New calendar captures Strabane of yesteryear

A NEW calendar has been launched for 2023 by a local community group in Strabane featuring some of the towns most well-known spots in times gone by.

The theme of this year's calendar, which has been compiled by the Reminiscence Group at Fountain Street Community Development Association (FSDCA), is' An Srath Bán – Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin' (Strabane Home Sweet Home).

The photographs mainly depict images of yesteryear of Abercorn Square, Bridgend, Castle Street and Main Street, among others.

The calendar also features old images of four churches in the town - the Sacred Heart, Derry Road, Presbyterian Church, Main Street, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Mary's Church, Melmount, as well as the Strabane Convent and Chapel photographed in 1995 by Sean Crawford.

Famous faces also feature in the form of the 'men who put the show into showband' - The Clipper Carlton Showband.

Other more recent images nclude a scenc winter shot of the TV mast by local photographer, Gareth Wray and cover image of the old Sweeney's pub by local artist, Chris 'Kitter' McCrossan, while a poem from Evish poet, John McCrossan, written in 1895 has also been included.

An official launch took place at Fountain Street Community Centre last Wednesday evening.

A spokesperson for FSCDA said: "Copies of the calendar will be delivered free of charge to all households in the Fountain Street catchment area and can also be purchased at a cost of £5 at the centre and hopefully a few shops across the town.

"They would make ideal stocking fillers or Christmas presents for family at home and abroad."

The Reminiscence Group has been meeting regularly over the last two months with the aim of collating old photographs of Strabane down through the years, and producing a keepsake calendar.

The spokesperson continued: "We wish to kindly acknowledge the active participation of all those who contributed to the production of this calendar via the Reminiscence Group held over several months at the centre.

"A special word of thanks to Sean Crawford who co-ordinated the group, to Lynn Maguire (chairperson), Anne Gilloway, Carmel Conroy, Pat Robinson, Ann McGowan, Tish Porter, Annie Monaghan, Annette McCosker, Kathleen Stawbridge, Deirdre Harkin, Mary Hegarty, Eamon McColgan, Graham O’Kane, Martin Lyttle, Eamon Cooke, Aiden Dunne, Sean MacIntyre, Gerard McBrearty, John Conwell, Jacqueline Maguire, Elaine Robinson and Aodhán Harkin for their active involvement.

"Thanks also to Chris 'Kitter' McCrossan (front cover), Gareth Wray (December photo), Sean Crawford, Louise McCreary (John Ormsby’s daughter), Old Strabane and its Memories, The Cooper Collection (PRONI), and the Bigger and McDonald Collection, Derry Central Library for the kind use of their photographs to be included in this calendar which has made it all possible and are greatly appreciated.

"Apologies if we have omitted anyone who submitted or owned any of the photos used.

"A big word of thanks also to Patrick McCrossan (Patrick Mind) a great, great grandson of the Evish poet, John McCrossan, who died in 1895 for submitting and allowing us to use his poem 'The Old Chapel Bell of Strabane'.

"A kind work of thanks also to John and Sean Dudgeon of JD Print for their professional help and advice in the design and compilation of the calendar and to Antaine Ó Fearghail (Tony Farrell) for his expertise on the use of Gaeilge (Irish language) in the calendar.

"Finally, the costs associated with the design and production of the calendar were kindly met through the generosity of the National Lottery Community Fund through their Awards for All funding with kind thanks to Lottery officer Lorraine Gallen for all her help and assistance and to centre manager, Mary Deery, who secured the funding to make the project possible."