McCann’s bread deliveries in the local area

​The delivery of bread was an important element of the Bakery business. In the early days, three or four horses delivered bread in the town and as far as Bessbrook. The number of horses grew with the business, with as many as 24 working animals employed before the introduction of motor vans in 1916.

By the 1920s a fleet of five motor vehicles allowed deliveries to travel further, while 14 horse vans continued to supply areas closer to the Bakery. Further innovation came in the 1930s with the introduction of electric vans.

The area served by the Bakery during these years extended to both sides of Carlingford Lough. The south side ran along the coast to within about three miles of Dundalk. The north side extended as far as Kilkeel. Almost the entire Newry district was supplied, by McCann’s with the exception of Mullaghglass, Mountnorris and Tullyhappy, which were supplied by other bakeries in Newry.

Areas like Crossmaglen, Cullaville and Poyntaspass were supplied by motor vans, whilst horse vans were used in areas closer to Newry. The Bakery’s deliveries took them along the Hilltown Road from Newry to the townland of Fofanny in the Mournes, and along the Belfast Road through Donaghmore and almost to Banbridge.

Bread delivery was an important service for the rural population. John McParland was a bread server for thirty years. Driving a horse drawn bread cart, his route took him to Tandragee and Markethill and many of his customers made arrangements for him to bank money for them in Newry.

Delivery vans were essentially ‘travelling shops’ with sidelines including sweets, papers and cigarettes, while laundry pick-ups and drop-offs could also be arranged.

By the 1980s, over 30 delivery vans were on the road. Each bread server had their own route and were well-known to locals. ‘Checkers’ covered holidays and sickness and kept notebooks outlining ‘the run’ with house calls and shops to be supplied. Deliveries took place from Tuesday to Saturday, with early starts and late evenings common.

By the 1980s McCann’s supplied almost the entire Newry and Mourne district. Deliveries took them along the Hilltown Road from Newry to the townland of Fofanny in the Mournes, and along the Belfast Road through Donaghmore and almost to the town of Banbridge. Vans were also dispatched to east Down, Belfast, Louth and Monaghan.

In next week’s article we will see how local, national and international political and economic events affected McCann’s Bakery.

Our new temporary exhibition, Slices of History: Memories of McCann’s Bakery, is open free of charge during Museum opening hours and runs until the end of August 2024. For further information on the exhibition please call 0330 137 4608/4308 or email [email protected]

The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.

Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email [email protected] for further information.