All Our Yesterdays: Strabane Chronicle

25 Years Ago/1996

Sad deaths

THE death of 72-year-old Vincent Crawford, Porthall, Lifford, on Christmas Eve was learned of with a profound sense of sadness in the area.

Margaret, his wife, predeceased him seven years ago. He had a great sense of humour, and got great satisfaction out of telling jokes and stories.

He was never a man for the indoors, and when he could, he would be sitting out at the Gate with his distinctive overcoat, talking away to the locals.

During his early days, Vincent worked as a farmer before retiring.

In his last years, Vincent was cared for by his family, and will be recalled with fondness.

Requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Murlog, was celebrated by Fr Rafferty, CC, Murlog, assisted by Monsignor Clarke on St Stephen’s Day.

Sympathy is extended to his sons, Vincent, Raymond, Michael, and Kenneth; daughters, Teresa and Rosemary; and sister, Ciss McDaid of Newtownstewart.

There was also widespread shock and a deep sense of sorrow in the entire parish of Ballindrait at the news of the death of Sammy Doherty, Ballindrait.

Sammy, who was only 51 years of age, passed away at his residence following a heart attack. The Requiem Mass was in St Patrick’s Church, Murlog.

Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife, Madge; son, Samuel; daughters, Catherine and Mary; and his brothers, Michael and Seamus.

50 Years Ago/1971

Boy’s poem for ‘peace’

IN this season of peace, from the heart of a ten-year-old schoolboy, Paul Breslin, of Innisfree Gardens, Strabane, a pupil at Barrack St PE School, comes this touching poem.

The young lad headed the poem with the word ‘Peace’.

“The people cry our for peace,

The innocent suffer and die;

But does anyone care for those the bombs kill,

And rifles and stones terrorise?

The parents were happy with their children,

Now they are weeping o’er their grave:

Once the streets were filled with happiness,

But now they are filled with bloodshed.

Can we help those who suffer?

Can we stop this hate and terror:

Please Lord stop it;

We are only asking You to help us.

Oh Lord we know You have the power,

You can stop this fighting and hate,

Please Lord we all ask You;

We know You can.”

Road fatality

AN open verdict was returned by a jury in Derry in an inquest into the death of a seven-year-old Dunamanagh girl.

The young girl was struck by a car while on a walk with her brother and sister near her home on October 17, 1971.

Deceased’s name was Ann Harkin, of Loughash.

She died a short time after admission to Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry.

100 Years Ago/1921

Received promotion

MR Linton, pro manager of the Ulster Bank in Strabane, has received a promotion to Belfast city. He will be succeeded by Mr Esler of Ballymoney.

Pensioner attacked

EDNATOODRY, Fintona, was the scene of a mysterious occurrence when an aged woman, Sarah Devlin, was attacked in her house by masked men, who subsequently set fire to the building.

It would appear that Mrs Devlin, who is aged about 80, lived alone in a farmhouse, situated a couple of miles from Fintona.

Between 8-9pm, she was working in the kitchen when a masked man, who, it is believed, had gained entrance by forcing a side window upstairs, suddenly rushed at her.

She managed to break away, and proceeded to the house of a neighbouring farmer, where her son is deployed.

On her way, she noticed her house suddenly burst into flames.

Mrs Devlin’s pension book was later discovered several fields away from her house.

The house was completely destroyed.

Poteen destroyed

SEVERAL raids for illicit spirits were carried out in the Mountfield and Greencastle districts, and large quantities of poteen were seized and destroyed.

Implements used in the manufacture of poteen were also taken away from some farmer’s houses.