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My mother and her cousin went to live in Forkhill during WW2. They were very small but one wonderful memory they have is that where they lived was surrounded by orchards. Any ideas where they were probably staying? I would love to visit this area as it was a lovely memory my mother and her cousin had of Northern Ireland.

YOUR RESPONSES

Brian Toner - July '08
Hopefull a cousin of mine from Mullaghbane can add some more details, as he is familiar with a McVerry family. McVarry is perhaps a mispelling?

The barracks has now gone, but the scar is still there today (July 08) Most I believe hope that the old barracks site will be developed for the benefit of the community with something useful, resilient and ideally timeless.
Regards
Brian

Carol Ford - Mar '08
I AM DOING FAMILY RESEARCH AND HAVE JUST (NOW) CONFIRMED THAT MY FAMILY WAS FROM FORKHILL, MULLAGHBAWN. THE SURNAME IS MCVARRY, AND MY GREAT GREAR GRANDMOTHER ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA, PA ON 12/29/1851 ON THE SHIP TONAWANDA. SHE CAME WITH 4 CHILDREN, (I DO NOT KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP OF).
ARE THEIR MCVARRYS' STILL IN FORKHILL? I VISITED IRELAND 3 YEARS AGO, BUT DID NOT GET TO ARMAGH. I THINK ANOTHER VISIT IS IN ORDER. THANKS FOR ANY RESPONSE OR HELP.

Evelyn Campbell (nee Norton) - Aug '06
Jenny Maguire, Just found you and thank goodness. My Dad will be so pleased as he so often asked did I ever hear where you were living etc? Living in Mullaghbawn as is Dad, give me an email at glebepark @ hotmail . co . uk Thanks ,Evelyn

Jennie Maguire - June '06
I just happened on this site by accident and scrolling down came on the name of Evelyn Campbell (nee Norton). I was at the hospital when her mother died and knew "Dot" well. We all called her "Dot" her name was Dorothy. I also knew John and the family, also old Mrs. Morgan, Dot's mother down in Adanove. Dot taught in Crossmaglen and stayed with my mother during that time and John was "coorting" her as we say up that country and used to arrive up on his motorbike to see her! I left there in 1968 to dwell in fair Armagh! Dorothy was full of history and it was a joy to listen to her. I was only in my early teens and fascinated. My aunt was the district nurse in Forkhill in the 1940's - Brigid Daly - later to become known far and wide as Nurse Longridge. She was married to Herbie, another character, the local postman, and a former army man. Many a time I visited my aunt when she was living in the old barracks. That was a fascinating place now - is it still there? I w!
ould love to get in contact with the Norton's again as I have lost touch over the many, many years. Best wishes to John.

Marie Toner Moore - June '06
Someone asked for evacuation memories, yes? We lived with my granny, a WWI widow, in west belfast. There were three of us, two girls and a boy. The girls were aged seven and six and the boy was just 3 years. Our mother died when the boy was born and our father, who died in August 1942, was a patient in Whiteabbey T.B. hospital. My granny took us to Goraghwood, near newry, to sit the war out. We must have been luckier than most kids because our beloved granny was evacuated with us. Can you imagine the good fortune of kids destined to spend our childhood on the streets of west Belfast to suddenly have green fields. animals, and decent food at our disposal. I loved it and certainly didn't want to come 'home' when the danger had passed! The cottage we were assigned to in Goraghwood had three rooms, an elderly lady lived alone there, she told my granny that she felt lucky to be deaf as we three children made so much noise. The centre room in the cottage had an 'earthern' floor and a picture of Robert Emmett in the dock on the wall. No electric or running water of course. No heating either except for the cooking range. Oddly my granny loved the place too even though she had to carry water and fuel and cook for three children and two adults. I wonder if they make them like her anymore?

