On January 21st. 1898, the Parish Priest of Aghaderg, Fr. Peter Paul Campbell, was appointed P.P. Tullylish. He was to steer the parish from the Victorian into the Edwardian age. Many stories are told of his phobia at the sight of the coppers in any collection. He took steps to have these removed from circulation in order to reduce the possibility of them finding their way into subsequent collections!

In 1898 to organise and provide a social centre in Gilford, a committee consisting of James Byrne, Daniel McConville, Joseph Monaghan, Hugh Turley and Will. Lappin was formed. They rented a house in the vicinity of the entrance to St. John's Primary School and named it the `Gilford Catholic Club.' Over the next few years membership increased rapidly and, to cater for this increase, the committee - Daniel McConville, James Byrne, Joseph Monaghan, Patrick Delaney, John McGuigan, John Kavanagh and Edward Murphy purchased two houses from Mr. W.H. Boyle on Castle Hill. These premises, suitably converted, catered for the social needs of the people of Gilford. Fr. Campbell died on 14th. July 1911 and is interred with his relatives in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Newry.

Dunbar McMaster and Co. Ltd. C1841