First steps in telling the 20th century story of Moy, Charlemont and district

For the past 15 months I have been researching Moy and its 20th century past and taking iPhone snapshots of interesting articles from microfilm issues of the Moy Notes in the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon Observer newspapers (The Democrat was not available unfortunately).

It's been like dusting off a long-lost photograph album as browsed my way through half forgotten stories from the 1960s and 1970s. While quite a nostalgic walk I I found myself more fascinated by the years that preceded my entrance into this big bad world - the 1940s and 1950s. While some of the people and places were familiar there was so much to get my head round.

Folks I remembered as pensioners in my youth had actually once been young and mischievous!

I have just finished compiling what will be a 320 page book. Just got a few interviews to do and if all goes well there should be a November book launch. The 1940s book will hopefully follow around Easter 2024.

The idea is to publish a book for each decade over the next six-seven years if I can stay healthy enough! That should give you some idea of how Moy, Charlemont and district fared in the 20th century.