Jim McCann

Gerry Smith, he was the best of the three Market brothers. His fight with Jim Keery of Lisburn is reputed to have been one of the greatest fights ever seen in an Irish ring

Thanks to Sean Morris for this great collection of Market boxers photo's and for his skilled photographic restorative work.

 

The Late Jack Holland, writer, author and columnist for the New York based "Irish Echo" had a fondness for the old Market area as his mother Elizabeth Rodgers was reared there. I was very proud when Jack told me he was an avid reader of Rushlight Magazine.

Above; Alex Quinn, a proud Market man, famous as the man who wrote the local anthem "Belfast" is very proud to have been born in Smith Street, off Welsh Street. Alex as you know is also a member of "Barnbrack" the group who recorded the song "Belfast".Other members being Owen McMahon and Jimmy McPeake.

Mickey Flannigan , Young Madeline, Frances Flannigan

Brian, Frances sept 6th 1957 St Malachy's

Madeline, Frances and Dolly Flannigan with their late Father Mickey, a Market Legend, the family now live in USA.

Willie Rea

Patsy Mars, a G.I Bride who went to live in America

Bernie & Peter Smith

Roy Rodgers who's horse "Trigger" was brought to the Market to be shoed by Johnny McKeown.

THE OLD STREETS

Lagan Street

Market Street

McAuley Street

Welsh Street

Turnley Street

Grace Street

New Bond Street

Henrietta Street

Keegan Street

Annette Street

Stewart Street

Vernon Street

Standfield Street

Smith Street

Murphy's Lane

Dunlop's Place

Eliza Street

Russell Street

Friendly Street

Little May Street

Murphy Street

Riley's Place

Cromac Street

Joy Street

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Welcome To The Old Market

THE MAGEE'S, A GREAT OLD MARKET FAMILY

" Joe thank you for placing a photo of my Granny and Granda Magee my Mammy Peggy Magee and Daddy, Barney McAughey. My Aunts Eileen, Lil, Bridie, Anna Magee My Uncles and cousins and my Brothers.(Above)
I will let my greater family know about the photo and get them to verify and name everyone in the photo.Many thanks Joe the photo is a gem for our family tree.
Leave it to the Rushlight to unearth our treasure. Well done Joe. On behalf of the Magee Family formerly of 68 Market Street Belfast - Thank you
."

 Jimmy Clinton was the long time trainer-coach of St. Malachy's ABC and later St. Georges. (The clubs amalgamated) Jimmy turned out so many champs during his life it would take volumes to list them. Here is a picture of Jimmy (right) with many of his young boxers. The other coach at the left is Jim McCann senior, former Northern area champion. The boxer Jimmy was most associated with was Willie Rea, third from the left on the front row. Jimmy will be greatly missed by all who knew him, he was not only a great trainer, he was a great person. Sean Morris.

Geordie "Mouse" McMullan, having his van checked by the brits outside St Colman's School.

D. Armstrong of the Belfast& District Billiard and snooker League presents the senior individual winner, Billy McMullan (Market) runner up was J.O.McLaughlin (National) and referee was Gerry Canavan.

L to R, Geordie (Mouse) McMullan, Sean McNally, Tom McMullan and Silver McKee,

Johnny McKeown the lengendary Market Blacksmith with little Jim Walsh dressed as Roy Rodgers pictured outside 38 Eliza Street. In 1954, when the real Roy Rodgers and his wife Dale Evans were touring Ireland and the U.K Roy's famous horse Trigger was in need of shoeing and so arrived in the Market at Ireland's famous Smithy Shop where John shoed the beautiful Palamino. Pictures were taken of course but I have yet to turn one up. I have however a picture of Johnny standing by his anvil alongside Bob Fitzsimmons the Heavyweight Champion of the World, I only hope he was not making Bob a special horse shoe to fit inside his boxing glove. many are the stories of this famous Blackie some even suggest he made Pikes for the rising in 1798... Erin go Bragh. and by the way you do know that John Mitchel the patriotic Young Irelander was a regular visitor to the Market before he was transported to Van Damiens Land.

