Richmount News December 2020

Working together for all in our community Welcome to our bumper Christmas edition of Richmount News

In this issue we will outline the measures that the Asso- ciation is taking to mitigate against the social affects of Covid 19. We are not going to engage in a doom and gloom scenario, but rather look ahead with hope and embrace opportunities. Vaccines are starting to roll out, but it could be several months before we are likely to see any significant relaxation of restrictions. Packed programme ahead We are forging ahead with projects and we will continue to bring you arts and crafts, as well as develop Good Relations programmes Happy Christmas and investigate and report on the wealth of heritage in the area. честита Коледа Tackling Loneliness & Isolation We want to wish all our readers a We will also be trying to alleviate the growing problem of isolation very happy Christmas and New and loneliness being experienced by many of our older people. Year. Hopefully, when Covid is out of the way our Richmount Elders will The past year has been difficult for be back to their usual weekly gatherings. However, that still leaves many and some have lost loved many older people at home with little contact with the outside ones. world. We will be encouraging older people to get involved in Let us hope that the New Year Zoom and Social Media. We know that this is not for everyone, but brings us good health and a return at the same time we should try. It has become apparent through to normality. Covid that methods of communications are changing and we need This year has been especially to embrace new technology, but we need to provide support to difficult for our older people. This enable people to avail of this. group of people have borne the brunt Cooked Meals for Older People of Covid 19 and many have been We now have facilities in place to deliver full sized meals to our largely confined to their own homes older people at home at an economical cost. These will be substan- for a long time and have experienced tial meals and not the small ones often found in shops. We would real loneliness and isolation. ask you to bring this to the attention of carers and older people. Drive in Christmas Party Christmas is the time for giving but We will be having our first “Drive –In “ Christmas party with great that doesn’t always mean presents. food and entertainment. We now have our own mobile covered Your time can be more precious than stage, which we hope will have many uses in the years ahead, but any present. Why not give your in the meantime it allows us to have live entertainment and comply elderly neighbour a call and let them with the Covid restrictions. know you are thinking about them. Local Murder Exclusive You can also give your time to the True story about a murder in this area—see page 12 community by helping the Community Association deliver its services for the community. We would also wish to thank all the volunteers who helped us help you during the year - your hard work is really appreciated. Joe Garvey, Chairman Richmount

Monday 21 December - see page 11 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and re- May you be blessed member the words of the Lord With the spirit of the season, which is peace, Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It The gladness of the season, which is hope, is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35 And the heart of the season, which is love.

Dealing with loneliness and social isolation by Joe Garvey

There may be light at the end of the tunnel with the Covid 19 vaccines. However, we will still have at least another 3/4 months of severe restrictions and meeting up again, as a large group at the community centre, is likely to be some time away. We all thought that at the end of the summer things were settling down and normality would soon return. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

We should be concerned about our older people and the growing problem of loneliness. This can cause serious ill health as it creeps up on you slowly and insidiously. It has been shown that loneliness is one of the biggest killers of older people Imagine being stuck in the house all day for over So many agencies now think it is easy to set up meetings on the past 9 months - no visitors. Not on the Zoom via the Internet and that most people can Internet. - Just the TV for company and the four communicate and keep in contact through social media on walls. It is recognised that this is having a detri- the internet, but here is one startling statistic: 58 % of those mental affect on the mental and physical over 65 in this Council area do not use the Internet. wellbeing of our older people

In addition, to this, the local weekly papers are getting 58% of people aged over 65 in the smaller and smaller as readership declines along with Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon advertising revenue. It would be easy to bury our head in Borough Council area do not use the the sand and hope that in a few months time things will be internet - Source NISRA back to where they were. This is unlikely as the cost benefits of Zoom has appealed to organisations with staff working from home and saving office costs. Instead of going to meetings and events they can engage via Zoom. It could be that in the future our presenters will not come to us in person, but communicate with us via Zoom. It could even be that your GP will want to use the same method of communication. I would have to say it would be better than a phone call. What we would hope to do is to encourage and help as many people as possible to use the internet as a means of Virtual parties on Zoom are becoming part of the communication. We recognise that for many older people “new norm” this may be difficult but it is not impossible. We have 90 year olds in our community who are active fol- lowers and contributors to our Facebook page. What is Zoom ? Up until the start of the Covid pandemic very few people had heard of Zoom. Basically it is video conferencing through the Internet. You can connect with one person or a group of people and you can see and talk to each other. There are also facilities to mute or not show your face on screen, but normally you see the people in the group and they see you. The conference is managed by a host so that they can ensure everyone is not talking at the same time and that everyone gets a chance to speak if they want to. Presentations can be made by the host. You are not glued to the computer screen if you A typical Zoom Screen with 25 want to get up and make a cup of tea you can do so. people talking to each other There are many video conferencing mediums and Zoom has become what Hoover is to vacuum cleaners. Generally, you use a computer, tablet or iPad; a mobile phone can be used, but it has limitations due to the small screen. It can be used through the mobile phone networks but you need to be mindful of the data usage and the cost. You will need an email address so that the host can give you the details to be able to join the meeting. For those people on means tested benefits you can have an Internet connection from BT for only £10.07 per month which includes your landline phone . We will be organising training for people who are interested—no computer experience needed.

