Art Gallery Night P1

An Art Gallery Night was organised to raise funds for Benburb Priory. many talented artists displayed their work – among them Bob Toner, Paddy McCann, and Frances McKenna. Irish music filled the air as the large crowd socialised over a wine and cheese platter.

Art Gallery Night P2

There wasn't just art on display at the Benburb Priory Art Gallery Night ; there was music too a guitarist, harpist and Irish musicians playing fiddles, banjos, tin whistles and bodhrans. Sounded good.

Kimmitts

The name Kimmitt was not a local name I recognised so I did some research on the family of Robert who had been born in Moy. He moved to England, became Mayor of Ealing - his two sons went to Campbell College. This article shows his wife's obituary.

Extension

This article shows an aerial photograph of Moy Primary School from around 1979-1981. It details the school extension and the use of land that was once's Dobson's field.

Butterfly

True story is told of a man at Benburb Priory who fired an air rifle in the direction of a butterfly, missed and killed a woman who was sitting talking behind a bush unseen to him. Totally accidental and unbelievably tragic.

A short extract from the story as it appeared in the Dungannon Observer in 1955

Tomás Ó Fiaich

I had no idea who Father Fee was when I. read about him leaving Clonfeacle Parish in 1953. I was shocked to learn later that he would become Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich. Apparently he could sing a song or two. There's now a Memorial Library dedicated to him in Armagh.

Extracted in part from an article in the Dungannon Observer in 1953

Social Events

I often wondered what impact the war had on the social lives of the people of Moy, Charlemont and District. For Catholics it looks like life carried on as normal whereas across the religious line Protestants were a little more war-wary and didn't live it up while their kith and kin were out fighting for their lives on foreign battlefields. They saved their powder for when the war was won!

Moy United

Moy United had a good side that won quite a few trophies in the late 1960s and 1970s when I would have been watching them. They played a Wilbur Cush Select side at Duff's Park as part of the 1967 Festival programme in Moy, Co. Tyrone. The Moy Ladies team were also in action against Mayfair.

Fort Painting

I had never seen this painting by Thomas Creswick of Charlemont Fort from around the mid 19th century before I found it online today . It is held in Armagh County Museum.

The Fort burnt

Charlemont Fort in Charlemont, Co. Armagh was burnt by masked Irishmen in 1920. I assume it was for political reasons and not because it was a cold August that year

Maps

I had no idea the Moy Square used to be known in olden days as The Diamond - maybe even Moy Diamond. Nor was Trew & Moy Railway Station always known by that name - welcome True & Moy Railway Station and True Mount! I wonder what initiated the changes.

Adam

Photo of Adam back in the 1960s when he used to live in Moy and another of him in 2023 in Coleraine.

John Orr

Interesting how a strange obelisk shaped headstone in a graveyard can grab your attention and how you can then link it to an article in the Tyrone Courier in the 1950s. I ended up learning that rugby legends like Patrick Lambie and Gordon Brown could trace their lineage back to John Orr a wee Benburb guy who owned a series of megastores in South Africa away back in the early part of the 20th century!