From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 29, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 29, 1975

29 July 2015

DOWNPATRICK — This morning we would like you to meet two pensioners struggling to pay their spiralling electricity bills while trying to retain their already diminished standards of living.

The two ladies, 80 year-old Mrs Rhoda Rooney, and Mrs Mary Molloy (70), are tenants of the Housing Executive living at Drumcloon Walk in Downpatrick’s Meadowlands estate.

They are two of a number of pensioners living in a specially set aside row of bungalows who have had their hopes of an ex-gratis payment, aimed at offsetting the burden of the heavy bills, dashed by a letter this week.

Mrs Rooney feels her bills are excessive, yet she does not use the electricity for boiling water, or for cooking. In place of the as-good-as-new cooker installed in a bottled gas cooker. This is used for cooking as well as heating water.

Mrs Molloy now refuses to use electricity for heating or lighting purposes. In her own words she is afraid to because of the possibility of another big bill.

NEWCASTLE — There marquee, specially erected for Newcastle’s Looney Moon Festival, was flattened by gale force winds less than an hour after a dance had finished. Earlier, more than 500 people had packed the marquee on the third night of the town’s festival.

Mr Dick McColgan, festival organiser, said it was extremely fortunate that nobody was in the tent at the time. The huge tent in Donard Park collapsed not long after the dance band, Sunshine, had packed up their equipment and left.

A disco was due to be held later that day and another dance that night. Both events were switched to alternative accommodation and the week got into swing again.

INCH — The clouds of impending closure hanging over Inch Primary School have been swept away this week by a letter from the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s Chief Officer.

Mr F. H. Ebbitt has replied to a strongly worded letter from anxious parents in the area and his message is that in the present circumstances the Board has no intention of pursuing the proposal to close the school.

Parents of children at the school had met after hearing some of the rumours. They were concerned that Inch would follow Bonecastle Primary School, Downpatrick, now closed after parents had received three months’ prior notice.

However, the letter also spells out that Inch is not out of danger permanently. Mr. Ebbitt says that the Board carry out continuing reviews of schools, particularly those where enrolment had received an “unsatisfactory level.”

That small incident apart, it was certainly a swinging week for the thousands of holidaymakers and day trippers.

KILCLIEF — Concern over restriction of public access to Kilclief beach has been expressed by Down councillors. They are further irked by being unable to get “satisfactory service” from their legal advisors, who are to be asked to attend a council meeting.

When Mr Cecil Maxwell asked the clerk if he had anything new to report about the Kilclief problem, Mr Owen O’Connor said that as long ago as February a copy of the Crown Estate Commissioners’ foreshore lease had been sent to the solicitor. Since then three letters had failed to bring a reply.

Mr Maxwell was joined by Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton, Mr Edward McGrady and Mr Sean Quinn in a call for urgent attention to be given to the problem.

PORTAFERRY — People from both sides of Strangford Lough swarmed to Portaferry for six days last week to take part in the action-packed programme which made up gala week. The organisers seemed to have come up with something for everyone, such was the programme drawn up.

The treasure hunts for both children and adults proved popular while the under-10s made good use of the courtesy of Hinds Bros, who put on a free film show. The cinema also staged the bingo sessions.

Open air dancing popped up continually, while the heats and finals of the talent competition went down very well. Peter Tomelty’s junior showtime was a hit, as were the glamorous granny and bonny baby competitions. The car trial were well attended and were sponsored by Quinn Bros and Murphy Jewellers.

Other competitions included the ladies’ egg and spoon races, target golf, penalty prize, 5-a-side football, pitching the sheaf, tossing the wellie boot, pram race and the children’s and adult fancy dress.

CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan Forest Park was thronged with spectators when the annual horse and agricultural show, now in its ninth year, lived up to its ‘greatest one-way show in Ireland’ tag. In fact, a record number of people were present, together with a record number of entries in the various classes. Overseas spectators were numerous, while entries were received from Southern Ireland for the first time.

More than £2,000 in prize money was up for competition with £500 of it going to the new section for Simmental cattle. Imex, of Munich, donated a cow bell for a championship prize and this was won by Mr R. A. McBride, of Derryboye Road, Crossgar.

The show got underway at 10am and the events continued throughout the day. These included horse and pony riding, horse and pony jumping, horse and pony hackney events, young stock, pony breeding, private drive class, beef cattle and milk cattle classes, goats and sheep, sheepdog trials, donkey derby and the nine RDS mare premiums.

There was also a demonstration of the Hampshire Down sheep given by the registered breeders who came mainly from Co Down. 

In the open horse jumping competition, run by the Ulster Riding and Jumping Club and Castlewellan Show Committee, Margie Lowry, from Crossgar, on Abigail, won the jump-off to win a set of Tyrone crystal decanter and glasses presented by Mr F. Walsh.

STRANGFORD — The weather proved unfavourable for Strangford’s Regatta Carnival last week, but it failed to stop the crowds pouring into the village to enjoy all the action. There were all sorts of fun and games for everyone to watch. Pillow fighting over water was a popular event with the tug of war also high on the list.

The fancy dress parade attracted many entrants as usual, as did the sports on the village green. There was music galore with discos and dances the order of the day. One of the highlights of the carnival was the concert given by Ballynahinch Temperance Silver Band who spent an hour playing selections for the vast crowd.

BELL’S HILL — Many of Britain’s top riders will be participating in the Gallagher Tommy Stewart Scramble, organised by Knock Motorcycle Club, at Bell’s Hill, Downpatrick, on Saturday.

Generous financial assistance from Gallaghers has made it possible to attract a star-studded entry list that includes Bob Wright, who has spent most of the season on the Continent taking part in the World 250cc Championship. The clerk of the course is Mr W. Hutton.

CARRYDUFF police have appealed for information to help them in their inquiries into the attempted hijacking of a VG grocery lorry on the Ballylesson Road. Apparently three armed men stopped the lorry, but when the brakes seized they made off in a Cortina without their haul.

KILLINCHY — Three Killinchy Young Farmers have won their way through to the Co Down pig and sheep judging finals by doing well in the area competition staged at Ballywalter recently.  They are Pat Shaw, Sharon White and Max Ervine.

BALLYNAHINCH — A Hereford cross-bred steer, exhibited by Mr W. Reid, Ballynahinch, topped the visual championship in beef classes at Portadown Show and went on to score top marks in the carcass section.