This weeks letters...
Letters
SIR, — I was startled and very disappointed to see the recent changes at Quoile Quay.
For 30 years this has been one of my favourite corners of County Down, a picturesque and most unusual survival of an 18th century harbour.
Now the integrity has been lost in a few months, not just by the completion of the inappropriately tall and ugly building with its prison-like barred openings in the wall, but by the metal railing at the edge of the quay and the crash barriers surrounding the lay-by.
No doubt the health and safety zealots will quote their own reasons for these. However, it all seems such a pity.
The quay still displays its bollards for tying up ships and the base of its hand crane, while the storage yard (commandeered for the new apartments) and nearby buildings, including the old custom house, date from the major development of the port by Edward Southwell in 1717.
Apart from the lack of ships after the 1940s, nothing very much had changed really, until 2007.
Whereas it is strange to think of Downpatrick as a port, it was perfectly logical over many centuries until the coming of the motor lorry to use water to move the goods needed by a town and its rural hinterland.
Even the late Bronze Age finds on Cathedral Hill demonstrate foreign trade. Rivers and estuaries were navigated as far as their limits.
In 1306, a ship named the ‘Nicholas’ of Downpatrick is recorded carrying wine, pots, wax and spices and on August 15, 1769, by which time the Quoile Quay had much improved navigation on the river. The ‘Belfast News Letter’ reports “exceedingly good fir timber and oak planks” all the way from Danzig, being unloaded by Mr. Thomas Parkinson at the quay from the ‘Margareta Helena’, under Captain Peterson.
Maybe I am alone in this — I hope not — but it was always quite easy to go to Quoile Quay and imagine such a bustling harbour, a subtle marriage of rural County Down with the drumlins framing the scene, and the wider maritime world outside Strangford Lough narrows. Sadly, no longer.
Yours etc.,
IAN WILSON,
Warren Road,
SIR, — Meningitis Research Foundation would like to thank all those who contributed towards their Street Collection in Newcastle on 19 April. The amount raised was a fantastic £1,390.73
Meningitis Research Foundation wishes to thank their members and friends who helped with the collection. Special thanks go to Deirdre Kane who co-ordinated this collection. Thanks also go to Patricia O’Hare, Fiona Davey, Nicola Hamilton, Shelagh Murphy, Kathy Kane, Pauline Carson, Joanne Carson, Sean Russell, Orla Kane, Eimear Caughey, Laura McShane, Michelle Kane and Caroline McComb who all helped make this collection such a success.
We would also like to thank Honor Smyth for her donation to the collection. The Foundation is very grateful to Tesco, Smyth’s Newsagents and Barbican Supervalu for permitting the collection at their premises.
All money raised by the street collection goes directly towards the vital work of the Foundation and will be used to fund research, promote awareness of the disease and support local families affected by meningitis.
Further information on meningitis and the work of Meningitis Research Foundation is available by calling the Charity’s Northern Ireland Office at 71 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JL on Tel: 028 9032 1283.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Yours etc.,
DIANE McCONNELL,
NI Manager.
SIR, — I was delighted to learn that the Ulster Farmers’ Union has elected Killyleagh man, Graham Furey, as its new president.
There is no better man for the job in my opinion. Graham is passionate about what he does and the UFU has a strong man at the head of the organisation.
It was the Furey family who gave me a start in my working life. I used to work with Graham and his late father at their farm at the Ballyhornan Road in Downpatrick. I also worked with Graham’s uncle, Francis, on the milk round in Killyleagh.
These are difficult times for the farming industry and a time when strong leadership is needed. I believe Graham Furey will provide exactly that and wish him every success at the head of the leading organisation for Northern Ireland farmers.
Yours etc.,
CLLR. BILLY WALKER,
Killyleagh.
SIR, — We are dismayed and disappointed at the recent article on the new Blackwater Integrated College (Minister to be quizzed on Blackwater, Down Recorder, April 23).
As parents of children who will be attending the new school we are delighted with the Education Minister’s decision, and fully support the principal and the teachers of the new college in the professional and visionary approach they are taking to developing this much needed GMI Integrated school in our community.
Perhaps if the “concerned schools” focused more on asking themselves why parents decide not to send their children to those schools and addressed that question, they would be less insecure about their own positions.
Many aspects of life and society in Northern Ireland are changing and education must change with it. Integrated schools are about so much more than merely children being educated together which is what many people seem to think. They deliver a progressive approach to developing children as individuals who are confident in themselves, and able to listen and to respect the views of others.
It is a shame perhaps some of our local councillors would not adopt this approach, and listen to what a significant number of parents (and therefore voters) in their community are saying through their support for Blackwater.