Would you like to know more about Zoom ? 2

Our Plans for alleviating loneliness & social isolation

With the help of a £10,00 grant we have just received from the Community Fund we are planning the following:

• Try and get more older people on the internet and also to use Zoom as a way of maintaining contact with each other. Training was planned by the Council but had to be postponed due to restrictions.

• Publish 10 community magazines over the next 12 months. These will be delivered by our volunteers to older people in the area. This would at least be a regular form of safe contact.

• Provide full sized traditional cooked meals which would be delivered to older people in the area. (cost would be approximately £4). We have bought special equipment to help facilitate this. Substantial Traditional This would be a method of keeping in contact with those older people Meals Delivered to your who do not take part in group activities or may not be capable of com- Door ing to the community centre. These would be substantial meals and We plan to provide not the rather “economical one” found in some shops. substantial meals for the older people or disabled in • We have made an application to a funder for 20 computer tablets to our community. We will allow people in their cars to take part in Zoom in our carpark. This prepare a menu of the meals can serve as an illustration of the benefits of Zoom which can be used available. These will be outside of community association activities. The tablets would be set delivered to your door. up ready to use and if people just want to sit and watch and listen that These can be fresh with a would be fine. shelf life of 3/4 days and can be microwaved. Alternatively, we can • We are upgrading our Wi-Fi so that we should be able to get provide frozen meals. coverage in the carpark. However, this can only work if we have sufficient • We would also plan that at certain times the carpark will be open and demand . So please let us that people can come in their cars and avail of free internet. However, know if you are interested. it will be limited to those who have been given passwords.

• We will have a Zoom Coordinator to help people get connected and in the New Year we will be holding “virtual parties” on Thursdays. You will be able to do this at home or come to our carpark. We can deliver a lunch to your home or have it in the carpark and we can all have lunch together and have a good chat with some banter. Well “virtually”.!! Free Internet. We are planning to make the use of the • We have video equipment to link all the rooms in the internet accessible to our older people. community centre to each other, including the They will not need to have Broadband in playgroup building . This would allow us to maintain their own home or incur the cost of social distancing within the buildings. Broadband. They can come to our carpark and avail of • We have an extensive range of arts & crafts and heritage a free internet connection. activities planned for the New Year. Even with (Restrictions will apply) restrictions we hope to be able to meet in small groups We can set laptops / tablets etc up for and if appropriate we can have Zoom sessions. There is them. We would hope that in due course they will see the benefit of the likes of more information on later pages about these activities. Zoom and the Social Media.

• We have been offered some excellent health courses by the Health Trust which can be provided via the internet.

Fabric Art Project

“Our heritage on the path to peace” We have received approval to redirect some funds from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for a pre Covid project into an exciting good relations project involving fabric art. We aim to tell the story of Northern Ireland from its earliest civilisations through to the present day and how in the last few years Richmount Rural Community Association, has in its own small but significant way, been nurturing the concept of peace and harmony between communities of different religions and ethnic minorities. The notion of this project was developed from the group which was involved in the making of scrubs, as there was a desire among the group members to sustain the good relations that was built up and to be involved in other fabric work. There are also other people who wanted to learn to sew and others who wished to get involved in fabric crafts together with others who wished to be involved in the artistic element of working with fabrics. In the community centre we have sewing machines and a dedicated space for people to work on the pro- The Bayeux tapestry is one of the most famous illustration of using fabric ject and allow for social distancing. art to tell a story. It recounts the story of the Battle of Hasting in 1066

We have initially entitled our project: “Our heritage on the path to peace”. However, we will want to develop this with the group and we also want them and others to learn about our heritage and history and how it has influenced our society in Northern Ireland. Each theme or era will bring in other influences which will be developed by the group with the help of an historical facilitator/ historian/ storyteller. We also have a fabric craft facilitator who has a good background in these type of projects

The fabric crafts will be a mixture of patchwork, quilting, embroidery, and printing onto fabrics. We also propose to bring in “expert speakers”. These speakers, subject to their agreement would be recorded and the video made available online. These sessions will be open to all in our community. We will be covering a number of eras and each will cover a specific piece of fabric – these will then be joined to cover a wall space of approx. 8 m x 1.5 m. (26ft x 5 ft)

The eras/themes would be along these lines:

Neolithic This was a work of fabric art The first farmers and the enclosure of land and territory. Also, the completed by the Association’s first civilisation in Ireland to appear to have worshipped deities, members a few years ago engaged in community worship / rituals and living as a community.

Celts/Bronze/Iron Age Development of weapons, fortifications and accumulation of wealth & mythology.

Coming of Christianity Merging with the older Celtic religions, reasons for move to Christianity. Carry over from pagan traditions.

The Irish Aristocracy The great chieftains: O’Neills, O’Donnells, Maguires. Land tenure &Brehon law. 4

The Plantation Flight of the Earls, Dissenters, categories of landlords and land tenure. The dispossessed, 1641 Rebellion. Penal laws. 1798 Rebellion. Battle of the Boyne. Battle of the Diamond and foundation of the Orange Order and the Ulster Scott culture.

