in that enchanted place Was greatly helped by neighbours which is sometimes not the case We never suffered boredom ner found the days too long FUTURE HISTORY And as I mentioned up above no modern fixtures to go wrong This world is in a sorry state We grew our own potatoes and our hens were all free range Of gloom and doom And life was just so pleasant that we hoped it wouldn't change and strife. We watched the blue tits building behind the yellow rose With perfume so alluring and so pleasant to the nose It’s hard, but we must try to see On Sunday morn we all stepped out, St Paul's our destination The sunny side of life. Our purpose there was not in doubt but hunting was the fascination For mother made it very clear that if your fit for huntin' Pick up the phone to ring Your also fit for Sunday school so please don't give me any gruntin' a friend And share a joke or two. In Blacker's meadow rounders always seemed the favoured game Though sometimes cricket took its place, the bats and balls were all the same There’s nothing much to Then as darkness gathered on those lovely summer nights chat about We heard the wild ducks quacking as they began their evening flight With nothing much to do. The corncrake never far away, the snipe and curlew too We took it all for granted as we know all children do Enjoy a walk out in the sun , Or even in the rain, As dusk arrived and darkness meant we could no longer see Just get fresh air before it’s The trusted Tilley lamp was lit as we trundled in for tea time It was then that George and Glen arrived both out on their Ceilidh To isolate again Having all their work cleared up – well so they said – well almost – nearly Try cooking up a unique meal After several hours went by and without much ado With what is left in store , We learned the price of cattle, spuds and barley too But don’t be disappointed if The evening finished up discussing crops and all their yields Nobody asks for more. Then George went back home up the lane and Glen across the fields Let us hope that life will (D McKittrick) soon return To what it used to be, Then this existence of today Now being hailed as our local bard, Will just be history. Dessie McKittrick, has used poetry to reflect and reminisce on his younger Shelia Chisnaall, days. In doing so he has preserved memo- Brixham, Devon ries of places and families and traditions

of the past. This poem was submitted by Well done, Dessie.– We want more of Patricia Kearns (nee Blacker) your poems for this magazine. But we from Cushenny and nearest don’t pay well !! neighbour of the McKittrick’s Also, we are sure there are more poets when they lived in Bogstown. and storytellers out there in our commu- Access to Bogstown was nity. Please submit your stories, poems or down Blacker’s Lane and songs to us and if they are just in your Dessie refers to Blacker’s memory we can record them and put them in writing. Meadow in his poem. It was All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval just over the makeshift bridge system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher: across the Tall river. Richmount Rural Community Association