Dublin Street, Newtownstewart

The Kirk family home in Dublin Street, Newtownstewart. The house stood almost directly opposite the start of Methodist Lane. Judging by pictures of Dublin Street in the first years of the twentieth century, this building was built sometime after that. The house was demolished in the mid-1980s.

Two photos of John James Kirk outside the sitting-room window – no idea who the others in the groups are – JJ is in the light suit.

Paddy Kirk (1901-1931) with companion.

Mary Agnes Kirk (1900-1989) at her front door. Mary was the sole inhabitant of the house from 1965 until it was demolished in the ‘80s. She then moved into the council house that was built right next door.

The Dublin Street house was home to the following members of the Kirk family: James (1841-1916), Hugh (1875-1937), Isabella (1875-1965), Mary Agnes (1900-1989), Paddy (1901-1931) and John James (1903-1955).

It was also home to my father Frank Kirk (1921-1976) and Patrick Joe Conway (1910-1975?). Both boys were ‘adopted’ by the Kirks, to borrow the terminology used in the 1911 census – there was no legal adoption process in place in Ireland until the late ‘30s.