Home Rule /WW1 to present day 1916 Easter Rising, partition of Ireland, Civil War, Civil Rights Campaign, The Troubles, Paramilitaries, Ceasefires, Good Friday Agreement, Drumcree conflict, Executive Assembly and Education.

Richmount leading the Path to Peace Tracing the slow but steady path to peace by bringing people from both sides of the Drumcree situation together and working together, having fun together and Red Hugh O’Neill was having mutual respect for each other. We have also been trying to ensure good the O’Neill. The relations with our Bulgarian community and helping them become inclusive Absolute Monarch - He within our local community. There are similarities between Bulgaria and North- had a large income from ern Ireland with two communities of different religions trying to live in harmony. his tenants. He left Ulster in the Flight of the Earls The Ongoing Journey We would end with the journey on the path to peace still to be travelled.

Exhibition When completed the exhibition would be on semi-permanent display in the Community Centre but will have the potential to be placed on display at other locations.

Like to be involved? It is not all about sewing. There is a lot to learn from this project and we would welcome The background to the Plantation and your ideas and input. This is for all age groups. the aftermath

Creative Sewing Richmount News Classes: Would you like to get involved in producing Our beginners class has these magazines ? We need your help !! started and we will be We will be publishing another 9 of these magazines in having more beginners clas- 2021. We would welcome volunteers to help us. ses in the New Year togeth- You can learn how : To write articles . Layout the er with improvers work- magazine working with text and photographs . Printing shops and also sessions on the Magazine. These magazines are produced and print- the use of overlocker machines. ed entirely in house by the Community Association. 120 of these magazines are delivered to older people We have a number who are not on the internet. Additional volunteers to of both sewing help with delivery are always welcome. The magazines machines and are also posted on Facebook and our website : overlockers available www.richmountruralcommunityassoc.btck.co.uk at the community centre for the sewing workshops

We can only take 6 people at a session so it will take time to cope with the demand. Classes/ workshops will be in the evening. If you are interested in joining these classes Our editorial and production team: please contact us. Joe Garvey & Martelle McPartland

New £9,000 Arts Project for Richmount

We have just been granted an award of just over £9,000 by the Arts Council NI for a new project exploring and demonstrating our shared artistic & cultural rural heritage in Northern Ireland.

Traditional Crafts Beginning with Old Ireland right through to the present day, we will use traditional craft tutors to teach participants how to create pieces inspired by the techniques and lifestyles of our ancestors. This will be an educational as well as an artistic process as participants will learn about and explore our shared history to create their individual artworks.

We will use five well known and respected local artists to deliver this project. The disciplines covered will be storytelling, ceramics, wood carving, willow weaving, and musical instrument making. There will be a strong folklore/ history theme running though all disciplines to tie the project together for the final exhibition.

Craft Festival & Exhibition The project will culminate in a Craft Festival & Exhibition in Summer 2021 in which the artists and their students will showcase the work produced against a lively backdrop of music, food, storytelling and mar- ketplace.

Traditional craft demonstrations will be interspersed throughout the Craft Festi- val to encourage members of the public to try a traditional art form they may not have encountered before. It is hoped this will help ignite interest in and help preserve our traditional craft skills for generations to come. We will have this indoors and outdoors where We all love a good story or yarn we will have large gazebos erected.

Aims of the project The aims of this project are to: Help keep alive, promote and preserve rural traditional art forms. Get the local community involved in finding out more about their shared heritage. Involve people of all ages. Teach the community new skills and build capacity. Enhance the physical and emotional wellbeing of our community by providing the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, reduce loneliness and give a sense of purpose.

We will be using our two community buildings to run the project from .We will also use the community gardens where tuition could take place on warmer days.

Small Group activities We are currently limited to 15 people in the community centre and this restriction may apply for some time. However we have two rooms in the centre and one in the playgroup building so we have ample space to allow for social distancing . This would allow us to start this project early in the New Year.

Like to get involved? Please contact us.

