St Dympna's Parish Dromore 2012

Traps came to both Sunday masses, particularly second, and the horse stables were in
a row behind the primary school. Both sides of the chapel avenue lined with bicycles
propped against the hedges. At the time the present car parking area was a small field
so you just had a straight avenue from the road down to the chapel.
George Ferguson of the Rock Farm, Lettergesh, came to second mass on Sunday on
horseback. George on a beautiful horse was suitably attired in heavy tweed coat, cap
and leather leggings. As boys, we greatly admired George as he rode down the avenue
always early for mass. I think, we associated him with cowboys we saw on horseback
in the "grainy" films that from time to time came to the Pavilion (on Fintona Road,
opposite McCaffery's present house or thereabouts).
When there was severe frost and the chapel Brae become frozen the young men
(not boys) of the village used it for sleighing. Sleighs started around present McAleer
& Teague's houses and the target of the experts was to get around corners at the
bottom of Church Street either to right or left. When the brae was like a sheet of ice
on Saturday nights the late Paddy McDermott of Church Street organised a salting of it,
much to the annoyance of the sleighers.
Funerals coming to the chapel - Reilly's hearse drawn by two big black horses and
sitting in the driving seat with the reins the late John Garrity.
As recalled by John Mccusker & Fergus Hughes
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