Downe U3A shine spotlight on beauty around St John’s Point

4 August 2021

THERE is more to be found at St John’s Point than just the lighthouse, Downe U3A’s Go Local group discovered recently.

Members of the group were captivated by the location and the stories told by local resident Maureen Kelly.

There’s a long history of life in the area, from when Ardglass and Killough were significant ports.

There’s the old church, once just a ruin in the corner of a field and now an archaeological site.

There’s Camp Field, once a home for German prisoners of war and then a training ground for American soldiers on their way to Africa.

There’s the wildlife, uncommon coastal plants such as yellow horn poppy and rock samphire, and sometimes there are unusual birds to attract ‘twitchers’.

There’s the memorial on the shore to Frank Zych and, of course, the lighthouse, opened

in 1844. Now 40m high, it’s the tallest onshore lighthouse in Ireland and a notable landmark with its black and yellow paintwork.

In Rossglass, just along from St John’s Point on Rossglass Road South, is the Barn Gallery and Rose Gardens, the home of Bernard Magennis whose magnificent rose gardens were visited by the U3A’s gardening group.

With Bernard’s hospitality, the group admired the range of over 100 different varieties of roses, then followed the eco walk up the hill to a stone circle with open views across Dundrum Bay to Slieve Donard.

This proved a memorable outing for the group whose members, as well as visiting notable

gardens, maintain the garden at the Quoile Countryside Centre.

For information on how to join these and the other U3A groups, call 07570 103100.

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