Northern Ireland has transformed significantly over this last year, and we want our local community to grow and change with it. We know to our cost where other roads have led us. We would implore local councillors and politicians to stop looking backwards with their “old entrenched views”, and understand that we want and demand change, growth and a better future for our children.
As parents, taxpayers and voters this is a plea that our voice is heard. There are over 350 families in this community who welcome and want Blackwater Integrated College and are determined the school will succeed. Why not get behind us and support a better “shared future” for all our children and local community.
Yours etc.,
FRANK MURPHY, TANIA PATMORE
AND JUNE WILKINSON,
(Parents from Blackwater
Integrated College).
Donaghadee.
SIR, — The Killyleagh Social Partnership (KSP) has, for the past four years, organised social events that have been of tremendous benefit and enjoyment to the town and its people.
These have included the Viking boat races, the 10K run, the Christmas festivals and the Blackwood celebrations.
Over the years the active membership of the KSP has dwindled until we are now at a point where there may not be enough people to hold the officer positions in the organisation and not enough people to organise this year’s Viking boat festival.
I would urge anyone in Killyleagh and the surrounding district who are interested in events such as the boat races and the Christmas festival to remain part of the Killyleagh calendar to attend the KSP’s annual general meeting at the town’s library tonight at 8.15pm.
Your support is urgently required to ensure the KSP moves into its fifth year.
Yours etc.,
TONY DAVIES,
Chairman of the Killyleagh
Social Partnership.
SIR, — On behalf of the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and Ballynahinch Ladies Charities’ Support Group, we wish to thank everyone who supported us in our Quiz. The total raised was £615.
The prize winners were Gillian Clarke (Belfast), Kathleen Greenwood (Downpat-rick) and Stephanie McCabe (Ballynahinch).
Also thanks to everyone who supported our cake and coffee morning in the Market House. This was very much appreciated.
Yours etc.,
ELSIE ARMITAGE and
JOSEPHINE
McCORRISTON,
Ballynahinch.
SIR, — On behalf of the doctors, staff and patients of Dundrum Surgery I would like to thank most sincerely the family and friends of the late Mr. Jack Macauley for their generous donation of £665 to our Medical Equipment Fund in his memory.
The money will be used to provide the most up-to-date medical equipment for the benefit of all our patients.
Yours etc.,
DR. ALEX GREER,
Dundrum surgery.
For 30 years this has been one of my favourite corners of County Down, a picturesque and most unusual survival of an 18th century harbour.
Now the integrity has been lost in a few months, not just by the completion of the inappropriately tall and ugly building with its prison-like barred openings in the wall, but by the metal railing at the edge of the quay and the crash barriers surrounding the lay-by.
No doubt the health and safety zealots will quote their own reasons for these. However, it all seems such a pity.
The quay still displays its bollards for tying up ships and the base of its hand crane, while the storage yard (commandeered for the new apartments) and nearby buildings, including the old custom house, date from the major development of the port by Edward Southwell in 1717.
Apart from the lack of ships after the 1940s, nothing very much had changed really, until 2007.
Whereas it is strange to think of Downpatrick as a port, it was perfectly logical over many centuries until the coming of the motor lorry to use water to move the goods needed by a town and its rural hinterland.
Even the late Bronze Age finds on Cathedral Hill demonstrate foreign trade. Rivers and estuaries were navigated as far as their limits.
In 1306, a ship named the ‘Nicholas’ of Downpatrick is recorded carrying wine, pots, wax and spices and on August 15, 1769, by which time the Quoile Quay had much improved navigation on the river. The ‘Belfast News Letter’ reports “exceedingly good fir timber and oak planks” all the way from Danzig, being unloaded by Mr. Thomas Parkinson at the quay from the ‘Margareta Helena’, under Captain Peterson.
Maybe I am alone in this — I hope not — but it was always quite easy to go to Quoile Quay and imagine such a bustling harbour, a subtle marriage of rural County Down with the drumlins framing the scene, and the wider maritime world outside Strangford Lough narrows. Sadly, no longer.
Yours etc.,
IAN WILSON,
Warren Road,
SIR, — Meningitis Research Foundation would like to thank all those who contributed towards their Street Collection in Newcastle on 19 April. The amount raised was a fantastic £1,390.73
Meningitis Research Foundation wishes to thank their members and friends who helped with the collection. Special thanks go to Deirdre Kane who co-ordinated this collection. Thanks also go to Patricia O’Hare, Fiona Davey, Nicola Hamilton, Shelagh Murphy, Kathy Kane, Pauline Carson, Joanne Carson, Sean Russell, Orla Kane, Eimear Caughey, Laura McShane, Michelle Kane and Caroline McComb who all helped make this collection such a success.
