My Banbridge Walk Round 2017

I was born and spent my first 17 years in Banbridge living on the Castlewellan road at Windsor terrace. (1953-1971 ) Banbridge was a good place to grow up. Aged 17, A levels done and dusted I moved to the Belfast and left Banbridge behind only venturing back for fleeting visits.
This is my wee nostalgic walk up the main street. The people of the town, the bridges, the Bann river, the shops fronts and shopkeepers were so much a part of my life for those formative years. I have many happy memories of good people and places.

[@mikedrown2721]

Brings back memories for you. I like then and now video's and photos from the past. Thanks Tom

[@TomMcClean]

Yes old memories Mike of days and people, long gone. Yes I like then and no photos too.

[@Curlyman83]

Very interesting and informative. My Great, Great, Great Grandfather was born and raised in Banbridge before marrying my Great, Great, Great Grandmother from Kilkeel and moving across the Irish Sea to Liverpool. My brothers and I had planned to take my father over and visit in the summer, but that was pre-Covid-19. We're now hoping to visit in Summer 2021. Really looking forward to it!

[@TomMcClean]

Wow this family connection is really fascinating Curlyman83. You know you couldprobably trace family back quite easily via church registers of births deaths and marriages. You need to know which church your relatives attended though. The Northern Ireland house census of 1901 and 1911 is pretty goo too if you have a house/street number. But your father will be a mine of information or any living relatives here you have. At present we are under a 6 week lockdown which makes little sense as previous lockdowns only created more misery and did nothing to halt any virus. I don't see things opening up for business again for many months i'm afraid. It could be right into next summer of indeed autumn. The fear levels here are vey high even though the chance of getting and dying of covid is very small. Best wishes from Belfast.

[@Paul.in.Ireland]

Memories indeed Tom, I could sense your happiness when recalling your childhood and playground when growing up there but also I tinge of sadness that things are just not the same... as you say " time waits for no man " but at least you will always have the fond memories.

[@TomMcClean]

Indeed Ryan. I had a very good/happy childhood even without my dad being around. I had lots of fun and friends. There were men at school/church/youth club etc who did step in and offer advice to a young lad like me. They were good family guys who took the time and gave encouragement/inspiration. I only really appreciated the work/love/support my mum gave us three after she had gone and I got married and we were trying to bring up our own children. How she coped/managed on her own with us with very limited finances, I'll never know. I owe my mum a huge debt of gratitude and I suspect we could all say that about our parents or grandparents. I only wish my dad could have seen that i didn't turn out the lost cause that he thought I would! lol But......... My memories are still very vivid. I dream a lot and often I'm back in my bunk bed at home. It all comes flooding back so easily just as if it happened yesterday.

[@gregbruns8442]

I just happened upon this one. It's neat to see the town where you grew up, even though it has obviously changed much. "Ain't nothing here for me now"... I can relate to that sentiment.

[@TomMcClean]

Yes Greg I feel very much like that now about my old town. I loved growing up there. It seemed like we knew everyone and everyone knew us. When I left secondary schol and moved down to Belfat to train to be a teacher it all began to change and melt away. I didn't quite realize it was happening until it was no more. Now there is almost nothing but memories. The line comes from Chris Rea - It's All Gone (Western Version) HD kzbin.info/www/bejne/opWnZX2Ai7Kka8U I think you might like this.

[@gregbruns8442]

@@TomMcClean Cool video! I bet they had fun making that. Some really distinctive '80's sounds there with the synth, but that guitar solo on the Strat is really nice. I love that tone. Sweet! Yes, you and I are birds of a feather. When I go back to Waverly, although I still have family there and spent the first 18 years of my life, so much has changed and it's not my town anymore. But that is the way of life. Every day, change is happening whether we realize it or not. We are all marching forward toward an end we like to disregard. And that is why we must not take things for granted and we must try to make the best of every day. But you know that, Tom. I know you do.

[@TomMcClean]

I too would have enjoyed plaing a bit part in any Western Greg! I have a number of Chris Rea LPs and CDs. I don't belong in Banbridge anymore. Most of the people I knew back then are gone or have moved on. Yes Greg I take nothing for granted. I also believe in a heaven to be gained and hell to be avoided, hereafter, as told about in the Bible. I don't want to waken up in the afterlife and have ignored the means to get to the heaven that is being offered.

[@gregbruns8442]

@@TomMcCleanThat's a good plan, Tom.