Mistletoe at Christmas Almost everyone associates the beautiful mistletoe plant with Christmas. Alongside holly, it is synonymous with the festive season and is commonly associated with stealing a kiss under a doorframe! But as with so many traditional symbols, its origins actually pre-date the Christian festival of Christmas and has roots in Ireland’s Celtic culture. The use of mistletoe can be traced back to far more ancient cultures in which it was revered as a fertility and health symbol. The Druids even believed that it would ward off evil. An Original Celtic Tradition For the Irish Celts, the green-leafed and white-berried plant was a key cultural and fertility symbol and it was particularly revered for its healing powers. Because mistletoe grows on tree branches without being connected to the earth, Celtic Druids believed that the plant was an earthly manifestation of Taranus, the sun or thunder god. Trees that hosted the plant on their branches were believed to have been blessed and were held as sacred because the Druids worshipped the sun as a central focus of their spiritual practice. The belief was that the plant would absorb the host tree’s essence, which is actually a scientifically accurate viewpoint, as this plant essentially feeds off the tree. For these ancient peoples, finding the shrub growing on an oak, their most revered and holy tree, was of particular significance. In this situation, it was harvested in accordance with complex and lengthy ceremonies. Its leaves and berries were used to provide symbolic protection from evil, and to strengthen the body against poison and ill humours. Ritual Harvesting of the Mistletoe Traditionally, the harvesting took place according to a tightly defined ritual practice. It followed the first new moon that appeared after autumn had fallen and six further days had elapsed. From a purely practical perspective, the trees were largely devoid of leaves by this point, making it rather easier to find the plant. This timing may well explain how the shrub became incorporated into Western culture and Christmas. As the Christian church became established, it was keen to retain symbols that people knew and with which they felt an affinity, albeit re-framed within the new Christian narrative. The reverence with which the Celts treated this green and iconic white-berried plant is hard to imagine in today’s day and age. During the harvesting process, it was treated with incredible care and was never allowed to touch the ground. It was considered to be so magical that valuable livestock were sacrificed to the sun god, to thank him for the gift. Medicinal and Protective As the ages passed, the allure of mistletoe by no means diminished. From the druids to medieval times, it was called allheal in recognition of its medicinal properties. Its berries and leaves were used to treat an array of diseases including cancers and to promote fertility. As part of Druid rituals and other ancient folklore, it was also hung in stables and homes to protect against evil and mischievous spirits. Today, mistletoe is associated with goodwill, love, happiness and friendship and love is believed to reside in the homes that it adorns. In hanging a fresh sprig indoors every year, love is invited into the home, which explains why we have the modern practice of kissing underneath it.

Poinsettias - even the smallest gift can blossom There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettias and Christmas come together, it goes like this: There was once a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who had no present to give the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked to the chapel sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up. 'Pepita', he said "I'm sure that even the smallest gift, given by someone who loves him will make Jesus Happy." Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the 'Flores de Noche Buena', or 'Flowers of the Holy Night'. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red coloured leaves symbolize the blood of Christ.

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

We can all get involved in our heritage by Joe Garvey

One of the main objectives of this heritage project is to get people involved in examining the heritage and history of their own area and also to get more people involved in the process. It is not all about looking for ancient monuments; heritage is all around us. Sometimes we only need to scratch the surface to find it. If we don’t it could be lost for future generations. In this article we will be looking at townlands and by way of illustration of uncovering heritage. In this article I will be looking at my own small townland which has never established any great notoriety but what lies beneath the quiet inconspicuous layer of normality ?

Townlands

Townlands are a vital land identification method on the island of Ireland. They are small geographical divisions of land used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin, pre-dating the Norman invasion and most have names of Irish origin However, some townland names and boundaries come from Norman manors, plantation divisions, or later creations of the Ordnance. The total number recognised by the Irish Place Names database as of 2014 was 61,098, including uninhabited townlands, mainly small islands. The concept of townlands is based on the Gaelic system of land division, and the first official evidence of the existence of this Gaelic land division system can be found in church records from before the 12th century, it was in the 1600s that they began to be mapped and defined by the English administration for the purpose of confiscating land and apportioning it to investors or planters from Britain. We all live in a townland whether in the countryside or towns.

Townland of Coharra All townlands have history and heritage, and in this edition we are going to look at the townland of Coharra, which is located between Richmount and Ballintaggart. Coharra lies 3 miles due West of Portadown. There is a small hill on the road south to north through Coharra and on its northern boundary there is a stream feeding into the River Tall. The townland has been given various names such as Cahara, Coharrah and Cohair. The most likely Coharra had a National School which was built interpretation is Comhartha ‘a sign, a signal’, probably in 1895. It ceased operation at this site in the referring to lighting a beacon fire on the hill. Whether late 1960s but continued for a while at St Mary’s this was just used as a signal or warning fire we do not Hall, Portadown. Its first teacher and headmaster know. Some would suggest it was a ritualist fire lit at was Eugene Cullen and its last principal was certain times of the year to coincide with ancient Miss Nancy O’Reilly festivals.

Geographical Features

Geographically, Coharra is a low hill or Drumlin, which forms the topography of this part of the country. These hills would have been formed by glaciers moving over the landscape during the last Ice-Age which would have lasted for over 20,000 years and ended about 10,000 years ago. The effects of the Ice Age is something we may wish to cover in future editions as our landscape in this area was moulded during this period and at that time Great Britain and Ireland would have been joined as a land mass.

Similar to every other townland it is rich in heritage that is not often recorded. In this edition, we will explore some of the heritage about this townland, but history and heritage are not all about glorious events, but the everyday trials and tribulations of society over the years. Notable features and events in the townland of Coharra

• Ancient ceremonial place of fire.

• Site of a Mass Rock. There are reports of a mass rock on the Eastern slope of the townland but it is believed to have been buried as part of orchard planting in the 1960s .

• The Coharra Murder of 1880

• Site of a sectarian affray in 1836. Hill top fires would have been lit at Samhain • The cutting of the road on the southern slope where the top of the hill was ( Halloween). It could dug down and deposited at the bottom of the road thus reducing the slope also been a fire signing and making it easier for the horses to pull loads up the hill. This would the way to the ancient have been around 1850 and was designed to provide paid work in the ceremonial site at aftermath of the famine. This is a subject area we would hope to cover in Ballintaggart later editions as the cutting of hills was not just confined to this townland,

• Dunedin, built in 1939; it was the first house in the area to have electric light. The electricity was provided by a wind generator and power was stored in room full of batteries to the rear of the house. Mains electricity did not come to the area until 1953.

