Seamus Hasson
Seamus Hasson was a historian from Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He edited the first Benbradagh Magazine in 1971[citation needed] and for the next thirty years. He was a contributor and member of the editing committee of The Winding Roe magazine. Both the Benbradagh Magazine and the Winding Roe magazines are community, historical and cultural magazines that cover the greater Dungiven area.[1]
Early life[edit]
Hasson was born into a family of tailors. They owned drapery shops in Dungiven, Maghera and on Spencer Road in Derry.[2] In 1922, his father Robert, (1885-1966) married Catherine Hasson of Fincam, Feeny. As a teenager, Catherine had served her time in drapery with Pat Mullan of Dungiven. Later the Mullans went to the United States and Catherine took over the business. In 1923, she and Robert moved from Teavin into Dungiven and launched their drapery business. Their family were born afterwards - Seamus, Robbie, Charley, Kathleen, Niall. Mary and CoIm. When the owners of another drapery business, the Dallas Sisters, retired from their drapery business in the Arcade in 1929, Robert and Catherine moved their family and their business to the Arcade. In 1932 they then expanded into newly refurbished premises on Main Street. The tailoring and drapery business continued there until 1938 when Robert (sen.) bought a larger premises. In 1950 Hassons moved to their final location on Main Street, Dungiven. Also in 1950, they opened their Maghera shop.[3] Robert Hasson (Snr.) opened a funeral undertaking business in 1941.
Hasson attended St Columb's College in Derry.[2]
Career[edit]
It was his dream to become a priest and he studied theology for two years at Dromantine College in County Down with the Society of African Missions (SMA). Here, Hasson suffered a serious illness which took him away from his studies for two years and, upon recommencement of his studies, resulted in him being admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry in March 1946.[2] Hasson was given last rites at age 22.[2] Missionary life in Africa or the United States were no longer options after his recovery, so he chose to enroll in dentistry with the Medical Faculty of Queen's University Belfast.[1] His health again deteriorated, and after spending 1950 either in bed or in hospital, he ended his dental career.[2]
Hasson then took up a position in the family's tailoring and drapery business. To develop the business, he moved to Brick Lane, the Jewish Mecca of tailoring in the East End of London.[citation needed] After serving his apprenticeship and completing his City and Guilds in London, he returned home to work in the family business.
Personal life[edit]
Hasson was a fluent Irish speaker and handball enthusiast. Throughout his life he was heavily involved in researching, archiving and recording local history. In 2008, he requested information on the Northern Ireland Executives Education Bill.[4]
He was considered an expert on the McCloskey clan following the publication of the "New Orleans McCloskeys" in 1981.[citation needed]
Later life and death[edit]
In 1969, he and his brother, Robbie, helped Francie McCloskey, the first person killed in The Troubles in Dungiven, into their shop. The brothers had been inside their Dungiven premises to ensure no damage was caused during rioting.[5] He spoke about this on a UTV news report in 1994, marking the 25th anniversary of the first death in the troubles.[6] During the troubles, the family's Derry Drapery Store was damaged twice. On Saturday, 30th October 1976, an incendiary device was left in Warwicks' Paint Shop next door to Hasson's shop at 33 Spencer Road. This firebomb damaged their shop and three years later on 5th December 1979, a massive bomb caused immense damage in the area with seven buildings having to be demolished. Although it was not demolished, Hasson's Drapery had to be largely rebuilt.[3]
Seamus Hasson passed away on 17 January 2016, at the age of 92 at Edenvale care home.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Winding Roe Magazine, Benbradagh Magazine". thewindingroe.com. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Walsh, Alan. "Tailor-made to be 'one of a kind': tributes to Seamus Hasson". derrynow.com. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Winding Roe, Edition 1, p.5".
- ↑ Committee for Education, Northern Ireland Assembly (2009-06-04). "Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education minutes 27.05.09". archive.niassembly.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ↑ Young, Connla (2019-07-13). "Brothers told of Francie McCloskey's last hours". The Irish News. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ↑ "CAIN: Peter Heathwood Collection of Television Programmes - Search Page". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
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