[@amykeegan457]

Iv lived in Banbridge for almost 7 years but I'm only 13 😀

[@outaboutnorthernireland9671]

Hi Tom - great video with wonderful memories for you - enjoyed all your videos of Banbridge - your trip down memory lane is well preserved for you to visit many many times in the future - video/photography is a great way of preserving our "days out" - best wishes.

[@TomMcClean]

I feel like the character in the Tom Jones song, 'The green green grass of home', every time I come back 'home' to Banbridge. It is surreal. I belong but if I belong where are all the people that I once knew? i'm like a ghost walking about on the street. People don't speak and just look through me. So different from all those years ago. Yes I very much agree with what you say. One of the other reasons i do what I do is for those folk who have left Northern Ireland down the years for far away places. Our videos show them old familiar places they once trod and hopefully bring back happy memories of home.

[@alfietuerto]

Fantastic! I am from Uruguay and I hope some day i will visit Banbridge. (With my no good looking english language :))

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Christian, Great to hear from you all the way from Uruguay in south America. Do not be hard on yourself. Your English is good. Very few people for England of Ireland can speak even one foreighn language. so you are doing better than us! I have 1000s of videos up on KZbin showing you round Belfast and our wee country. Best wishes from Belfast Northern Ireland.

[@alfietuerto]

@@TomMcClean I am enjoying your videos. What a beautiful country. It seems to be secure ! I love your channel

[@TomMcClean]

Thanks a lot for your welcome encouragement Christian. Everyone needs encouragement! Yes it is a good place to visit. Before lockdown we had thousands of new visitors from all over the world passing through. I hope these happy days return. Many thanks fro your support. Best wishes from Belfast Northern Ireland.

[@Bunty1962]

The seat along the front of the old town hall as you called it was known as The Welcome (Welcome to banbridge). As a child I would love to slide across it but my mum always hated me for doing it as she said it was a seat for the millanders in the town.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Bunty. Great to hear form you. I knew it as the Welcome seat. All the local lads would sit on it on a Sunday and watch the girls go by. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@sentimentaloldme]

Very interesting videos Tom. You sure have a great memory & knowledge of the different areas.

[@TomMcClean]

Yes Michael the memory of past days way back when is clear and sharp. I totally recall names and faces of everyone in my PS class, Grammar and Stranmillis College but ask me to tell you what I may have been doing last week or a conversation that I had with the wife when she told me something important or....... She says I am a reservoir of useless information! lol The old memory is a complex piece of work.

[@sentimentaloldme]

Same as myself...I can remember clearly the period you speak about as well...In the last two years I've learned approx. 20 songs off by heart to keep the memory alive...What used to take a day or two now takes a week or so...but once I get it into my thick head it's there for life. What strikes me about the above is (1) how clean it looks and (2) there doesn't seem to be many people about the town.

[@TomMcClean]

Not many people about Michael because it was Easter Tuesday and most of the shops were shut. Everyone was away to the seaside. It wasn't a great day in Banbridge no rain but overcast. Our youngest went to the north coast and he got sunburnt! Yes the town was good and tidy. Nice to see!

[@david_v2.1]

Great pic of Banbridge in the old days with the only traffic being a few horse and carts! Oh for a time machine!!

[@TomMcClean]

I have often thought the same thing about the time machine. I would love to go way back to the times of the old megalithic sites, monasteries etc

[@harveyhalloway]

Excellent video Tom, I worked in Banbridge for a bit in the late 90s and early 2000s, I can also remember the Iveagh as a kid, nice memories but not been there in many years.

[@TomMcClean]

Many thanks for your kind remarks Harvey. I enjoyed growing up in Banbridge all those years ago. Most people i knew to connect me are sadly long gone. As D H Lawrence aptly put it 'I weep like a child for the past.' Best wishes from the belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@katekenny6346]

thank you, I have very fond memories of living there, I'm a Glaswegian but lived in Banbridge many years ago

[@TomMcClean]

Hi KK, Thanks for getting in touch. This is what my wee amateur channel is all about, -bringing back old, long forgotten, happy memories of places and maybe people. I'm 66 now and effectively left Banbridge when i was 17 and came to Belfast to train to teach. I still have some connections to the town though. It was a very happy upbringing for me. I spent many happy summers coming across the irish Sea to a wee place called Kilcreggan opposite Gourock. We used to walk the high road and watch the big submarines heading down the Clyde. Happy memories indeed. Best wishes from Belfast

[@TomMcClean]

Yes ATP the town has chnged an awful lot. The Cut and Croziers monument are features that will not change though. Best wishes from Belfast

[@TomMcClean]

Hi again ATP, would the skate park dr along the Bann in Solitude park or where?

