THE RED STAR LINE

THE RED STAR LINE The Red Star Ferry Service from Warrenpoint to Omeath was formed around 1930. There were five boats to begin with “The Madonna” owned by Stephen Bradley, “The Little Flower” owned by the McGuigan family, “The St. Patrick,” owned by the Dinsmores, “The Fair Play” owned by and operated by the O’Neill family, and “The Newry” which belonged in those days to Paddy “ Dollar” Duffy. In 1938 “The Newry” was sold and went to Lough Erne but after the Second War World ended, it was brought back to Carlingford Lough by the Dinsmore family. Mr. Stephen Bradley was Commodore of the Fleet, and all monies collected were divided among the owners. The fare – return from Omeath in the early 1930’s was 4d. (2p). various rowing boats crossed backwards and forwards to Omeath. Two big boats also cruised the Lough. “The St. George” was owned by the Magee family. (She was taken over during the war by The Admiralty, for use as a gun boat, but after the war she returned to her more leisurely occupation of cruising the waters of Carlingford Lough). At this stage its ownership had changed and the new owner Mr. John Tinnelly of Rostrevor, joined The Red Star Combine. Another fair sized vessel at that time was “The Fairy Queen” owned by Chris O’Boyle, Dock Street, she carried 100 passengers and was very popular. About 1943 her engines broke down and she was towed out of Carlingford Lough never to return. The fleet had increased by this time to twelve boats and by 1949 there were fourteen boats in the Red Star combine. The trip to Omeath was exceedingly popular. Two trains came every Sunday from Belfast. At a time of strict rationing and deprivation in the North, the South of Ireland was a great place to smuggle from - tea, sugar, butter, women - all these things were considered luxuries and brought over. Nylons, jewellery, tobacco and detonators were all cheaper and in plentiful supply, and Omeath boomed. The beach on Sundays and indeed other days swarmed with people. Everything was done in an orderly manner. Every boat had ”checkers” counting the number of passengers, the return fare had risen to 1/6d (7 ½).  Crowds on the 15th In the springtime boats, which had been up on the beach all winter, were readied for the “Surveyor” from the Government. He inspected the outside planking, and checked all aspects of safety. Then the engines would be cleaned and prepared and wheeled down to the beach on a ‘bogey’ and Kelly’s crane would lift the engines into the boats waiting in the Dock. A lot of work went in to getting the boats down. Then the Surveyor would return to the boat to check the engine etc., the life rafts and seating accommodation. The boats had wonderful names. “The Fair Play,” “The Olive,” and “The Mary Oge” (owned by the O’Neill family), “The St. Patrick,” “The Girl Pat,” and “The Newry” (owned by the dinsmores). “The St. Anthony” and “The Little Flower” (owned by the McGuigans). “Madonna” (Bradleys), “The Doris,” (the Magee family), “The Evening Star,” (Maguire’s) and the big boats “The St. George,” and “The Maria Goretti “ (Tinnellys). The busy years continued for the Red Star Combine right into the 1960’s. The railways were still the main source of passengers. The two Sunday trains were packed to capacity. They left Belfast and picked up passengers at Portadown and various stops en route. The buses from Bangor came every Thursday, at least ten coaches bringing English tourists who also went to Omeath. Drink was cheap and plentiful and so were the “fags.” Fares rocketed to 2/6d (12 ½ p). Buses from Red Island, Dublin would arrive and cars were beginning to be more plentiful. Omeath was the Mecca and the pilgrims flocked there, a bit like present day Dundalk. The customs men had a busy time trying to spot smugglers. Many a funny tale has been told of how customs post were avoided. By the early 1970’s the halcyon days were over, the troubles were beginning, tourists were avoiding the north. The days of endless sunshine and craic had gone forever. There was no need for a combine of boats, they now dwindled to four, “The Little Flower,” “The Girl Pat,” “The Mary Oge” and “The Julian". Christie McGuigan is now the Commodore. These boats do the run to Omeath every Sunday and weekdays and are available for hire for fishing trips or school parties. The round trip to Omeath is now a £1-00. Thank God all through those years accidents were few and far between, in fact no life was ever lost. The boatmen worked from early morning until the tide stopped them in the evening all during the summer months. From Warrenpoint one could look over to Omeath and see crowds on the jetty. The stalls were ranged on either side of Omeath jetty and they offered weird and wonderful things for sale. The big shops were up in the village not to mention the Hotel and various bars. The more devout would take the jaunting cart out to Calvary to do the stations, and then the pub. The place rang with laughter, singing and fisticuffs. Oh happy days now gone. Thanks to John Dinsmore for the bulk of this article- written in August 1989 .