TEAM’S TRIP TO BELFAST

OCTOBER 1998

BELFAST City Hall plays host to a group of teenagers from Muirhevnamór in a cross-border project aimed at breaking down barriers between communities.

The Dundalk group, part of the T.E.A.M. project at ‘ The House’, travels as guests of the Dee Street community centre, who had come to Dundalk at the height of tensions created by the Omagh bombing.

They are received by Lord Mayor of Belfast, David Alderdice, and presented with a coat of arms of Belfast.

The young people enjoy a conducted tour of city hall, sit in the council chamber, are treated to lunch and go on a short stroll of the city’s shopping area.

It is the intention of project manager, Ruth Campbell and project co-ordinator, Michael Stokes to build on this and that the children, through hard work and a bit of fun, will do their small part for the peace process. RAILWAY man Paddy Mallon, who devoted his life to the GNR, is fittingly commemorated with the opening of the Paddy Mallon Room at Dundalk’s Clarke Station.

The old bookshop, which was run by Eason’s for many years, is converted into a handsome display area for photographs and memorabilia collected by Paddy.

The room is a fine example of beautiful Victorian carpentry which results in the station winning prestigious national and international awards.

Guests of honour at the official opening are Paddy’s widow, Peggy and daughter, Margaret.

Paddy died last year, aged 82. He was born in Dublin Street and served his time in the Dundalk works of the GNR.

He was regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities on steam locomotion and rose through the ranks to become senior fitter and, finally, foreman of the erecting shop.

There, he superintended the regular overhauling and outshopping of the fleet to a standard which made the company famous.

The Paddy Mallon Room complements the museum already in place at the station.