Hello Joe: I'm sending a few old pictures of Eliza St. in the Market. You may have received one or two of these already from Dolly Flannigan as I sent copies to her as well. I hope you can include these on the web site. It's been great fun sharing photos and stories with some of the old Market people. I'm sure they will enjoy these. One is a picture of Johnny McKeown and myself outside my house at 34 Eliza St, another of McGlade's shop and another of St. Coleman's school. Still enjoying your site. Great work Joe. Thanks. Jim Walsh.

1905 St Colman’s School built in Eliza Street, cost £1,632. Eliza Street , Emelia , Charlotte, and Arthur Streets thought to be named after the children of The first Marquis Of Donegall. Donegall Pass is said to be so named as it was a permitted “pass”, through wooded land owned by the Marquis, streets there, Elm, Pine, etc, named after the types of trees to be found in this once heavily wooded area. 1906 City Hall opened August 1st., cost £360,000,

A bus run some years ago for Market people , some names , George Hanna, Molly Hanna, Martha Bright, Bella Lagan, Maggie Finlay, Mary McConkey, Maggie Goodman, Kathleen McGarry, Kitty Clinton, Lily Murphy, Rosie McAllister, Johnny Lowe, Tony McDonnell, Mrs McAteer, Billy McClean, Bella Graham, Hattie Smyth. the trip by the way was to Knock, Co. Mayo and was organised by Rosie McAllister and Sammy 'Swallow' Turner. I am still waiting for a picture of the great Market man Tucker McAllister?.

Cromac Square-Cromac Street,The Market, late 1930's, one must admit here are some great old Belfast photographs.

The jockey was young Seamus Nolan from Staunton Street

Every one mentions Inglis Bakery when they speak of the Market, but there was also McWatters Bakery, in the photo above their van can be seen driving along Royal Avenue.

Ma Copley's Chair Planes , on the Chapel Fields, where she also ran her famous boxing competitons

The Flannigan girls L to R, 10 year old Frances, Dolly 3, Anne 14, little 5 year old Nell Jennings in front, outside the Flannigan's house

Hello Joe. I've been enjoying this site for quite some time and love the improvements you are making. Left Eliza St in 1959 for the States. Now near Nashville, TN. Lived at 34 Eliza St. next door to Johnny McKeown's. He was our landlord. Where do I find this picture of Johnny near the anvil. I'd love to have it. I have a pic of me (complete with cowboy hant and six shooter) and Johnny outside my house with me on one of his horses. Probably taken around 1955. Keep up the good work Joe. Next time you are in the area I'll buy you a "longneck" at Tootsies.

Standfield Street, Hendersons at top, Vernon Street

Inglis's Bakery, top , McGlades shop, New Bond Street

McAuley Street showing the back of Inglis's Bakery

Silver McKee and his mother.A funny story goes that once Stormy Weatherall came round to The Markets to challenge Silver and Mrs McKee opened the door , and seeing Stormy was in a fighting mood she srtepped out into the street, rolled up her sleeves and said, "My Paddy is in bed, but if its a fight you want I'll give ya all the fightin' you need"

The Smith's Great Grandparents

The Smith family Stewart Street

Centre, Willie Rae , The Market's own Elvis Presley

Some names, Gerry Gibson, Brian McAuley, Hugh McFall

Boy Scouts in the grounds of St Malachy's 1952

ALison Writes from York. England.

Hi Joe love the site nice to know the people my dad spoke of Stormy, Buck Alec ,and the rest were real and not just in his vivid imagination for years I thought he was making them up A lot of people from the Market reading Rushlight just wondering do any of you know David Sloan married Peggy used to live in the market area love to get back in touch with them again Davy's my uncle keep up the good work Joe i'll be back , Alison

 

Silver McKee , G.G McGuigan, Jimmy (Spider) Kelly,Joe Dorrian, Bucko McStravick, May 1967

St Malachy's Chapel