• From 1930s there were tennis courts attached to a private house in the townland. These became a popular community attraction and meeting place during the summer. Tell us about your townland All townlands have a history and heritage and we can always help you dig a little deeper and find more. We want information about your actual townland - not your road name -they may not be the same. Also, let us preserve our townland names and heritage. If we do not record it now it could be lost to our future generations. Each one of us can be a storyteller you don’t always need to write it down - just tell us. I am sure you will all be amazed what history, heritage and secrets are out there.

We have our own historical investigation team who will unearth the stories and mysteries about your townland . Just give us a few clues.

Who needs Midsomer Murders or Death in Paradise when we have our own local mysterious murders . An Old lady with a nice farm was brutally murdered by her daughter and boyfriend .Did they hang? Read the first episode on page 12

SIGNAL FIRE OF COHARRA by Martelle McPartland

Fire was used as a means of communication , warning , direction or for ceremonial purposes. In Coharra, it seemed to have been used as a signal. In this article we look at how our ancestors used fire for more than just for heating and cooking.

In the dark days of winter long before electricity and gas were invented fires lit up the ancient landscape of Ire- land. The light from these fires illuminated the night and with light came protection as the light deterred wild ani- mals such as feral dogs and wolves from attacking. Fires became a gathering place; it brought people together to embrace the warmth and protection fire offered. And it was around these fires that the first stories emerged - stories of the land, of gods and spirits.

It is no surprise that the worship of fire became univer- sal in ancient cultures around the world including Ire- Fire was a vital part of the evolution of man as food land. To the ancient people fire represented the night could now be cooked and digested more easily sun and life itself as without fire and heat our ancient ancestors couldn’t survive the harsh winters and they would succumb to illnesses and death .Over time in Ireland as the first farmers became more sophisticated solemn rituals evolved around fire and rooted itself into the consciousness of the people. Traditions developed of lighting fires on the tops of hills, like Coharra, on ancient feast days.

One such ancient festival was Beltane, which was celebrated on the 1st May, and was a crossover day half- way between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. This was a very important festival in ancient Ire- land as it represented the first day of summer and the first day when cattle were returned to the summer pastures. Our ancient ancestors were totally reliant on the land for survival and they practised rituals in order to protect their cattle, crops and people from harm supernatural or otherwise. They wanted to encourage growth and a good harvest as a bad harvest or sickly cattle meant starvation, disease and death.

On the evening before Beltane( May Day), special bonfires were kindled and their flames, smoke and ashes were said to have supernatural powers that offered protection to all. The fire ceremony was ap- proached with solemn rituals and two bonfires were The tradition of the Yule log began in Norway, where a lit on a hill of every district in Ireland. The first sa- giant log was hoisted onto the hearth to celebrate the cred fire lit on the eve of Beltane, was lit by the chief return of the sun each year druid at Uisneach, a place associated with myths and believed to be the sacred centre of Ireland where the five provinces meet at the ancient site, the catstone. It is also known as the Umbilicus Hinerniae, Axis Mundi and the navel of Ireland.

Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht are the four known provinces today, but in ancient Ireland there was a fifth province, known as the Mide. Some refer to Mide as the world of the imagination, or the under- world, or a place of magic, or a magical doorway for which anything is possible. Meath, known originally as Mide, is the Kingdom of Kinship, and where the Hill of Tara is situated, the traditional Seat of the High King of Ireland. The ancient earthwork there is called the, Ringfort of the Kings. In mythology it is known as the burial place of gods. It seems fitting that this is where the first fires of Beltane were lit with solemn ritual by the chief druid and once this fire was lit all the other fires right across Ireland, from hilltop to hilltop were lit by druids to form an unbroken chain of light.. At this fire were the mystical torch bearers who dressed entirely in black and were protected from the fire. 10

One tradition associated with Beltane, was that every household in Ireland had to get a new fire from these druidic fires. The fires in all the hearths right across Ireland were extinguished and at dawn people went in procession to these sacred bonfires walking through the dewy fields that they believed gave them fertility on this feast day. Each family carried the sacred light back to their own hearths and lit a new fire, which represented connection to the sacred fire of Uisneach. Once the fires were all lit the festivities began and couples leapt between the fires holding hands as they believed it made them fertile. All the cattle were also driven between these fires to expel any evil spirits that may have attached themselves to them during the winter months and the cattle were also smudged with smouldering furze to rid them of diseases.

The people would also decorate all their doors and windows with yellow flowers to symbolise fire. After all the rituals a great feast was held to celebrate with offerings given to the gods. When the fires were extinguished the ashes were then spread over the land to encourage fertility, growth of crops and a bountiful harvest.

The ambience and glow of the fire bring us comfort and was the focal point on a cold winter night before TV and computers . People talked to each other then.

