From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 26, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 26, 1977

26 April 2017

CARRICKMANNON — A priest has condemned the terrorists who bombed his church. “This is a community where people live and work together in perfect harmony and if outsiders would just leave us alone we would be fine,” Father J P Downey said.

Fr Downey is the priest of St Joseph’s Church, Carrickmannon, near Ballygowan, which had its front door blown in and five stained glass windows smashed in the blast.

The bell tower of the church, which has recently been repaired at a cost of £900, was also damaged in the attack.

It is believed the raiders lobbed the bomb into the churchyard from their car. A hole was blown in the churchyard and an adjoining derelict schoolhouse was also badly damaged.

Neighbours living beside the church said the explosion happened around 10.40pm and afterwards they heard a car driving away.

Father Downey, who lives in the nearby parochial house, says he is convinced the attack was the work of outsiders.

“Relations in the area are very good and no-one around here would do this,” he said. “But of course there are psychopaths all over the place.”

The parish priest of the Saintfield and Carrickmannon parishes, Father John McCarroll, said he pitied anyone who turned their hate on a church.

STRANGFORD — Motorists may not have to pay the huge 60% increase proposed for the Strangford ferries. A new set of charges which will cut the increases by half have been proposed by a joint deputation of Ards Borough and Down District councillors.

The councillors met with officials of the Department of the Environment, which runs the ferry, at a special meeting in Newtownards and their ideas have been now forwarded to the Department’s headquarters in Belfast.

The councillors’ proposals will mean an increase from the present 35 pence for a car and driver to 45 pence, instead of the 55 pence suggested by the Department earlier this year.

Mr Brendan MacPolin, the Portaferry councillor who spearheaded the fight against the original increases, said he was pleased with the way the discussions had gone.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch Civic Week Committee have called upon the town’s community to play a bigger part in this year’s programme.

Support and participation have always been good at all events, but the committee feel that this year’s programme, which starts on Saturday, May 7, and ends on May 14, deserves even more involvement.

Hugh Miskelly, the Civic Week’s press secretary, told the Recorder that a bigger programme had been drawn up with a host of new events and it was in the interest of the townspeople to make sure that all were supported well.

Community spirit had always been one of Ballynahinch’s strong points, stressed Mr Miskelly, and the aim of the committeee was to encourage and foster these good relations.

“What could be better than to see all the events attracting record entries, record crowds and record interest,” he said.

Lady Clanwilliam will again officially open the Civic Week on the Saturday and immediately afterwards the bonny baby competition will go into full swing.

PORTAFERRY — A young Portaferry man has just finished a three-month labour of love building himself a new boat for lobster fishing. Apprentice joiner Frank Rodgers, of Shore Street, finished the vessel on Saturday and it was launched on Monday night.

Children’s Hope, as the new boat will be called, is Frank’s first attempt at boat-building — but it won’t be his last. Already he is planning a bigger vessel and he hopes to start work on it later this year.

Children’s Hope is 16 feet and two inches long and Frank was assisted in building it by his father, Mr Malachy Rodgers, who is well known in the area as skipper of one of the Strangford ferries.

DOWNPATRICK — A Downpatrick farmer has threatened to gas any rabbits he finds on his land in order to prevent any further damage to his crops.

Mr Dermot MacNabb said he does not want to see the rabbits completely exterminated, but nevertheless feels that something has to be done to control them.

“It is surprising the amount of damage a rabbit can do,” he said. “I believe someone calculated that the eating ability of four rabbits is the equivalent to that of one sheep.

“In this part of the country it has got out of control and become something of a scourge. Something has got to be done.”

Mr MacNabb’s declaration of war on rabbits comes after East Down members of the Ulster Farmers’ Union executive called for action against these animals.

One member said that damage to his land caused by rabbits had cost him thousands of pounds over the years. He agreed that the UFU, along with the Department of Agriculture, should try to find an answer to the problem.

Rabbit problems during the 1950s were solved by the introduction of a killer disease known as myxomatosis, which almost wiped out the rabbit population in under two years.

NEWCASTLE — Customers at Ye Olde Bar in Newcastle must have a generous streak because they have succeeded in raising £524.60 for a children’s home in the town.

Owner Mr Paschal Ranaghan placed a huge ten-gallon glass carboy in his bar over a year ago and customers have been filling it with their bits and pieces of change ever since.

The money was in aid of Ruby House, a home for mentally handicapped children on the Bryansford Road, which was opened recently by Lord Segan.

At a special ceremony in Ye Olde Bar on Thursday evening the carboy was smashed and the numerous coins counted by Mr Durkin and Mr Gribben, from the Allied Irish Bank, Mr Morton, Mr Rankin and Mr Curran, from the Ulster Bank, and Mr Thompson, from Page’s Amusements.

Customers looked on as these men counted the money and the announcement of £524.60 was warmly received by all. The money was then handed over to Mrs Callaghan, from Ruby House, by Mr Ranaghan, who thanked everyone who contributed so generously to the collection.

CASTLEWELLAN — A produce class for the best group of two animals by the same sire is being introduced into the horse section at this year’s Castlewellan Show on July 18.

Mares entered in the premium class must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the show committee have ruled that documents must be produced to prove registration. The committee say there will be few changes in the cattle classes.

RAFFREY — A large number of awards and prizes were presented to members of 1st Raffrey Boys’ Brigade at their annual display.

The inspecting officer, Mr Kenneth Ruddock, Captain 2nd Saintfield Company, was impressed with the boys’ appearance and skill and drill, as were the other guests, Rev R  T Anderson and the company president, Mr John Jackson. Mrs Ruddock made the presentation of awards to the boys.

DRUMANESS — Drumaness A won the Jackie Brannigan Memorial Snooker Cup at the Martin Hall, Shrigley, after defeating Ballynahinch A 3-2 in the final.

The Drumaness team comprised Tom Hanna, Noel Hanna, John Weston, Gerry Rodgers and team captain Jimmy McGivern. In the Ballynahinch team were Brian Barbour, Jimmy McGlone, Gerry Sloan, Pat Davey and George McConnell.

KILLINCHY — The natural beauty of flowers was used to depict the life of Christ in a Festival of Flowers held in Killinchy Presbyterian Church. The festival was opened by the Rev Ruth Patterson and throughout the day almost 1,000 visitors admired the magnificent floral arrangements.