From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 20, 1978

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 20, 1978

20 June 2018

ARDGLASS —  A stinging snub from the boss of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority over improvements to Ardglass harbour looks like sparking a row with Down councillors.

Councillors had asked the Authority for information on its budget and allocations and had outlined their aim to have Ardglass harbour improvements listed in the Department of Agriculture’s next five-year plan.

However, the reply, which came from back from the Authority, which has its headquarters in Downpatrick, brought surprise and anger.

According to the Authority, the council’s interest in Ardglass had “come too late to serve any useful purpose now that plans for improvements are underway” and that recent publicity over Ardglass could “mislead readers to believe that the Authority’s achievements in bring to fruition its programme for improvements lies elsewhere.”

Council chairman Eddie MdGrady said that the reply “doesn’t enhance relations between the council and the Harbour Authority.”

And local councillor Dermot Curran said that the council wouldn’t accept this from the Authority. “They have given us nothing in Ardglass,” he remarked. We have had nothing for 25 years and are still getting nothing.”

NEWCASTLE — A five year-old Lurgan boy caused a four-hour scare on Sunday when he disappeared from the beach at Down’s Road, Newcastle.

Newcastle police began a full scale search at 4pm when the alarm was raised that young Danny Dolan was missing. Police combed the area for nearly four hours and he was eventually found at Keel Point in Dundrum.

A police spokesman said that the boy had wandered off, wearing only a pair of swimming trunks, and had walked all the way to Dundrum.

DOWNPATRICK — Fears that Downpatrick would lose its status as a courts administration centre in the government’s new shake-up of the Northern Ireland judicial system ere finally quashed this week.

The reorganisation plans will leave the town’s position unchallenged, though one blow for the district is that Newcastle’s Petty Sessions office is to be axed. Its business is to be transferred to Downpatrick.

When the restructuring was first announced it was strongly rumoured that Downpatrick’s position as a Crown and County Court centre was to be transferred to Armagh, but these final proposals have now ruled that out.

Downpatrick will now take on the Petty Sessions business for Newcastle in the same way that it controls the business for Ballynahinch. There will still be a magistrate’s court in Newacastle, though, the local courts in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch will also remain unchanged. County Courts and Crown Courts will continue to be held in Downpatrick.

The restructuring is likely to be well accepted locally now that Downpatrick’s future has been assured.

CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan police discovered an incendiary device, two watches and a mask concealed under a hedge in the town on Saturday. The area was cleared and an army expert made the device harmless before handing it over to police to carry out investigations.

A spokesman for Newcastle and Castlewellan police has warned that there could be other devices about and has appealed for shipowners to keep a look-out to check their premises.

BALLYNAHINCH — The 32 Albion factory workers who set out to get a heart machine for Ballynahinch completed their sponsored walk on Monday night — and then announced that their fund now stands at £4,400.

The walkers, all female, have been overwhelmed by the response to their heart machine appeal fund and are delighted that their original target of £1,500 has almost been trebled.

They set out from the Albion factory on the town’s Antrim Road at 7pm and completed the ten-mile route, which wended its way along Dromore Street, Windmill Street, Windmill Lane, Crossgar Road, Ballylone Road, Glenview Road, Saintfield Road, Belfast Road, Riverside Road and back to the factory.

The first of the walkers arrived back just after 9pm, but some didn’t make it back until 10.30pm. All completed the route.

Mr Hugh McAuley, factory manager, was extremely pleased by the response. “The fund has grown and grown every week,” he said. “Subions and sponsors have been rolling in at an unbelievable pace.

“At the moment we have banked £3,000 from direct subscriptions and another £1,400 has been promised through sponsorship. It may take some time getting in the sponsorship money, so in the meantime we will use the subscriptions to get the first of the machines.”

CROSSGAR — Crossgar should be a tidier place after the Anti-Litter Week activities organised by the village’s community association.

Throughout the week residents of Crossgar and district were encouraged to less litter, keep tidier gardens and even the children were asked to design anti-litter posters.

The finale took place on Saturday evening in the War Memorial Hall, which was gaily decorated with the children’s posters. The judges had a difficult task in deciding which designs should take the prizes. Awards for art and craft items were also made, as were awards for the best kept gardens in housing estates and town lands.

LOUGHISLANDREAVY — Down councillors have taken the gloves off in their fight to have Loughislandreavy reservoir developed as a tourist attraction. They decided this week that they would take the matter up “strongly” with officials at Stormont and if necessary send a deputation to press their views.

The council decision came in an angry mood after members were told that the Department of the Environment had refused to open the lough for public fishing — one of the main planks in the council’s plans to make Loughislandreavy a tourist spot.

The Department instead has decided to grant the fishing rights on the lough to the Belfast Anglers’ Association — a private club. Local councillor Eamon O’Neill said that he was “very annoyed” by the decision and called on other members to press the Department for a change in policy.

“If we are to develop the lough as a tourist and recreation amenity there must be public fishing on it,” he said. “At the moment it seems to me that a Government body is favouring exclusiveness in preference to public use and I would question their responsibilities here.”

TYRELLA — Mr Hadyn Warman, who has been principal of Tyrella Primary School for the last 12 years, is to retire. A Welshman on his 63rd year, he has been living in Northern Ireland for 41 years and now with a degree of reluctance he has decided to return to his homeland.

He took up the post in 1966 when the village school and the old school in Tyrella were amalgamated. “I took the job up as a challenge and that is exactly what it proved to be offer the years,” he said.

“I think I got the post because of my teaching experience with army children because nearly 75% of the pupils are from an army background.

“I have been in this area for nearly 30 years and it has certainly become my home. However, I have decided to return to my place of birth for various reasons.”

COMBER — There was a large turnout on Sunday for a special service to mark the dedication of a new standard by the Comber branch of the Royal British Legion. The Rev W Rowan, branch chairman, conducted the service in Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church and the salute was taken by Sir John Andrews.

SHRIGLEY — Work is expected to begin soon on an extensive facelift for the Shrigley monument. The Housing Executive has announced plans to clean up and repair the monument and landscape the area around it.

The news was welcomed by local councillor Sam Osborne, who said that such a scheme was “very welcome and long overdue.”

CASTLEWARD — A quantity of ammunition was found in a threshing machine at Castleward. Workmen had been renovating the machine when they found the cache. It is believed the ammunition dates back to the Second World War.