23.9.81 Mass in school. I think it was an anniversary of the founding of the Mercy Convents. I'm not sure. We were out @ 7 & had good crack. I rang Catherine. We started talking about French & ended up talking about Dr Who books! I got new cream for my fingers. It seems to be working.

22.9.81 I was back to school today. Madness had a new record out – Shut Up (!!). I went up to Davies for a Twix and on the way down I met Fintan. We had a good old talk. First time we've met since this day last week.

21.9.81 I was very sick during Art today. I felt like fainting and my stomach was killing me. I went home @ lunchtime. I just lay on the sofa all afternoon. I hope this won't happen too often. I'm v tired so I'll hurry. I didn't go to band.

20.9.25 Ann & Frances came. They gave us a shock. They wanted a lift to Carlingford to see their boyfriends. They were a bit daft to come up from Dublin just to see them. Kerry won the All-Ireland 1-4 0-6 (I think). I feel sorry for Offaly though. This is Kerry's 4th year.

19.9.25 Watched “Tiswas” for most of the morning. Sting was on. I went to the library with John & got notes for my music essay. I started my work for Sr Gabriel. If I'm lucky I might win £5, £2.50 or £1!!! It looks like my pen-pal is never going to write. I’m disappointed.

18.9.25 Nothing very exciting happened in school or after school. We sat in the car for a while but it got boring so I went home. Mummy & all were away to Dunnes so I decided to go down to meet them but I missed them. I went around to Martine's but got no reply.

17.9.81 Me and Catherine had fun walking around saying Hello to everyone. Ethna had a little party tonight. It wasn't much of a success (poor Ethna). Cathy gave her beautiful note-paper. Listening to The Police – De do do do, De da da da. Ethna has temp of 100º now. (God bless her).

16.9.25 Ethna's Birthday. She was sick today. Yesterday she had a temp of 102º (poor thing). I left for school without even wishing her a happy birthday so I came back @ lunchtime to do so. I got my music just about completely wrong but now it's corrected thanks to Catherine.

15.9.81 We had a great laugh at a French singer (P God forgive us because he is dead). We weren't actually laughing @ him but Elaine took the giggles and the tune was funny! We were out in the car tonight but nothing all that exciting happened.

14.9.81 Clarinet 3 times today. Very annoying. My mouth is sore. Band tonight was the same as usual. Rodney asked Ann to go with him but she refused again. He seemed disappointed. I've only just got my homework finished @ about 12.30 (tut, tut).

13.9.81 Went to 11 Mass in the car. I wore my kilt and when we came home Mummy cut it & turned it into a mini. We were out for a bit tonight. We didn’t want to get into the car even though the door was open so we just froze outside.

12.9.81 I had to do the hoovering this morning but I got out after a while. Me & Kevin just sat in the Marina & talked & listened to tapes. We had great crack. There was quite a big argument between Mummy and myself but we soon made up.

11.9.81 We had great fun in Bio today. We ran past Mrs Elmore's class & she came out. When we went out tonight Fintan & Anthony were fixing the Marina so we could all sit in it. We were sitting in it for most of the night. We listened to tapes and had a good time altogether.

10.9.81 Nothing exciting in school. It was a very windy and wet day. Only me & Kevin were out for most of the evening. Fintan came out for a wee while but that's all really. Soft Cell – no. 1.

9.9.81 I had to do my RE during Bio cos I forgot about it. Sr Yvonne didn't even look at it. I finished my homework early tonight, so I went out. When we got into the car, the boys started making awful noise. We locked them out. Clarinet report good. Watched Salem's Lot. Very scary.

8.9.81 I got my homework done & went out at 7. Catherine rang & the electricity went off all over N Ireland. I was talking to Catherine on the phone on the street! We had great fun when the electric went off. I didn't go in until 9.50 (much to Mummy's annoyment). It was great fun.

7.9.81 Back to school today with at least some good news. Catherine finally got me a pen pal. His name is Cathal & he's from Tipperary. I've written my first letter to him. I've also sold 4 of the 10 on the order form that I have to send.

6.9.81 We went to 11 Mass. We set off home early (about 3 o'clock and got back at about 5). John took down the top twenty for me. I cycled around for a while then went in. I don't want to go to school tomorrow.

5.9.81 We went into town fairly early this morning. Ethna and Cathy got Rubic cubes and I got a huge art book. John got beautiful water colour paints. We wandered all around the city centre 'till we were tired and hungry but Daddy wouldn't let us get something to eat.

4.9.81 Nothing very exciting happened in school. As soon as we came home, we had something to eat, changed and went off to Dublin for the weekend. We took Cathy with us as she had never been to Dublin before. We sang going down in the car and the journey past very quickly.

3.9.81 School is now slowly getting back to normal. We had Art today. It's not going to be easy. We have so many books to get I would to have a millionaire as a friend. I'm beginning to remember how much I hate school, especially this year because I have been split up from my friends.

2.9.81 It's back to schoolwork now. I was in early today as well. We got quite a lot of text books & I have Sr Yvonne for 2 subjects (RE & Hist). I have Mr O'D for Geog. I lost another badge, ah well. I wasn't out cycling because I was very busy backing books.

1.9.81 I was down in school @ 8.30 & saw all the gang. We were all split up though in the end. I'm in S1D with only a few of my friends. NO homework anyway. I came home & got changed. I was out on my bike @ 4.30. Fintan gave me 2 great badges (& a U2 badge).

31.8.81 I watched TV for a good part of the day. I wish I had've gone out instead. It was a lovely but cold day. When I did go out, the whole gang was back together. We went off on one of our cycles. We came back about 20 to 9 & talked until finally one by one, we had to go in.