Editor’s Comments: We hope you enjoy reading these magazines. It would be great if we could provide everyone with a hard copy but it would simply be too expensive. We deliver them to the older people in the community who may not be able to view them on the Internet. We would really want a few more people to get involved in the production of these magazines as writing, laying out the magazine takes up a lot of Drive in Seniors Christmas Party time. It would be a great learning experience for Monday 21 December 2020 people to get involved. ( 12.30pm for 1.00pm ) In this magazine we have outlined our proposals Full lunch with Turkey & Ham with all the trimmings on how to reach out to the older people in the with sherry trifle & cream for dessert community and especially those who are lonely.

These proposal will, however, be effective only Live musical entertainment with: work if we get community support and we would Lee Lawson Irwin, multi talented musician with drums appeal to the family and carers of our older as her speciality - world champion snare drummer people to consider what we are offering. Colin Harney - one of our favourite C & W artists In terms of out community centre we will be Food and drinks will be brought to your car . Toilet open in the New Year but our numbers are facilities will be available, but absolutely no gatherings limited to 15 people. However, with this number will be permitted. we can still have meaningful and enjoyable You can have members of your own household in your programmes. We have also just taken a delivery car and/ or your own bubble. of new sanitation equipment to help ensure your Numbers will be strictly limited & booking is essential. safety which is of our paramount concern. If you wish to go to this party please text 07934186635. This just leaves me to wish you all a very Happy . Christmas and New Year . We will be requesting a donation of £5 per person to

Joe Garvey help cover the cost of this event

A Murder in Coharra - alleged matricide A true story by Martelle McPartland

It was still dark when a prison guard rang the morning bell that autumn day in Armagh Gaol. Some prisoners were glad that another night of bone biting cold was over while others wanted to remain in dreamless dreams and a state of nothingness. As daylight slowly seeped in the screams of the broken minded stilled and the rats that crawled over them in the darkness scurried away to other places. The prisoners got dressed, tidied their cells and lifted their chamber pots for emptying before they had their breakfast, which consisted of a half pint of milk and 7oz of meal in porridge, that was little more than a watery slop.

They faced another relentless day of stone breaking for the men and sewing and cleaning and washing for the women, but this day there was a heightened tension in the air and many eyes fell on the closed steel door of a small cell. Two policemen waited as a guard unlocked the door and called out the prisoner’s name. A slightly dishevelled woman appeared and the prisoners broke their silence and jeered at her as she was escorted past them down the long corridor to the main door. Outside, a small crowd had gathered Conditions in Armagh Gaol would have been and when they saw her some of them hissed and spat on the harsh ground. The policemen escorted her through the streets of Armagh to the railway station for the 10am train to Portadown.

In Portadown, another crowd of spectators followed the prisoner through the packed streets of onlookers to the courthouse.

This woman, a woman of good standing and means kept her eyes down. But some said that she was not a woman of good standing for she was known to them, she was known to the town and known to the bars in the town that she frequented. Portadown Station as it would have been At 11am she took the stand in the courthouse and stood visibly shak- around 1880 ing beside her co-accused, a man named Patrick Garvey. He was well dressed in a suit and seemed to be very calm; he had walked to the courthouse earlier with his father and had stopped to chat to various groups of people on his way.

Shortly after 11am the two accused stood before Captain Whelan, R.M., and Mr Thomas Shillington, J.P., and were charged with the murder of a woman named Catherine Bennett, in the townland of Coharra, on the 16th September, 1880.

The woman, who stood before the courtroom charged with the murder of Catherine Bennett, was her daughter, Elizabeth Bennett.

Coharra, is a townland about three miles from Portadown, and everyone in the community knew each other and most of their business as well. This small community was shocked to learn about the murder. What was even more shocking was that it was the murder of a frail old woman Murder carried a mandatory life at the hand of her daughter. sentence If found guilty, she would receive the death penalty, and be hanged by the neck until she was dead. There was a long tradition of public executions in Armagh like many other towns in Ireland at that time. The prisoners used to be marched from the old jail in Market Street to Gallows Hill where the hangings took place. The gallows would have been built on top on the hill with a wooden ladder leading up to the platform where the hangman would place the rope around the condemned man’s neck before a large crowd who would have heckled the prisoner. Public Executions were considered a day out for the locals and many would have arrived early to get the best view. The crowds could grow quite unruly as the day wore on and the drink set in.

Gallows Hill can be seen from the demesne where Archbishop Robinson built his palace.

When the new jail was built in Armagh at the Mall the hangings took place there, just over the main en- trance which would have been a grisly sight. After 1866, though, executions took place inside the prison– out of sight of the public. In 1888 a new Hanging Shed was built at a corner of the prison near the Crown Hall. Two existing walls of the prison formed part of this shed, which measured 8ft x 10ft and was ‘scrupulously white on the inside and funeral black on the outside’. The shed has long since been demol- ished, but if you look closely at the two prison walls you can still see traces of the whitewash from the Hanging Shed. Elizabeth Bennett was left in no doubt as to what would happen to her if found guilty.

The Accused: Elizabeth Bennett was a middle aged woman, around fifty years of age and was fond of whiskey. She was set to inherit her mother’s farm of 30 acre’s after her mother died. There is no doubt that she was kept busy on the farm and had to go into town several days a week to sell the produce. They had a maid and a hired hand – a young lad of thirteen. A little bit more about Elizabeth was written in the Bristol Mercury Newspaper.

