From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 13, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 13, 1976

13 April 2016

DOLLY’S BRAE — The popular country pub which snuggles at the foot of the famous Dolly’s Brae, near Castlewellan, is up for sale. Dolly’s Brae Inn, which still bears the scars from the battle in the 1840s, is owned by Miss Eileen Ward, who virtually runs it on her own.

The steep Dolly’s Brae was a traditional Twelfth of July parade route, but in 1848 the Orangemen processing from nearby Ballyward, had the choice of two routes — a new, smooth flat road and Dolly’s Brae. The Orangemen decided to take the new road and that was how the trouble began — and how Dolly’s Brae became immortalised in the famous Orange song.

This new road avoided Roman Catholic territory, which Dolly’s Brae did not, and the Orangemen became the subject of derisory ballads and songs calling them cowardly. They couldn’t take that and at the next Twelfth in 1849 decided to use the old road again, over the brae.

All went well on the way to the field. However, on returning, the Ribbonmen, a Catholic military society, had drawn up forces on Magheramayo Mountain and fired on the parade, but killed no one.

The Orangemen had a troop of the Inniskilling Dragoons plus 40 policemen protecting them and the result was that the Ribbonmen had seven of their number killed. One Orangemen set off to burn down the Dolly’s Brae Inn and nearby homes. Unfortunately for him, he was shot by mistake by his own side. Today the bullet holes from the fights inside the inn can be seen in an old cupboard.

Mr Dan Ward, brother of the inn’s present owner, said this week: “There is great craic with the Orangemen at the Twelfth. We have no trouble. It is a mixed pub. It’s just the place to wet your whistle.”

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle is in for its busiest Easter period in years with hotel accommodation in the resort at a premium over the four-day holiday. Many holidaymakers, anxious to get away from city life, have booked their Easter break well in advance. As a result many hoteliers and guest house owners in the town are well pleased with the number of bookings they have received.

At the Slieve Donard Hotel new manager, Mr Joseph Brennan, was satisfied with the number of reservations the hotel had received. “We are well booked at the moment and keeping our fingers crossed for some good weather,” he said.

The men at the Meteorological Office are hedging their bets. “It looks as if it’s going to be unsettled and changeable.” a spokesman said. “Temperatures will be about normal for the time of year.”

BALLYNAHINCH — “Thank God the Army was here,” said a relieved Ballynahinch farmer after soldiers saved his expensive 16.5 ton digger from sinking into a bog.

In the early hours of Friday morning Patrick Cassidy was a tired, but happy man. Only five-and-a-half hours earlier he had been digging a drainage ditch at Slieveniskey, north of Castlewellan, when his heavy Hymac digger became stuck fast.

Realising he had no time to lose, he contacted the police in Newcastle. In next to no time the Army moved in from Long Kesh. A patrol from the 4th Royal Tank Regiment were on the scene with a recovery vehicle.

Nearly 400 yards from the nearest road, the digger was sinking. With darkness deepening they needed a second recovery vehicle — which they got. Eventually the digger was pulled clear and a delighted Mr Cassidy said they left it all ready to start work next day.

CASTLEWELLAN — Two lucky pupils of St Malachy’s Secondary School, Castlewellan, are outward bound this summer. Gregory Moore and Fiona Mullen, both sixth formers at the school, are going to Outward Bound schemes in Britain.

Gregory, who is going to the Lake District, leaves in June, while Fiona is going to Wales in July. The lucky duo have been picked by the South Eastern Education and Library Board to go to the centres. Both are members of the school’s outward pursuits club.

SEAFORDE — Seaforde Young Farmers’ Club held their fourth annual sing-a-long on Friday night in the McCammon Hall with Tom Raymond, the well known comedian, acting as compere.

The club staged their recent Black and White Minstrel Show, which was their entry for the YFCU Festival in Ballymena. Other acts included Mr J Bryce and Miss Dolores Vance, both from Downpatrick.

Two young instrumentalists, Ann and Catherine Dornan, from Loughinisland, captured everyone’s attention with their very high standard of music on the piano and violin, Other artistes included Joyce McCoubrey on guitar, Emmett Harte and Jane McCoubrey in a comedy sketch and Irish dancers Isobel Dornan, Mary O’Neill and Fiona Turley.

Ita Keenan, the club leader, thanked everyone for coming and all the people behind the scenes, as well as on the stage, who helped make the evening a success.

DOWNPATRICK — Fourteen year-old Sheelagh Tumilty, of Ardmeen Green, Downpatrick, has won the Dublin Evening Herald’s Essay Competition for schoolchildren.

Sheelagh, a pupil of St Mary’s High School, took Eamonn de Valera as the subject of her composition. In the course of her 1,200 word essay she wrote: “Without question his place in history is that of the greatest statesman that Europe has produced in the current century. His thoughts transcended party politics to embrace the entire aspiration of the nation.

“The boy whose dream of Ireland filled his waking hours, giving him work for a lifetime; satisfying work promoted by love — to which wholeheartedly applied himself (though at times he must have found the political effort rather a thankless task). In his lifetime, by toil and effort, he achieved more than any other political figure in Europe.

CARRYDUFF — Carryduff housewife Diane Courtney was anything but a bright spark when it came to electricity. The family’s repair work was left to her husband, Tom, until the day the lawnmower packed up.

“Fix it yourself,” he said. So she did. Now the ex-schoolteacher is so good at mending electrical faults many men are asking for her help and she has just been appointed Northern Ireland organiser for the Electrical Association for Women.

As a part-time job she plans to lecture at women’s gatherings and school domestic science classes on elementary electrical know-how.

“Everyone starts from scratch and they’ll be simply taught the basics — mending fuses, properly caring for and cleaning cookers, how to use modern appliances and a guideline on how to economise, which is particularly important nowadays,” Mrs Courtney said.

CLOUGH — Two lambs and a sheep were stolen from the farm of Miss Elsie Hill, of Claragh Road, Clough, on Sunday. A neighbour reported a strange car driving away from the scene.

TABLE TENNIS — Derek McCann is the 1976 Lecale Table Tennis League champion. Showing tremendous form, both in attack and defence, he ousted holder John Magee on the way to his third title.

The doubles title went to Harry Dougherty and Winston McIlwrath, who won in straight sets against McCann and Kenny Burke. Gerard McStay and Ron McQuoid continued their personal duel in the U-17 final, which McStay won after a marathon deciding set.

The success of Stephen Polly in the U-15 event should stimulate interest among the young players of Strangford where there has been a revival this season.

HOCKEY — Nancy Kelly, a sixth form student at Down High School, has been selected to play at left half position for the Ulster Schoolgirls team in an interprovincial competition in Dublin from April 21-23.

Nancy plays for her school first XI and also plays for Ballynahinch Ladies hockey XI. Miss Kenny, PE teacher at Down High, is her coach.