Evelyn Campbell (nee Norton) - April '06
Just sifting information re family trees when i came across your article. . .and lots of other v.interesting stories re all our local history. really enjoyed reading your article (Rory). My mum and you were known to each other. unfotunatley she died in1969 but having seen some of the books and papers which she had hoarded i understand she had a great interest in all things /happenings of past particularly local history. unfortunately only advanced years has afforded me time to delve a little but i presume i,ve inheritated some of her nice genes. i also was born in Forkhill and was taught by Master S Keatings. this man taught me more of my native language and history than anyone could believe possible with such big classes and no modern technology. my own son now teaches and just does not understand the overall education we were so given . after more years in many walks of life i have yet to meet any person whom could be said to be so brilliant, fair and overall kind.

He used to tell us the chair he sat on was the chair which P O D died in and in our total innocene we so believed him! anyway i must also say to Mr Ross that Apple Lodge was my dad and mum's first marital home in approx 1957. dad still going strong and complained woefully because of tree felling in fields opposite A.L as his Grandfather had been gamekeeper there and lived in small house up behind Peter Mc Donalds. he says there was a walnut tree of some consierable age removed which is sad. thanks for glimpses of past.

Kenny Ross - Jan '06
As stated by Mr. Toner the village of FORKHILL and the surrounding area are well worth a visit. The traveller can be sure of a very friendly welcome. The vast and unsightly military base has now (20-01-2006) been dismantled in toto and the village is much more attractive. I lived in Carrickasticken during WW2 and remember most every detail of the area as it was then. Well do I recall sitting beside the late father of Mr Toner at Forkhill Public Elementary School (as it was then named) on the BACK ROAD. I believe this road is now known as SCHOOL ROAD.

Kenny Ross - Jan '06
The children in question may well have come to the townland of CARRICKASTICKEN adjacent to and lying South of the village of FORKHILL. During WW2 there were orchards in the grounds of the following houses. "APPLE LODGE" (prop. Barney Boyle), 250m. SOUTH of"LARKIN'S PUB". At the house of TED VIZE, exactly on the top of the gradient from Forkhill, (left hand side of the road). Two orchards on the properties of JAMES MURDOCH. The First one was in the grounds of his own dwelling, which house is still extant. The second, a much smaller one was at his property known as FANE VIEW which is now part of a business complex. Also, there was, and perhaps still is an orchard on the property of DAVID O'NEILL known as "TIR EOGHAIN". there is no difficulty in finding these sites. NNB. Two properties which a child might reasonably perceive as being SURROUNDED BY ORCHARDS were--------- (1) CAPTAIN ALEXANDER GRANVILLE JACKSON'S HOUSE, situated on the road now known as "CAPTAIN'S ROAD". (2) use of CHARLES CARLISLE 400m west of Jackson's "PLANTIN" (a stand of mainly beech trees). Many "evacuees" came to this area during the war. e.g. The entire student body of the De La Salle School, Glen road, BELFAST and some BROTHERS/TEACHERS were housed for some considerable time in CAPTAIN ALEXANDERS HOUSE. All were boys.

Did the children in question attend either of the two Schools in Forkhill? What was their family name? PERHAPS I COULD BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE if I had some more details. E.G. Where were the children from? Where does the person who posted this article first live now?

Brian Toner - July '05
Hmm...
There were orchards on the Carickasticken road, which connects Forkhill with Dundalk. Perhaps they were staying with the Murdochs or the O'Neills up there.

My Father was born in Forkhill and 1936...but he died in 1981, so I can't dig out more details.

Forkhill has changed alot. It's known more for it's massive British Army military barracks, which is an obscene sight, almost as big as the village itself.

So, remove the Barracks and Forkhill is a lovely wee place. The surrounding area is gorgeous. Slieve Gullion, 1800 feet high dominates the area and seems to sit guard over Mullaghbawn, Forkhill and Dromintee (where I was raised).

So hopefully the barracks will now be dismantled with the recent announcements in Ireland...but despite the barracks, the area is still worth visiting.

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