A shocking murder has just been brought to light in the neighbourhood of Portadown. Matthew Bennett and Catherine Bennett occupied a comfortable farm of thirty years in the townland of Coharra. The old woman’s husband died several years ago, leaving the farm to her during her lifetime. Elizabeth Bennett, the daughter, married a number of years ago a man named Mc Coo, who in finding out that Matthew Bennett left the farm to his wife, Catherine, instead of to him, deserted Elizabeth and went to Australia.

It subsequently transpired that he had already been married and still had a wife. Elizabeth abandoned, shamed and scorned reverted back to her maiden name of Bennett. It would appear that the mother and daughter developed a love of the drink and would frequently go to Portadown and remain drinking for days together. It also seems that she and a young man Garvey, who lives in the neighbourhood, have been keeping company and have been romantically involved for several years. Bought by the pint and naggin Bennets were partial to Patrick Garvey, the co-accused, was from Annagora, and 43 years old at the the uisce bheatha ( water of life) time of the murder. He was described as being of respectable appearance and was an Irish American who had returned to this country four years earlier. Unlike most other men at that time he was a person of means and was able to come up with the bail set at £200, which at present day value would be £24,220. In addition, he also had a mortgage on Bennett’s farm of £135 which at present day value would be £16,350.

The victim: Catherine Bennett had been widowed some years previously. She was left control of the farm for her lifetime, though she was incapable of running it as she was 80 years of age and bedridden and the management of the farm was left to her daughter.

Location: The Bennett house and farm were located just off the present Coharra Road, towards Kingarve. In Griffith’s valuation of 1864, it does not show 30 acres. However, the Bennett’s had 3 buildings let to tenants. It would appear that the house and lands, somewhere between 1880 and 1901, came under the control of the Marley family.

Possible Murder weapons: A rusty iron poker found with grey hairs on it and a three foot long iron bar.

Dates: Thursday 16 September 1880 – Date of Murder

The First Witness. Esther Rafferty , maid Esther Rafferty, the Bennett’s maid, was the first witness called to testify. She stated that she had known the deceased for twenty years. On the night of the 14th September, she slept at her brother’s house in Scotch Street, which was about half a mile from Coharra. On the morning of the 15th she saw Miss Bennett passing in the direction of Portadown. Miss Bennett warned her not to go into her house until she returned. Later that night when it was dark she saw Miss Bennett go into the house with an armful of turf. Esther followed Miss Bennett into the house, but she did not see Catherine Bennett that night. She stated that Miss Bennett went to bed at eleven o clock and said that the daughter slept in the same room as the mother. Esther slept in a room over the kitchen and that night she was given no light to go to bed with. She heard no noise only the dog barking. She went down to their room and listened outside the door, but heard no noise inside. Esther said that she didn’t notice any drink on Miss Bennett that night.

The next morning Miss Bennett called her to make tea for her mother and it was Miss Bennett who took the tea up to her mother, but said she couldn’t take it. Esther went up to help Catherine and saw that Mrs Bennett’s cap was covered in blood. The deceased refused to let some blood stained clothes be taken off her. She said that Miss Bennett was crying at the time and said, ‘Ma must have had a fall’. Miss Bennett pointed to the fireplace as the spot where she believed her mother had fallen. She then said, ‘Ma is going to die,’ and pushed Esther back as she wanted to put on a clean chemise on her mother before she sent for the clergy. Esther Rafferty said that the deceased woman died in her arms on the Thursday morning just after breakfast. During her service at Bennett’s she never observed any quarrel between the mother and the daughter. Elizabeth had told her that a day earlier her mother had fallen out of bed and hurt herself. Esther Rafferty went on to say that when she lifted the deceased after she had died, she noticed pieces of cloth on the woman’ head. Esther said that her arms were, ‘all black through other.’ Both her eyes were also black. Under cross examination she agreed that there was a grate in the fireplace in the bedroom, at the head of the bed where Mrs Bennett slept and that it was possible the woman had fallen. Miss Bennet sent for Patrick Garvey who came followed by Father O Donnell.

The Second Witness Hannah Mc Cann neighbour Hannah McCann said that she saw the deceased after dinner on the day she died. When she heard that Catherine was dead she went to the house and assisted with washing the deceased. In those days, the washing and laying out of corpses was carried out by the family or neighbours. She noted that some of the clothes worn by the deceased were blood stained and that there was blood coming from the back of her head. She said initially that she saw no blood on her, but then corrected herself under cross examination and said that there was, ‘a little pale blood on the back of her head.’ She said that her eyes were blackened and there were black marks on her hands.

The Third Witness, Susan Cunningham neighbour Susan Cunningham said that she saw Miss Bennett and Patrick Garvey talking at the end of the house on the 14th. Susan went into the house and saw Mrs Bennett who came to the back door of the kitchen and said that she was in a very bad way as Miss Bennett had broken her ribs by kneeling on her the night before. However, there was no discoloration of the ribs at the post-mortem. Susan Cunningham reported to the Court that a couple of days earlier she had heard Miss Bennett saying, “She wished to God her mother was dead”. On the Friday before that Susan had brought Miss Bennett a pint of whiskey.

