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Looking out the window of my father's home in Anahorish you could see Lough Neagh. You could also see the Toome road and at night the vehicle lights as they descended from Moneyglass to Toomebridge. This house was the family farm for some years and was the typical Irish farm cottage with living room in the middle and a room at either side. Attached in a terrace format was the house of Bob Cushley, his wife Bridget and a son Billy. Also living there was Bridget's sister Trea Gribbin who was a teacher at Anahorish school . Contained within the house was a small grocers shop and at the end of the terrace was a tailors premises occupied by Bridget's brother, locally known as John the tailor.
During my school years my uncle Hugh ran the farm and lived there with my aunts Kitty and Margaret, both of whom worked. Margaret was a tailoress in Belfast and Kitty worked at Kilroes in Magherafelt. Myself and the other family members in line after me used to spend time here after school and on Saturdays. We always found things to do which were not available at home. We played football in the field in front of the house with Billy Cushley and other neighbouring children. There was also going to the peat bog with uncle Hugh in the donkey cart to take home the turf from the 'bog' on the Hillhead road past the junction for Castledawson and Bellaghy.
Things always seemed to be happening in Anahorish, perhaps because we were young and all our relatives were working or doing something we could only watch. We watched John the Tailor measure and make suits for men and women through the big window at the rear of his shop. On Saturdays we went 'over the hill', as the path past the tailors shop was known, to call at Gribbin's who had a pig farm. There were 6 brothers all well known footballers in their club and county. Three appeared on Derry's first time at Croke Park in an All-Ireland Final in 1958.
There was always a football lying in the concrete front garden and we spent many hours just kicking these against the concrete walls.
They were one of the few houses to have TV in those days and we watched rugby on Grandstand and The Lone Ranger whenever we could.
During my school years my uncle Hugh ran the farm and lived there with my aunts Kitty and Margaret, both of whom worked. Margaret was a tailoress in Belfast and Kitty worked at Kilroes in Magherafelt. Myself and the other family members in line after me used to spend time here after school and on Saturdays. We always found things to do which were not available at home. We played football in the field in front of the house with Billy Cushley and other neighbouring children. There was also going to the peat bog with uncle Hugh in the donkey cart to take home the turf from the 'bog' on the Hillhead road past the junction for Castledawson and Bellaghy.
Things always seemed to be happening in Anahorish, perhaps because we were young and all our relatives were working or doing something we could only watch. We watched John the Tailor measure and make suits for men and women through the big window at the rear of his shop. On Saturdays we went 'over the hill', as the path past the tailors shop was known, to call at Gribbin's who had a pig farm. There were 6 brothers all well known footballers in their club and county. Three appeared on Derry's first time at Croke Park in an All-Ireland Final in 1958.
There was always a football lying in the concrete front garden and we spent many hours just kicking these against the concrete walls.
They were one of the few houses to have TV in those days and we watched rugby on Grandstand and The Lone Ranger whenever we could.
5 comments:
I am researching my family history and my Great Grandfather was born in Anahorish but I cannot find any information about the area..except your blog. His name was Patrick McGrogan born 1862. Do you have any information on Anahorish as I cannot even find it on any maps?
have just seen your comment, might be able to assist you tomorrow as its late now am closing down computer for the night
regards
if you could put your email address on here I will send you some information which may help
regards
please put email on here
PITSTOP05@AOL.COM
Many thanks!
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