A native of Cavan, Andrew Joseph McKenna seems to have come to Belfast c1860 and made his home at #5 Athol Terrace, near Durham Street. In July 1862 he was appointed editor of the 'Ulster Observer', newly founded by the Belfast Catholic Institute at #2 Hercules Place. It was tri-weekly and priced at one penny...


McKenna proved himself to be an able journalist but within two years, friction began to develop between himself and the proprietors over management of the paper, a situation aggravated by the fact that some members of the institute questioned Bishop Dorrian's rights of episcopal authority. McKenna and the Bishop quarreled and eventually in 1868, the paper closed.


Within one month, McKenna started the 'Northern Star' and 'Weekly Observer' at #36 Arthur Street, this also being a tri-weekly. In 1869 he was awarded £250 libel damages against two of his former colleagues who had founded the 'Ulster Examiner' as a counter-measure to his newspaper.


The intense acrimony only began to subside after the 'Northern Star' ceased publication in November 1872, a matter of months after McKenna's sudden death. Ironically, the 'Ulster Examiner' (the lately defunct 'Irish Weekly') then tacked on to its title, that of the 'Northern Star'.


Andrew Joseph McKenna who had married Catherine, a daughter of Edward McHugh, linen merchant, of Rosemary Street, moved to Millbank House, Victoria Road, Holywood c1871. A staunch and fearless liberal in his outlook all his life, his funeral was a most impressive affair starting from St.Patrick's Church, Holywood and followed by several thousand mourners including Bishop Dorrian and Rev. J O'Laverty the noted historian and Parish Priest of Holywood...