To be continued in the next edition—Will Garvey and Bennett hang ?

Gran’s plum Pudding Isobel Annesley sent in this recipe for his lovely light, fragrant suet pudding. Perfect for all seasons ,but a lighter alternative for a Christmas pudding. Isobel says: “I have sent in one of our family hand-me-down recipes. Both my Gran and Great Gran used it and it’s been handed on down. We love having it on our table”

Ingredients: 2 cups ground suet 2 cups breadcrumbs 2 cups plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 cups brown sugar 2 cups raisins 2 cups currants 2 cups sultanas 1 orange, grated rind 1 lemon, grated rind 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground mace 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp salt Method 1 tsp mixed spice Mix all the dry ingredients and then add the dried fruit and grated 2 cooking apples, grated rinds. Stir in the orange juice and mix to a stiff dough. Fill greased 2 cups pure orange juice pudding basins 2/3 full and steam for 3 to 4 hours.

The Community Pharmacy by Paula Morgan With the long, dark evenings and the weather getting colder, it is a good time to ensure that Winter is a less difficult time of year. When you think of Winter do you think of beautiful crisp, frosty mornings or cosy nights by the fire? Here are my tips on how to stay healthy this Winter along with advice to help you manage and avoid common winter ailments. We are all aware of the dangers of Covid 19 ,but all our other seasonal ailments are still there.

Keep warm: Have at least one hot meal a day and have regular hot drinks or soup, draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block draughts. Heat your home to a comfortable temperature and wear a few thin layers rather than one thick layer. Get plenty of rest. Flu vaccine: This year in particular I would encourage you to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t already got one. Flu can lead to serious illness and you are more at risk when you are older or have a long-term health condition. It is a good idea to take Vitamin D supplement during the Winter months to help your immune system and mood (as well as your bones). The vaccine does not give you the flu but may cause mild flu-like symptoms as side-effects for a day or so.

Eat healthy: Vitamins in foods will help to fight the Flu. Vitamin C is found in strawberries, oranges, pineapple, broccoli, and peppers. Zinc is found in beans, seeds, yogurt, red meat and seafood.

Regular hand washing: This has become an essential part of our lives because the flu virus just like Covid 19 can live on hard surfaces. Any bar of soap or liquid handwash is fine. I try to avoid antibacterial soap as it is harsh on hands. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces also helps and remember to sneeze into a tissue and discard it at once.

Advice: Ask your local Pharmacist for advice if you have any queries, we are always happy to help!

And just to remind you, antibiotics do not treat the Flu virus. If you have a cold or flu-like symptoms this Winter, rest, keep warm , drink plenty of hot drinks and take paracetamol as painkiller. If your symptoms persist, ring your G.P practice or your local Pharmacy for advice.

Paula Morgan, Orchard Pharmacy 23 Mandeville St., Portadown 02838 332 824

Poet’s corner Dessie McKittrick was brought up at a location called Bogstown which was in an idyllical setting downstream of the river Tall which bordered the townland of Grange where Dessie went to the school and Church and socialised in his younger days. Such was his love of the area that he wrote a poem about the townland and its people. Historically, the townland of Grange formed a detached portion of the parish of Newry, situated in the barony of O’Neilland West in Co. Armagh. A grange was a unit of land held as farmland by a monastic house of the 12th- century period, frequently of Anglo-Norman foundation It was not always adjacent to the monastery. This townland was also known as Grange O’Neilland to distinguish it from other places of the same name. It is now often referred to as Diamond Grange The Grange There is a place in Ireland where people never change The place which I refer to -it is of course The Grange Where people are so friendly and greet you with a smile But if you ever go there be prepared to stay a while.

You’ll enjoy some friendly banter and of course you must have “tae” And it’s very often midnight before you get away The stories that you heard there are full of mirth and care And never of a scathing kind as you often hear elsewhere

They remind me of those carefree days which every season brought And our respect for nature which every season taught Haymaking in the summer, apple pulling coming soon And walking home from Church at night—the only light , the harvest moon

Though not that widely travelled– yes I’ve been across the sea But on arriving there I often say. “What is there here to see” ? Or if the weather’s pleasant I enjoy a trip to Donegal But when I think of where I’ve been I know Grange would beat them all.

I could write for hours about this place But no matter how things change I’ll always be proud to say. “ I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE GRANGE”

D McKittrick

In Coharra, a small townland West of Portadown, there is a small hill and it is from this hill that Coharra gets its name, which means signal from a hill. A vision of Fire There are no fires that burn on Coharra’s hill today, The day will come but once it was a vision of light, After mastering and a beacon that connected The ether, the winds, this hill to every other district in The tides and gravity, Ireland. we shall master the energy of love To our ancient ancestors it was and then a special place, for the second time set apart, a sacred space. in the history of the world we shall have made Through the mists of times the fire fires of Coharra burned bright. our servant

by Teilhard de Chardin Martelle McPartland This poem was submitted by Sharon Muir , Keep sending in your poems one of our volunteers