My parents were very friendly with Colm Lynn (who lived near the Waterwall bar, and not far from St Mary’s Primary School). Indeed somewhere, on a mid to late 1970s audio tape, I have Colm in our house (quietly in the background) coaxing my father to sing the old Irish ballad, Noreen Bawn.
A social and dance, organised by the members of Ballymacpeake Lower Club, was exceptionally well attended and proved highly successful.
The dance was held in the Moneystaghan Hibernian Hall, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Visitors were present from Kilrea, Upperlands, Maghera, Mayagall, Ballynease, Portglenone, Lisnahuncheon, and Rasharkin.
Mr. Patrick J. Kearney, president of the Club was an efficient M.C., and the music was supplied Messrs, Bernard Madden, William McPeake, and Patrick J. O’Neill. An excellent programme was contributed to by the Misses Birt and McNally, Messrs. F. McGhee and P. McErlean.
The members of the committee responsible for the arrangements, and who are to be congratulated on the success of the function, were :-Messrs. Arthur Cassidy, Hugh O’Neill, P.J. O’Neill, J. McGroggan, William McPeake, J. McErlean, M. Henry, and Patrick O’Neill.
Source: Local papers, Friday 5th October 1928
Moneystaghan Hibernian Band, Greenlough Chapel, 1961
It was therefore a great delight to see him, along with the rest of the local people in Moneystaghan Hibernian Band, in the above photograph, taken at Greenlough chapel on Confirmation Day in 1961. The Moneystaghan band often paraded to the chapel on the major feast days, and also on other important parish days. There are a couple of McPeakes in the picture. My mother, a nurse, often helped them and was close to the family.
In the back row there is: Seamus O’Neill (carrying a flag), Willie McPeake (the Band Master), Paddy Marron, Dan McColy, Bernie Marron, Patsy McPeake, Francis Marron, Charlie O’Neill, Tommy Marron, John O’Neill (carrying a flag), Noel O’Neill (carrying a flag).
In the front row, we have: Colm Lynn, Paddy Cassidy Snr., Gerry McKeefry, Pat Downey, Henry O’Neill & Eamon Downey.
There’s some fascinating historic information about the Moneystaghan area, and it’s people, at the Greenlough Parish website.
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