Something Fishy

The trusty pushbike has been well utilized during this pandemic. You've likely seen it in a few articles I've written.

I purchased it about twenty-two years ago, at Halford's, and it's a fairly sturdy urban kind of bike.

This morning I recalled that Edward Murray of Something Fishy, a fishmonger from Portavogie, has a mobile seafood stall at Comber Road, Dundonald, on Wednesday mornings.

I think they also usually have a stall at St George's Market in Belfast.

This morning, however, I mounted the two-wheeler and cycled from Belmont GHQ to Dundonald, a journey of three miles perhaps.

Enid Bennett, whose husband and sons ran a hardware shop in Comber, used to inquire if a merchant was easy to pay - "are they easy to pay?"

Something Fishy is easy to pay. Just remember to bring cash with you. I was prepared, and I'd brought my wallet with a few banknotes in it.

I fancy breaded cod tonight, so I bought a good piece of that, and a portion of their battered scampi.

The piece of cod was a fiver; the scampi, £2.80.

1974: Belfast Car Dealers

The 1974 Series: Any suggestions about other categories to write about, viz. hatters, book-sellers, restaurants or whatever are welcome.

The first topic is going to be car dealerships and distributors in central Belfast mainly because, as a little boy, I simply adored motor-cars and car show-rooms. Which ones did I frequent?

Mostly Thompson-Reid's and Charles Hurst. Thompson-Reid's show-room at Breda shopping centre (Supermac) was a place I often visited, and the sales men invariably indulged me.

Thompson-Reid had their head office and show-room at 14-16 Donegall Square East, and the show-room went right back to Upper Arthur Street, where there was a little petrol station.

They sold Austin cars.

Thompson-Reid also had premises at the aforementioned Supermac shopping centre.

Charles Hurst was the other big dealership in Belfast which sold British marques, their show-rooms being at 44-54 Chichester Street and 17-27 Montgomery Street.

W H Alexander sold Morris and Wolseley cars at the aptly named Morris House, 90-108 Victoria Street.

Stanley Harvey, at 4 Clarence Street West had, I believe, the concession for Rolls-Royce.

The main Ford dealers were J E Coulter, at 78-82 Antrim road and 38-42 Chichester Street; and R E Hamilton, at 32 Linen Hall Street.

Isaac Agnew was considerably smaller, in commercial terms, though it survives today.

They were main Volkswagon dealers at North Howard Street, Lisburn Road and Falls Road.

A S Baird sold Chrysler, Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam and Simca.

Baird's offices were at was Humber House, 26-30 Ormeau Avenue, and 62-66 Bedford Street.

Clarence Engineering Limited, of 24 Ormeau Avenue and Bankmore Street, sold Triumph and Standard cars.

W H Connolly was located at 118-124 Donegall Pass and, I think, sold Citroen cars.

Dick and company, Donegall Street,  sold Fiat cars.

Geddis Cars, 28 Linen Hall Street - Datsun (now Nissan).

David Marshall Limited was the main Vauxhall dealer at 17 Bedford Street.

Have I omitted any?

First published in May, 2010.

Farewell Con

I bade farewell to my old acquaintance, the Reverend John McConnell (Con) Auld, MA, this afternoon, Tuesday, the 5th May, 2020, in his home town of Holywood, County Down.

Mourners assembled at High Street in the town, and the cortège made its way to Redburn cemetery.

A service to celebrate his life was conducted at Con's graveside by the Rev Noble McNeely, Minister Emeritus of 1st Holywood Presbyterian Church.

Con's Final Journey, Redburn Cemetery

Con's memory lives on in his historical publications.

Every time I visit Portbraddan, County Antrim, I'll think of him.

Towpath Ride

£82,754,728.

That was the estimated cost for reopening the River Lagan navigation from Belfast Harbour to Lough Neagh in 2012.

Money well spent, to my mind.

By far the costliest stretch of the canal to reinstate would be from Stranmillis to Lisburn, though a new Lock One is presently being built at Stranmillis, and Lock Twelve, Hanna's, has been restored at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.

