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No problem Griogair,

We might as well put his village cliquishness to good use while we still can. Anything from the 20s onwards.

As for the "Black Diamond", I did manage to find some info on this. It apparently started amongst a group who worked and frequented the old Hibs park.
It was initiated by a well known village character called "William"(I think) Boyd, a well known village prankster and major player in the parks construction during the depression.

It was apparently started as a kind of mock Masonic club for a laugh and took place in the hibby groundsmans shed. The entrance fee was a piece of coal which would have been stolen from the adjacent primary school bunker, hence the "Black Diamond".
There was a pecking order with Boyd as chairman and another guy as Grand Wizard ! Outside the gathering they would mix in the pubs and shops as normal with no mention of the club. If someone was said to have spoke of the club or the grand wizard was physically touched by a member during the day or in the pub, that member would face a kangaroo court at the club that night, where Boyd would wear a knitted wig and dish out some kind of painful or embarrassing punishment in front of the other members.

This might all seem like a bit of a laugh, but I know for a fact that the "black diamond" grew to a point where there were new larger premises rented to fit all members.
The BD lasted for decades I'm told.
I know many of the names of members and rented venue which still exists today but many people still seem to be unwilling to talk about it. One old guy even advised me "Don't ask daft questions about stuff that's long dead son".

This has left me even more intrigued.

The badge of the "new" duntocher hibs juniors has a Black diamond as part of the motif, I think there is a misconception that local fans were so poor that the would gain entrance to the games with a lump of coal. This was never the case as poorer fans would have been allowed in for free.
does the "Black Diamond " still have an influence ??

I know of Cassidy's and Kelly's that still stay in the village but will ask My grandfather about your other family members. He should know them, the village was pretty tight before the 50's and 60's

Cheers

AC

The building lay derelict for years and was more officially known as old Mill Lodge.
The Farmer used it for many years for storing potatoes.

This info was from my grandfather William John Connelly, who also knows the woman in the photograph, Annie McBride. He was good pals with a "Birdy" Mcbride who he believes was her slightly younger brother.
He mentioned she moved to davies square.

Could you clear up the real name of "Birdie" McBride ?

Hi guys

Finally finished Uni and have started looking up my family tree.

Here is a pic of the gennie hoose on its last legs in 1965 taken from my old house at 9 old st.

My family that stayed there were named Rooney, not Coyle.

I am now staying back in the village, so if you need any photos or info from some of my older family members give me a shout

cheers

AC