We would also like to thank Honor Smyth for her donation to the collection. The Foundation is very grateful to Tesco, Smyth’s Newsagents and Barbican Supervalu for permitting the collection at their premises.
All money raised by the street collection goes directly towards the vital work of the Foundation and will be used to fund research, promote awareness of the disease and support local families affected by meningitis.
Further information on meningitis and the work of Meningitis Research Foundation is available by calling the Charity’s Northern Ireland Office at 71 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JL on Tel: 028 9032 1283.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Yours etc.,
DIANE McCONNELL,
NI Manager.
SIR, — I was delighted to learn that the Ulster Farmers’ Union has elected Killyleagh man, Graham Furey, as its new president.
There is no better man for the job in my opinion. Graham is passionate about what he does and the UFU has a strong man at the head of the organisation.
It was the Furey family who gave me a start in my working life. I used to work with Graham and his late father at their farm at the Ballyhornan Road in Downpatrick. I also worked with Graham’s uncle, Francis, on the milk round in Killyleagh.
These are difficult times for the farming industry and a time when strong leadership is needed. I believe Graham Furey will provide exactly that and wish him every success at the head of the leading organisation for Northern Ireland farmers.
Yours etc.,
CLLR. BILLY WALKER,
Killyleagh.
SIR, — We are dismayed and disappointed at the recent article on the new Blackwater Integrated College (Minister to be quizzed on Blackwater, Down Recorder, April 23).
As parents of children who will be attending the new school we are delighted with the Education Minister’s decision, and fully support the principal and the teachers of the new college in the professional and visionary approach they are taking to developing this much needed GMI Integrated school in our community.
Perhaps if the “concerned schools” focused more on asking themselves why parents decide not to send their children to those schools and addressed that question, they would be less insecure about their own positions.
Many aspects of life and society in Northern Ireland are changing and education must change with it. Integrated schools are about so much more than merely children being educated together which is what many people seem to think. They deliver a progressive approach to developing children as individuals who are confident in themselves, and able to listen and to respect the views of others.
It is a shame perhaps some of our local councillors would not adopt this approach, and listen to what a significant number of parents (and therefore voters) in their community are saying through their support for Blackwater.
Northern Ireland has transformed significantly over this last year, and we want our local community to grow and change with it. We know to our cost where other roads have led us. We would implore local councillors and politicians to stop looking backwards with their “old entrenched views”, and understand that we want and demand change, growth and a better future for our children.
As parents, taxpayers and voters this is a plea that our voice is heard. There are over 350 families in this community who welcome and want Blackwater Integrated College and are determined the school will succeed. Why not get behind us and support a better “shared future” for all our children and local community.
Yours etc.,
FRANK MURPHY, TANIA PATMORE
AND JUNE WILKINSON,
(Parents from Blackwater
Integrated College).
Donaghadee.
SIR, — The Killyleagh Social Partnership (KSP) has, for the past four years, organised social events that have been of tremendous benefit and enjoyment to the town and its people.
These have included the Viking boat races, the 10K run, the Christmas festivals and the Blackwood celebrations.
Over the years the active membership of the KSP has dwindled until we are now at a point where there may not be enough people to hold the officer positions in the organisation and not enough people to organise this year’s Viking boat festival.
I would urge anyone in Killyleagh and the surrounding district who are interested in events such as the boat races and the Christmas festival to remain part of the Killyleagh calendar to attend the KSP’s annual general meeting at the town’s library tonight at 8.15pm.
Your support is urgently required to ensure the KSP moves into its fifth year.
Yours etc.,
TONY DAVIES,
Chairman of the Killyleagh
Social Partnership.
SIR, — On behalf of the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and Ballynahinch Ladies Charities’ Support Group, we wish to thank everyone who supported us in our Quiz. The total raised was £615.
The prize winners were Gillian Clarke (Belfast), Kathleen Greenwood (Downpat-rick) and Stephanie McCabe (Ballynahinch).
Also thanks to everyone who supported our cake and coffee morning in the Market House. This was very much appreciated.
Yours etc.,
ELSIE ARMITAGE and
JOSEPHINE
McCORRISTON,
Ballynahinch.
SIR, — On behalf of the doctors, staff and patients of Dundrum Surgery I would like to thank most sincerely the family and friends of the late Mr. Jack Macauley for their generous donation of £665 to our Medical Equipment Fund in his memory.
The money will be used to provide the most up-to-date medical equipment for the benefit of all our patients.
Yours etc.,
DR. ALEX GREER,
Dundrum surgery.