A block party is being organized in Griffintown Friday by Thomas McEntee, a Roman Catholic priest.  The occassion?  Why, to welcome Montreal's most notorious ghost, Mary Gallagher. She haunts the streets every seven years looking for the head she lost in 1879.

This will be the 16th time she's scheduled to appear.

Part of Montreal's folklore

The legend has been part of Montreal's history for more than a century.

ary Gallagher and her best friend, Susan Kennedy, were hookers. One newspaper described them as "dissipated characters who are in the habit of having friends in to see them and of carrying on the most disgusting orgies."  According to the story the two women went to Place Jacques Cartier one Friday afternoon in June, 119 years ago, and drank two bottles of whisky together,  Gallagher then picked up a young man by the name of Michael Flanagan, and they all went back to Kennedy's house at the corner of William and Murray Streets.

Sometime during the evening, after Flanagan had passed out, Kennedy became jealous of Gallagher's success in picking up a trick and went berserk.  In a fit of intoxicated rage, she took an axe, chopped off Gallagher's head, and threw it into a water pail beside the stove.

Initially, both Kennedy and Flanagan were charged with the murder, but it soon became apparent that Kennedy was the only one who could have done it - there was no blood at all on Flanagan.

It was a sensational story.  In Victorian times women were regarded as gentle, submissive creatures, and the press had a field day.

At Kennedy's trial, a downstairs neighbour testified that at approximately 12:15 of the morning of June 26, she heard the noise of a body falling to the floor so heavily that some of the plaster fell from the ceiling.  This was followed by a heavy chopping sound that went on for at least 10 minutes.  Kennedy was convicted, and sentenced to be hanged on Dec. 5, 1879, but the sentence was commuted, and Kennedy was released after spending 16 years in jail.  This year's vigil will begin around 8:30 p.m. at the corner of William and Murray Sts.  Those taking part might want to bring along lawn chairs and refreshments while they wait for Mary to show up.

McEntee has kept the story alive for decades, and wants to make sure there's a crowd out to welcome her.

"I was brought up with the legend of the headless woman, so what's wrong with keeping it alive?" McEntee said. "It's an opportunity for everyone who ever lived in Griffintown to get together for a reunion."

For those so inclined, the evening will begin with a mass at 7 p.m. at Benedict Labrie House, at 308 Young St. in Griffintown.

f Gallagher hasn't appeared by 10 p.m. the party will recess to McKibbin's at 1426 Bishop for a "Mary Gallagher Night."  The bar will be serving Bloody Marys and a special concoction imported for the occasion, Hackler's Irish poteen.  They say a couple of those and you'll be loosing your head!  Entertainment will be provided until 3 a.m. by Salty Dog.