The part of the canal from Moira to Lough Neagh is the best preserved section of the navigation, with original road bridges and locks remaining intact.

The main fabric here has suffered little during the period of abandonment and a complete and quick restoration would be achievable.

The main issues for that section, therefore, would include the loss of the towpath for part of its length, and the provision of an adequate water supply for locks, and land ownership.


A WALK or cycle along the River Lagan towpath really can be delightful, especially on a fine, sunny day.

Unfortunately the old canal is no longer navigable by boat, nor has it been since about 1958.

Click to Enlarge

The narrow canal boats which used it, lighters as they were called, had to be no longer than 62 feet in length, 14 feet 6 inches in width, with a maximum draught of 5 feet 6 inches.

That was the stipulation.

Today I cycled along the Lagan towpath (former path used by horses to tow the lighters) as far as Lock Seven.

I've already posted photographs of my journey to Locks Two and Three (haven't I?).

Lock Four

Lock Four, Rosie Ward's, in the vicinity of Edenderry, County Antrim, is completely overgrown with little trees, bushes and plants sprouting everywhere.

There was once an eel weir here, though that has been disused since the 1950s.

The average distance between each lock is about a mile.

Lock Five, May, 2020

At Lock Five, Ballydrain Lock, we pass Malone Golf Club, which possesses a grand club-house, formerly known as Ballydrain House.

I've written a bit about Ballydrain House here.

Lock Five is high and dry. Seemingly there were always issues with water levels on the canal, and the Broad Water was created as a reservoir for this very purpose.

Lock Five, towards Belfast

Canal folk were a superstitious bunch: they disliked staying overnight in this area due to 'strange influences.'

Drum House from Lock Six

Drum House, a large residence at Lock Six, looks terrific. I gather there's a garden centre here.

Its lawns sweep down to the bank of the canal.

An old painted bollard still exists at this lock, which is fairly clear of foliage.

The original penstock weir across the River Lagan at Drum Bridge has since been removed and a short section of canal under the bridge has been concreted to accommodate a pedestrian footpath.

The restoration of a navigation bridge at the existing underpass at Drum Bridge below Upper Malone Road would therefore be needed.

Lock Six, painted by WH Burns (1924-95). Photo Credit: BBC

The estimated cost of restoring the navigation at Lock Six alone was about £4 million in 2012.

Lock Six, May, 2020

I couldn't resist posting an image of the lock today and almost a century ago in 1924.

Lock Six in 1924

My journey along the canal terminated today at Lock Seven, McQuiston's Lock, which lies between Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and Seymour Hill, Dunmurry.

This lock is completely overgrown; in fact I almost missed it as I cycled along the towpath.

Ruinous Lock-house at Lock Seven

It's well worth a detour, though, because deep within the woods the ruins of the old Mossvale lock-house can be seen.

Is it made of sandstone? Most, if not all, of the locks were made with that type of stone.

The restoration costs for a new Lock Seven would be considerable.

The M1 Motorway crosses both the River Lagan and the original navigation cut approximately half a mile south of Upper Dunmurry Lane.

A section of the navigation cut was partially infilled during the construction of the motorway embankment, and a subway was built to accommodate the pedestrian route under the motorway.

The present subway, however, isn't big enough for any new stretch of canal.

The river was realigned under the M1 about 400 yards to the north of the subway.

The most cost-effective option at this location, it has been proposed, is not to follow the original route of the waterway, but to utilise the river under the motorway bridge and construct a new short section of navigation cut and lock chamber on the upstream side to connect to the original cut.

Another couple of million pounds.

Back to McQuiston’s lock-house: It's on the far side of the towpath, across the little stone bridge.

This lock was near Mossvale linen works, owned by the Charley family of Seymour Hill.

The Charleys even constructed a quay on the canal for unloading coal.

From here I turned back, and stopped en route at Lock Three, McCleave's, where the Lockkeeper's Inn is located.

Pit-stop at Lock Three

I didn't have the Apple Watch on today because the battery was far too low.