From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 22, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 22, 1976

22 June 2016

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick’s new De La Salle Secondary School was officially opened at concelebrated mass held in the school last Wednesday. Many visiting clergy and De La Salle brothers attended the ceremony and were later entertained to lunch by the school principal, Bro Andrew Gallaher.

The new school, which has now been in operation for more than a year, was the subject of protracted planning discussions. Costing £1m, the highly attractive building consists of four large wings and has many striking features. For example, the technical wing is one of the most advances of its type.

Mass was concelebrated by Canon Patrick Conway, PP, Downpatrick; Fr Peter Forde, CC, Downpatrick, Fr J Rogan, CC, Downpatrick; Fr Marius, CP, Tobar Mhuire; Fr E Coyle, CC, Kilclief; Fr D McHugh, PP, Crossgar; Fr M McAleese,PP, Saul; Fr J McAteer, PP, Killough.

Among the guests were Mr M B Gledhill, Director of Education, Dr Maurice Hayes and Mr Eddie McGrady, chairman of Down District Council. Dr Conway, speaking on behalf of the board of governors, praised the role of the De La Salle Brothers in the advance of education in Downpatrick. 

CASTLEWELLAN — The siting of temporary public toilets in Castlewellan has not met with the approval of a school vice-principal in the town. Mr G Brannigan, of St Malachy’s Primary School, has pointed out that the toilets are to be erected in the corner of the school playground where his 63 pupils romp each day.

This week he put his thoughts on paper and has lodged a formal complaint to Down Council, arguing that the chosen site could hardly be regarded as the most suitable.

However, some councillors thought Mr Brannigan was overstating the case and since the toilets are only to be erected on a temporary basis they decided to go ahead with their plans.

KILCLIEF — A Government veto may be put on plans for the Province’s multi-million nuclear power plant which may have been sited in East Down. Kilclief, near Strangford, was the first sited mentioned in East Down.

The Nuclear Inspectorate in Great Britain, which co-ordinates the entire nuclear programme in the UK, is due to report on a series of proposals submitted by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service.

Experts were expecting the Inspectorate to approve a site by late summer, but now it is thought that Government officials have advised Ministers that it would be “unthinkable” to undertake the massive investment in the present economic climate.

They also recognise that the Province has an over capacity in the electricity industry — with another big oil-fired plant on the way. The Electricity service are keeping tight-lipped on the possible veto.

SAINTFIELD — Traffic queues up to a mile long were the only problem at Saintfield Show on Saturday. The increased entries, new venue and the almost ideal weather conditions all contributed to the most successful show ever held in the area.

Dr Jim McKelvey, show president, said: “Everything worked out exceptionally well. We had a good venue, our entries were up and, of course, there were more people than ever before.”

Mr John Beck, show secretary, said: “We were delighted so many people came and it seems we managed to get everything running smoothly. I think our receipts will prove how successful we have been.”

KILMORE — They started pulling down the old Kilmore Parish Church this week. It was a meticulous operation with each brick carefully numbered before being laboriously chipped to of its resting place.

It’s all part of a plan to find a new home for the church, which is to be the latest addition to the Ulster Folk Museum’s reconstruction of a typical Irish country village in its outdoor park at Cultra. There it will take its place beside an 18th century potter’s house, a thatched cottage, a spade mill with its revolving wheel and a primary school.

The old church, which dates back to 1790, has not been used for the purpose it was created for more than 100 years, although it stands in the parish graveyard. Part of the agreement with the museum is that the graveyard will be disturbed as little as possible when the church is finally moved.

The church was used as a school up to the turn of the century and then as a parochial hall for a short period, but the building has stood idle for quite some time now.

MAGHERA — Maghera Orange Hall was extensive damaged when it caught fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Newcastle firemen were called to the scene and succeeded in getting the fire under control, but the hall was extensively damaged internally.

LISSOWEN — The staff of Lissowen Primary School, near Saintfield, were given a memorable farewell at the weekend as preparations were made to close the school doors for good. the small school, opened in 1909, is to be shut at the end of the present school term in order to centralise the actitivites of a number of small schools in the Saintfield area.

However, there was plenty of life left in the school when past and present pupils, parents and friends gathered to say thank you to the school staff. There was a presentation of beautiful Hummell figurines to Miss Doreen Brown, who joined the school as an assistant teacher 23 years ago and who will leave as acting principal.

There was another presentation to Mrs Ruby Hanvey, school caretaker for 40 years and one of the most popular ladies in the Lissowen area. And there was a presentation to the man most children will remember — Mr Tom Patton, the school patrolman.

Mr William J Finlay, chairman of the school’s management committee, was warm in his praise of those who had helped run the school over the years.

BURRENBRIDGE — A soldier received serious injuries when the saracen in which he was travelling careered off the road at Burrenbridge, near Castlewellan, on Monday morning. He was taken to Downe Hospital, but was later transferred by hospital to Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast. The saracen knocked down a telegraph pole, demolished a wall and ploughed through three garden hedges before coming to rest.

ARDGLASS — Down councillors are to press the Road Services Department into constructing a car park in Ardglass. Already the Ministry men have said they have no current plans in their current financial programme to provide a park, but councillors feel that a joint project can be undertaken.

SEAFORDE — A 57-acre farm at Seaforde has been sold for £66,950. The sale was conducted by Mr Sidney Mawhinney, a Lisburn auctioneer, and the price equates to £1,175 per acre, one of the highest prices paid in the area. Part of the farm has been bought by Mr Brian Faulkner, the former Prime Minister, who lives nearby.

COMBER — More than 200 people attended a ‘Spud and Scallion’ supper in Second Comber Presbyterian Church Hall on Thursday night. On the menu, apart from freshly grown Comber spuds, were meat and scallions, despite the fact that the electricity had been temporarily cut off. The main meal was followed by a selection of home-baked breads, shortbread and tea.

ANNALONG — The 20th annual Mourne Wall Walk, Ireland’s premier mountain walk, will take place over a 22-mile course on Sunday. The hundreds of walkers will start at Rourke’s Park, Annalong.

KILLYLEAGH — Last Sunday saw Children’s Day services at Second Killyleagh Presbyterian Church. The Rev J C Boggs was the speaker at both the morning and evening services.

At the afternoon service the clerk of session, Mr Samuel Simpson, presented silver medals for five years’ full attendance at church to Mark and Alan Lindsay and Christopher Hagan.