From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 22, 1972

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 22, 1972

22 August 2012

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle, already hard hit by unemployment, took another body blow this week with the news that the Homa Engineering factory at Castlewellan Road is to close next month. The 18 local people employed there were given notice this week.

The firm’s reasons for pulling out include trouble in the foundry, the dock strike and the increasing antagonism shown by customers to products manufactured in Northern Ireland. The news comes as a severe blow to industrial employment prospects in the area where it is the only factory using male labour. The town’s Albion clothing factory is almost totally reliant on female labour.

Local councillors were told of the impending shut-down on Monday night when the chairman, Mr. A. P. Cairns, read a letter from Homa’s chairman, Mr. W. L. Hewitt.

Referring to last year’s industrial dispute which led to the sacking of 30 foundry workers, Mr. Hewitt said that it had since been impossible to turn the factory into an economically viable unit. He stressed that the decision to pull out had not been taken lightly. “In fact, we have been hanging on day by day since last October hoping for some miracle that would change the situation.”

CASTLEWELLAN — Three men and a woman held up the staff of the Ulster Bank in Castlewellan on Monday morning, stole an undisclosed sum of money, and drove off in the direction of Leitrim. Two getaway vehicles were found abandoned near the Windy Gap. At least two of the raiding party were armed with a sub-machine gun and a pistol.

This is the second time this year that a bank in Castlewellan has been robbed. A few weeks ago, three armed men stole £3,000 from the Ulster Bank’s Newcastle branch. While the Ulster Bank was being raided, three young men and a girl held up the nearby Northern Bank.

ARDGLASS — Residents of Ardglass are to be asked to air their views to whether they wish to have recreational facilities provided near Parkside, the town’s newest housing estate. They are being invited to a public meeting next Wednesday night when their local representative on East Down Rural Council, Mr. John Magee, will ask them what they want done with a five acre meadow site which the council purchased three years ago.

The consensus of opinion would appear to be in favour of ‘The Meadow’ being developed for recreational pursuits, but Mr. Magee wants the clear-cut opinions of the people before he brings the matter up at next month’s meeting of the council.

Councillor Magee says Ardglass has been badly in need of recreational facilities for some time. “There has been quite an increase in housing development over the past ten years — 74 dwellings are in the course of completion at Parkside — and the need for recreational facilities is more evident than ever before.”

KILLINCHY — A 22 year-old motor mechanic from Killinchy was killed on Saturday morning when his car went off the Saintfield-Ballynahinch road and struck a tree. He was Cyril Ross, of Holly Crescent, Ballymacreely. His passenger, Thomas Quinn, of Maymore, Toye, was seriously injured and taken to Downe Hospital’s intensive care unit.

DOWNPATRICK — An ancient gold bracelet worth about £500, part of a hoard found in Downpatrick some years ago by the late Mr. Arthur Pollock, has been stolen from the Ulster Museum. The bracelet, which is of the open type, has the appearance of thick glass wire, the ends of which are slightly beaten out.

It is described as late Bronze Age and dates back to the seventh century BC. It was taken through a crack in a glass case by a thief who used a piece of wire. Anyone with information should contact CID at Donegall Pass police station.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh police were alerted on Saturday when children playing in a garden at a disused house in Frederick Street found three rounds of ammunition. A search revealed over 100 rounds of various ammunition in poor condition.

BALLYNAHINCH — To the man on the street a concrete building block is just another piece of stone. It’s by no means a work of art or an item of great beauty. But to Adam Keag, works manager at a Ballynahinch block-making plant, it’s as beautiful as the finest object d’art that money can buy.

“Block-making is by no means a matter of mixing a little sand, cement and stone and coming out with the finished product,” asserts Adam. “It’s a highly sophisticated technical process,” he said at the massive plant at Messrs W. J. McCormick & Sons quarries at Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, this week.

“Our production run is about 30 blocks a minute, but of need we can certainly increase this figure. I suppose you could say we would produce enough blocks to build a standard size bungalow in three hours.”

STRANGFORD — ‘The Haven’, a period mid-terrace property overlooking Strangford harbour has been sold to a Ballymena businessman for £8,500. Bidding was brisk at the auction in Lisburn conducted by Mr. J. H. Leathart, a specialist in country and farm properties for Messrs Osborne King and Megran.

PORTAFERRY — Country and western dance fans will be delighted to know that there is a big Saturday night hoolie being launched in Portaferry. Tom Doolies is the venue and the late night hoolie will feature the magical sounds of the big country bands every week starting tomorrow.

Speaking of big bands, there is one name exalted above all others in County Down — Colm and the Sundowners. Who better to launch this exciting new over 18s dance but Portaferry’s own stars.