Ballymacscanlon And Wonderfull Ireland

A Memory of Ballymascanlon.

I worked as a consultant engineer in Ireland in the early nineteen ninety's staying in the Carrickdale hotel in Dromad, just over the border, as my base in the South whilst working in Newry. I also traveled further south to visit factories in the group situated between Newry and Dublin using a fleet car provided by Glen Electric Company based in Newry.
It was a truly memorable period in my working life made even more so by the many dear friends that I made during this short two year period and the overwhelming hospitality afforded to me by so many people that were previously completely unknown to me.
One such person lived in Ballymacscanlon, what a wonderful place name that I will remember for the rest of my life although other than for a short afternoon walk in the countryside I know really nothing of the the location. The drive through the surrounding wooded countryside and evening walks in the hills near to my hotel in Dromad are firmly and permanently engraved in my mind "but my" how its has changed judging from the website before me now. From memory there was a pedestrian underpass that led to the hotel's steam room/ spa but I had no knowledge of there being any other spa or sports facility. There were just a few other people residing at the hotel and I was served wonderful food in the evenings on my return from the days work. I mentioned that I liked a curry and low and behold a fantastic curry was presented the following evening. One name that I recall was "Briege" but I doubt if she would remember me, "John".
The family that I grew to know are in Ballymacscanlon, the Murphy's, can you imagine a more wonderfully sounding "Irish" name to a visiting Englishman, a truly lovely family.
The staff at "Glen Electric" in Newry treated me like a lord during my fortnightly visits never leaving me to be on my own, always entertaining or accompanying me in the evening, Vinney Shearman, Noel Murphy and Brian McClouglan the managing director, and "Kate" in the accounts office who drove me back to Belfast airport and so many, many, others, I miss you all and wonder where you all are now? Can anyone help, does anyone remember me?
More happiness in two years than most experience in a lifetime
John Russell
Bedfordshire

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