30.8.81 Went to 11 Mass & wouldn't you know Desmond was sitting right behind us & as we were coming out Gavan was just going in. McVeighs took me & John to Gyles' Quay for the day. We had a very nice time. Ethna went off to Newcastle with Powers & Daddy went out to the farm.

29.9.81 I had a good sleep-in this morning. When I went out on my bike, nobody else was there. I went down to the library but it was closed. I went to confession. We went for a cycle down the street. Horror film wasn't that good tonight.

28.8.81 We left John up to school today & while Mummy went with him to the classroom me & Ethna wandered around the school. It's very big indeed. I was out cycling for most of the day but there was no-one else out. Fintan has a brother up from the south & he seems very down in the dumps.

27.8.81 Just like yesterday today was a real scorcher. We didn't cycle around much because it was far too hot so we just sat & talked. I sat on the window listening to a tape of Madness. I went down to Phil's & got my hair cut.

26.8.25 We cycled around just about all day. Kevin & John McK started school today. We went for 2 cycles all around Newry. Me & John got quite burnt but that will soon fade. Daddy has just been up & given us an awful scolding. It scared me & gave me quite a shock.

25.8.81 We spent most of the day cleaning & finally spraying Kevin's bike. It's lovely now. Mrs McVeigh gave me a pound for doing tapes for her. We all cycled and cycled tonight. In fact we cycled 4 miles all around Newry. We got ice lollies & crisps. Japanese Boy – Aneka no 1

24.8.81 I was up early but nobody else was out for a while. I was up in the garage for most of the day. Martine rang. I talked too much. We spent most of the evening cleaning Kevin's bike to be resprayed tomorrow. Nothing unusual in band tonight.

23.8.81 Rebecca, Phillipa, Ethna & me all went to 12 Mass. We went to Lurgan at about 2.30 & had a huge dinner when we arrived. We didn't do much for the rest of the day. I was very sad to leave them both behind because I liked them both very much. Rebecca looked sad too.

22.8.81 We set off early today & went to the farm. I got wet & depressed. I definitely don't want to move there ever. Then we drove on to Carlingford (before that we went to Omeath to see a shrine). The pipe band was playing there but it didn't win anything. We went on to Greenore &

21.8.81 I had a very sore stomach today. We went down the town but I didn't enjoy it much. I went to bed afterwards & had a lovely long rest. Tonight we went to Warrenpoint & had our dinner in a lovely little restaurant called “The Half Door”. I still wasn't feeling that well.

20.8.81 I went to Martine's in the morning then went up to the garage. We went to Lurgan @ 4.00 to collect our English cousins Phillipa & Rebecca. They're both very nice. We went up to the garage tonight. We went to bed early because we were all very tired.

19.8.81 Written on Saturday. I didn't think I had to write in today so I can't remember what happened anyway. I guess we were out cycling mostly anyway, that's what we do mostly now so that's about all I can remember.

Top 20, 18.8.81

18.8.81 I was out cycling early today but I was on my own for quite a while. We now have a new arrival to our “gang”. Micky something-or-other. I don't like him much. He's a bit of a show-off & never stops talking. We cycled around all day so there isn't much else to write.

17.8.81 We went down to the bike shop but the tyre wasn't ready so we came home & cycled around until 3 & went back down again. Band was just ordinary tonight, nothing very exciting. Daddy has now taken to calling us in @ 9 o'clock.

16.8.81 We were out cycling again tonight, John McK wasn't there so we had a great time!! No, but seriously it was great fun. John taped New Life, Ghost Town & Chant No 1. Mummy got sheets from America & they're for my bed. Elvis Presley is 4 yrs dead today (RIP).

15.8.81 We cycled around for about an hour & went down to try & find Mummy, Daddy & John. We found them & John got “Body Talk”. Then we all cycled down to Bridge End Stores for a tube. We cycled around for a while in the evening but it started to rain & so we all had to go in.

14.8.81 I had a good sleep in & Martine rang me to ask could I come down the street. We did go down to look for shoes for school but we ended up in a hairdressers. Martine got her hair cut & its lovely now. There was a bit of a feud between John McK & us & Kevin.

13.8.81 Mummy says I was v cheeky so I apologised. I went down to the library & took out two tapes but they were both hopeless. I'm going to return them today. Ethna & John were to go to the cinema with a note & maybe get in cheap. But they didn't go.

12.8.81 We went up Barcroft to get Martine's bike then I came home. When I came home I found that Ethna & John had made plans behind my back to sneak off to the cinema with Kevin, John McK & Brian. They went off after a bit of fighting but the woman wouldn't let Ethna in because

Top 20, 11.8.81

11.8.81 I had a request played for Mummy but Mrs McEvoy came in. It was a lucky thing I taped it. Then later on, after me & Ethna did some messages I took Skippy for a walk down to the library and down Hill Street for a bit. We spent the evening cycling around. There was 7 of us.

10.8.81 I went for Martine with Ethna after going up to Daisy Hill on a message for Mummy. I lent her my white tape but she lost it. She's supposed to be buying me a new one. Mummy wasn't well today so she's talking a week off work for a rest. Band tonight. It was quite good.

9.8.81 We came home from Dublin today. The journey home was one of the shortest yet. Ethna seems very pleased to come home. Mummy has a pain in her back. That's about all. This was very short wasn't it!!

8.8.81 We went to the zoo today. It was great & all the animals (except the orang-utans) were lovely. We seen beautiful lions & tigers & a polar bear doing a dance. Then we went into town and had our dinner (sandwiches) in Roches Stores.

7.8.81 I thought today would never go quick enough but at last we were on our way to collect Ethna. We got there early enough & she hasn't changed a bit. She bought me a transfer & John a Dr Who summer special. We went for a drive away out to Ashbourne.