From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 3, 1979

From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 3, 1979

3 April 2019

DRUMANESS — Friday night was supposed to be a gala occasion at the Park House Inn, Drumaness — the day a world champion was to arrive and take on 16 of the best darts throwers in the area.

The exhibition games between the recently crowned world champion, John Lowe, and local throwers was organised jointly by the Ballynahinch Darts League and the Newtownards league. But when supporters from Newtownards began singing ‘party songs’ the trouble began and it did not end until more than 20 police broke it up.

Chairs, windows and mirrors were smashed in the premises, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage and two ambulances were called from Downpatrick to ferry the injured to Downe Hospital.

The darts games in the main hall were unaffected and Lowe, who proved to be a popular guest, showed his expertise by winning against all 16 opponents.

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch man is believed to have made a £1m bid for the Earl of Clanwilliam’s Monalto estate, but the estate agents handling the sale remain tight-lipped.

A spokesman for Brown McConnell & Co would only say: “I can neither confirm nor deny that this bid has been made.”

He said a number of inquiries have been received both from England and Northern Ireland.

The proper, which includes Montalto House, one of the few remaining stately homes in Ireland, could eventually be sold for more than £1m.

The Earl of Clanwilliam’s 500-acre estate also includes outbuildings and nine cottages.

It is reported that Lord and Lady Clanwilliam are leaving the province to make their new home in England.

DUNDRUM — Down Council’s chief public health officer has withdrawn a threat of legal action against Dundrum Sports Committee.

Mr Frank Nixon had intended issuing legal proceedings against the committee because of the poor state of a proposed playing fields site owned by the committee.

However, Mr Nixon withdrew his threat after inspecting the site on several occasions over the past fortnight when he found the site had been cleaned and tidied.

His decision was accepted by the councillors this week, with the exception of Mrs Ethel Smyth, who said she was “disgusted” by Mr Nixon’s change in attitude towards the site.

She pointed out that she had received more complaints from local residents only last weekend and she felt the council would be neglecting in its duty if it did not act.

She said there was a lot of indiscriminate dumping of old mattresses, cookers, etc, and she wanted the council to go ahead with legal action. However, she could not get a seconder for the proposal.

Mr Patrick Forde supported a new recommendation that no further action should be taken, but that the site should be kept under strict scrutiny.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Special Care School has been renamed Knockevin School.

Knockevin, the gaelic name for a ‘pleasant hill’, was suggested by Mr Jack Magee, of Downpatrick, an Irish historian and lecturer at St Joseph’s College, who was approached by Mrs Iris McBride, head teacher, for suggestions.

“The school is on the top of Racecourse Hill and has a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside, so we felt that the gaelic for a pleasant hill was extremely appropriate,” explained Mrs McBride.

Opened in 1960, the school moved from its original premises in the Southwell Building in English Street to the brand new purpose-built unit at Racecourse Hill in 1970.

The 83 pupils ranging in age from four to 19 are looked after by seven teachers, three nursery attendants and own workshop instructor, assisted by five guide helps, three drivers and a school secretary.

STRANGFORD — Bath night is not much fun for some households in the Strangford and Ballyculter area. The problem is that they cannot get enough water — sometimes even to wash their faces.

The area has always been starved of any real supply, but even the scant rations they have been getting 

over the past couple of years are drying up. Despite being in the middle of one of the wettest winters on record, problems have worsened.

Residents on numerous occasions to the authorities, but nobody seems to know the answer. Water engineers have visited the area many times, but it seems nothing can be done short of a major scheme.

Local councillor John Ritchie said: “It’s odd in these days of flood problems in the area and arguments about a multi-million pound reservoir in the Mournes that we cannot get a normal water supply through to a rural area like Strangford.

KILLYLEAGH — The removal of the parking control zone in Killyleagh has been called for by Killyleagh and District Town Committee.

The monthly meeting of the committee last Thursday evening called upon the police to lift the unattended car parking ban as they felt it was no longer necessary.

The committee have been told by the police that townspeople must ask to have it lifted, but the committee feel that they adequately represent the grassroots opinion and interests of the Killyleagh people.

ANNSBOROUGH — Government departments have stepped in quickly to fight against the threat of future flooding in Annsborough.

A scheme has already started to widen and strengthen the river wall beside the Annsborough housing estate which was deluged when the wall collapsed in December. Government officials have also promised a major maintenance programme on the river.

Local councillor Paddy O’Donoghue described the news as the most constructive to be received by the local council from a Government department. He said that Stormont had seemed to grasp the problem and had outlined action to deal with it.

BALLYGOWAN — The threat of increased petrol prices won’t worry the Rev James Harper, from Ballygowan, for he intends to travel 30 miles on a penny farthing on Easter Tuesday.

The penny farthing is, of course, an old fashioned bicycle and Mr Harper, of Ballygowan Presbyterian Church, intends cycling the 30 miles to help raise money for the church’s  young people and the renovation fund.

It’s not the first time Mr Harper has come up with unusual ideas to help raise money. When ministering in Killyleagh he took part in a sponsored bed push and also cycled on a tandem.

The latest idea has had him out on the roads practising for it’s not an easy job to ride a penny farthing, particularly as it stands six feet high from the ground to the handlebars.

Mr Albert Watson, of Drumreagh, has loaned him the 1890 penny farthing, which was formerly owned by the Mageean family from Ballygowan. Mr Watson is a keen racing cyclist and intends joining Mr Harper 

and young people from the church to take part in the sponsored cycle ride.

PORTAFERRY — An unusual ceremony at Portaferry on Friday saw the launching of two boats by the Secretary of State, Mr Roy Mason.

He became the first Parliamentarian and possibly the first person in the United Kingdom to simultaneously name and launch two boats.

Government, local government and Tourist Board officials, together with interested anglers, fishermen and deep-sea skippers, watched as Mr Mason cracked a bottle of champagne against the bows of the two boats, Sea Vaux and Ocean Vaux.

They are deep-sea angling boats to be operated by Norsemaid Sea Enterprises Ltd, a tourist-orientated venture run by Newtownards businessman Peter Wright and grant-aided by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

TECONNAUGHT — Teconnaught Youth Club held a very successful open night last Friday which was attended by over 100 young people, parents and other members of the public.

Members from Quoile, De La Slle, Killyleagh, St Colman’s and Ballynoe youth clubs took part in several five-a-side football matches, table tennis matches, a netball tournament and a disco dancing competition.

Medals for the various competitions were donated by Magee’s Sports Shop, Downpatrick. The members of Teconnaught Youth Club provided refreshments and the Milk Marketing Board supplied milk for the contestants.