While we can scarcely believe it, 2024 is on the verge of being consigned to history, as a new year beckons.
Although we’re excited for what 2025 has to offer, we also love taking that step back and reflecting on the events of the last 365 days.
The scary thing is that it seems like the Armagh I ‘Year in Review’ piece comes around a lot quicker than expected with each passing year.
In fact, I was on the verge of picking the new Armagh I office on Barrack Street as our lead lookback, only to discover we moved in in January 2023, not January 2024!
Where does the time go!
And with the risk of sounding cliche, 2024 was yet another rollercoaster of a year, with some tremendous highs, but also devastating lows.
One big change we’ve had in the office was welcoming Caoilinn, our new Sales and Marketing Executive, who has been out and about engaging with local businesses and helping improve our presence in Armagh.
Something we found out long ago is that the business of news is highly unpredictable. Almost daily we publish a story thinking that it will go big – only to be disappointed when it doesn’t quite reach as high as we expected.
Our biggest story of the year, in terms of sheer clicks, was the wedding of Armagh Gaelic Footballer Joe McElroy to his bride Aoife McKenna 10 days after the Armagh County All-Ireland triumph.
Of course it would be remiss of us to forget the Armagh GAA All-Ireland win against Galway back in July – a moment that will truly be a highlight for many, not just this year, but for years to come.
Let us walk you through some of the other significant headlines of 2024…
In January, the clock had quite literally barely struck midnight when reports came in of a large altercation at the Bannville Hotel in Banbridge.
During the incident, a red transit van collided with the front of the building causing extensive damage to the entrance.
This was a big theme to kick off the new year, as court reports dominated our most read page at the start of 2024. What a way to get the year going!
In February, we heard the sad news that well-known Armagh city hardware store, Northern Building Supplies, was set to close.
In an announcement posted on social media, the family said they wanted to wish their customers “happiness and prosperity”, citing the retirement of co-founder Marie Mullen as the reason behind the closure.
Situated on the Ballycrummy Road just outside the city, Northern Building Supplies had been a stalwart supplier in the community it serves since its inception in the 1980s.
The closure of local businesses is another constant we see every year; whether it’s through retirement, high rates, or things just not working out, it’s always sad to see the shutters go down anywhere on the high street.
March was a month that truly reminded us of the fragility of human life, after the passing of four young friends in a car accident sent a shockwave of heartbreak across the county.
They were Marina Crilly from Ballymacnab, Emma Mallon from Middletown – both past pupils of St Patrick’s High School in Keady, as well as Phil Mitchell from Markethill and Keith Morrison from Tynan.
They were all aged in their 20s.
The friends had been travelling in a grey Volkswagen Golf, along the Ballynahonemore Road in Armagh city just before 2am on a Sunday morning, when it collided with a tree.
In April, the murder trial centred around the tragic loss of young Co Armagh woman Katie Simpson was brought to a halt after the accused – Jonathan Creswell – was found dead.
Our top story in May was an interview with a heartbroken woman who lost her husband to Covid-19.
She told how she heard him take his dying breaths over a mobile phone as she sat, alone, in a hospital car park.
Heather McIlwaine (52) described the experience as “inhumane” and said she has struggled to come to terms with the harrowing death and the “horrible way” it happened.
The Lurgan mother-of-two also said she hoped the UK Covid-19 public inquiry would help prevent anyone else from suffering like she did.
In May, a newly opened Portadown fish and chip shop slammed pranksters after a £71 illegitimate order left them with bags full of cooling food – and not a penny for it.
The order was placed on June 6 with Danny’s Chippy, and a staff member spoke to us about what happened.
Swallowing the financial loss wasn’t easy for the new business but they were unwilling to let the food, they had so lovingly prepared, go to waste.
The staff member said: “We have a park across the road and there were kids coming in and out getting slushies, milkshakes and things like that so I just offered them the food and they took it.”
This was our top story that month and we reckon it had something to do with Kellie’s crafty word play in the headline, which read: “Freshly opened Portadown chippy slam pranksters after cod order leaves them high and fry”.
The news in July (and August!) was dominated by a certain sporting event we have already talked about. For weeks, many areas of County Armagh were bedecked in orange and white bunting as many GAA fans celebrated Armagh’s first All-Ireland win in 21 years.
Many city centre businesses were geared up for the occasion and there were words of inspiration and support from all corners of the political landscape, with independent councillor Paul Berry wishing all a happy July, regardless of which ‘Orange’ they were celebrating.
In the weeks after, our headlines told countless stories of the Sam Maguire cup visiting communities and people all across the county, including young Crossmaglen striker Caolan Finnegan, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in the same month.
September was a particularly big month in Armagh I as all our hard work came to fruition as we hosted our biggest ever ‘People of the Year’ Awards ceremony in the Armagh City Hotel. Amazing people across a range of fields were recognised, with Neville and Myrtel Pogue clinching the Lifetime Achievement award.
In October, firefighters tackled a huge blaze at the historic Sintons Mill in Tandragee, while the award-winning Yellow Door deli in Portadown closed its doors after 27 years.
In November we very sadly saw the passing of some loved and respected members of the community.
Kyle Rountree, a man in his 20s, was described as “generous, funny, quiet and kind”.
Jack Murray (20), from Banbridge, also died suddenly.
Malachy Lennon was another familiar figure across Armagh City and beyond, as a hugely popular and highly respected taxi driver. He passed away in late November.
Finally, December brought further devastation after Banbridge woman Karen Cummings was murdered in her home. A vigil held in the Co Down town shortly after called for an end to violence against women.