[@TomMcClean]

Thanks ATP I know exactly where you are that's opposite the big Texco. I was born and raised in Windsor Terrace the red rown beside Bannside Presbyterian church. Ah memories.......

[@ayylmaotv]

what part of lurgan is this video recorded

[@TomMcClean]

It is Banbridge and not Lurgan.

[@christrotter7644]

It's changed quite a bit even since I grew up there in the 90s. Brilliant wee town though.

[@TomMcClean]

Yes Chris time waits for no man. We may think that things are moving very slowly but leave home and return after a few years and you will see/feel the difference. I used to know all the local shopkeepers by name and when I walked up the street i recognised all the faces and knew many by name. Now ........I'm an alien in a strange country looking for ghosts from the past.

[@harveygilchrist7058]

My dads best mate owns the imperial!! Good ole ivor !

[@TomMcClean]

WowI remember it well. At one time it was the top hotel/bar in town. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills

[@CVNmahdlO]

I grew up there. Went to Banbridge High School

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Caz. I was raised at Windsor Terrace on the Castlewellan road. My sister taught in the High School way back in the 70s. She was Maye McClean or Maye Steen later. Ian Russell was head teacher for a while too. I knew him well. I have quite a few Banbrideg videos up on my channel. Best wishes from the Castlereagh hills of Belfast

[@CVNmahdlO]

@@TomMcClean I've not heard of your sister as I attended in the 90s. I do remember Mr Russell. He wasn't my first Principal at the school, but for the life of me, I can't remember his name. My favourite teacher was Mr Bloomer. He was already in his 70s when he was my teacher, so I can't imagine he's still around. My dad was William Dunlop. He was the local dog warden for Banbridge. Very well known & sadly died when I was in my teens. I live in England now

[@TomMcClean]

Sorry to be a pain Caz but was your dad related to the Dunlops who lived out near Ballydown? My dad taught them all. He was the headmaster at Ballydown PS and I knew them all too. Mt sister used to tellme about Mr Bloomer as well. It's a small world.

[@CVNmahdlO]

@@TomMcClean I'm not sure what school he attended, but we attended Miltown Primary, which was walking distance from my home & Banbridge High. He fostered me at a young age. He was very well known & his death devastated the whole community. We lived in Lenaderg & had a little corner shop called Roy's. Not sure where he grew up before getting married Mr Bloomer was the best 😄

[@TomMcClean]

I'm almost sure I knew your dad way back decades ago. Any uncles/aunts. I post to a former Banbridge Dunlop guy in Rathfriland. He is my age in his mid 60s.Hey take care.

[@active_commenter5348]

Nice Video. Commented 20/04/2017 At (11:30AM).

[@amysands8925]

Born and brought up in Banbridge. couldn't believe the changes when I came back being away for so many. you all ways want things to remain the same from your child hood. but of course they can't. its a great wee town.

[@amykeegan457]

I live in Banbridge

[@TomMcClean]

I grew up in Banbridge in the 1950s Amy. It was a great place to grow up in. I've been away now for over 40 years but I remember it all all just like yesterday. Best wishes

[@darrenmcmurran2445]

I live in banbrige

[@TomMcClean]

It's a good place to live. i enjoyed my first 'childhood' 17 years there before I moved to Belfast.

[@christinegibson9626]

I live there

[@TomMcClean]

I was born there 66 years ago at Windsor Terrace on the Castlewellan road Christine. Great wee town back then.

[@snitchgirl1337]

that's where i go

[@TomMcClean]

A good place to live Snitch Girl.

[@Deletethealphabetlorevideo]

That’s where I go too

[@christinegibson9626]

I live there I also saw my mums car lol

[@TomMcClean]

No that is funny!

[@snitchgirl1337]

beep at 1.36

[@TomMcClean]

lol

[@chloed7967]

I know the heslips

[@TomMcClean]

Right SG.

[@snitchgirl1337]

this is my beep

[@Deletethealphabetlorevideo]

This Is My Beep

[@snitchgirl1337]

this is my beep at

[@TomMcClean]

Ok I hear you SG.

[@Deletethealphabetlorevideo]

snitch girl is my sister

[@snitchgirl1337]

i toot the horn at 1.36

[@snitchgirl1337]

wi toot the horn at one minute and 56 seconds

[@Deletethealphabetlorevideo]

I’ll Subscribe To Your Channels

[@snitchgirl1337]

who tooted at 1.56