UP THE YELLOWBELLIES!

When I do a post for this Blog there is usually a direct or at least some kind of a tenuous link to our St Patrick's School and Parish Family. Today, the link is  so tenuous that it might even hinge on some of us! 😮

I think I am right in assuming that we all know The Yellowbelly Brewery and Public House. Ah, but do we know the wonderful part of our history from whence its colourful name derives?

There is no cowardice attached to the term "Yellowbelly".  We who have a drop of Wexford blood trickling through our Newfoundland veins can still proudly carry the nickname of "Yellowbelly".  Now for it's origin.

In Ireland, way back in the 1700s, a Hurling match took place between a Cornish team and a team from Wexford.  To distinguish themselves from the opposing players, the Wexford team wore yellow sashes around their waists.  The Wexford team was victorious.  The jubilant Wexford supporters cheered their team with cries of "Up the Yellowbellies".  

Between 1750 and 1830, thousands of Irish labourers came to Newfoundland to work in the very lucrative cod fishery. They came from all over Ireland but the vast majority came from the ports of Waterford and Wexford. Naturally, they brought their language, their music and culture.  They also brought their strong regional rivalries!  Fiercely loyal to their home counties, they formed themselves into factions. They engaged in brutal Hurling matches (wearing their yellow sashes, of course) and frequent violent street brawls. Some of their opponents were: The Wheybellies from Waterford, The Dadyeens from Cork, The Clear Airs from Tipperary and The Doones from Kilkenny.

THE WAY IT WAS

The west end of Water Street was largely populated by Wexford shopkeepers and the intersection of Water St and George St became known as "Yellowbelly Corner".  Yellowbelly Corner became the battleground for the famous "Faction Fights" that took place in St John's at that time. 

What of today?  Well, at that infamous corner stands a beautiful stone and brick building.  It was built around 1840 and, luckily, it survived the Great Fire of 1892.  Happily for a lot of people, the historic site is now home to the wonderful and popular establishment, Yellowbelly Brewery and Public House.  

THE WAY IT IS

So, my friends, those of us with Wexford ancestry who attended our  beloved St Patrick's Convent Schools, we are that tenuous link.  Fortunately, by the time we arrived, that was all just history and we were all friends.  Not  a Faction Fight in sight!  

I hope no one minds though if I give one last cheer, just for history's sake.

"Up the Yellowbellies!"

☘☘☘☘☘☘

P S

It would be interesting, as well as great fun, to hear from our school friends and classmates with any comments on this post.