From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 22, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 22, 1977

22 March 2017

DOWNPATRICK — Heavy rain and cold winds failed to put a stop to any part of Downpatrick’s celebration of St Patrick’s Day.

Traditional church services, a youthful look at the saint’s life, the excitement of auto test driving, football, cycling and Irish dancing were just some of the events taking place in the town.

The annual pilgrimage service to Down Cathedral was the religious high point of the day. Church dignitaries representing different religions and backgrounds, including a bishop recently deported from Uganda by General Amin, joined in giving praise to Ireland’s saint.

The Roman Catholic Church was represented by Father Sean Rogan, who read the lesson, and Dr Jack Weir, Moderator, represented the Presbyterian Church. The Rev R Greenwood represented the Methodist Church and the Rev John Crozier the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

Prior to the service Down Council entertained church dignitaries to a special St Patrick’s Day luncheon in Denvir’s Hotel.

Away from the cathedral, Downpatrick’s townspeople helped organise and support a highly successful day of Irish dancing in the Convent Primary School.  On the sports field Downpatrick Youth Football League held their cup finals, the Lions Club and Round Tablers held an auto test and Lecale Cycling Club organised a cycling race.

All in all, a packed St Patrick’s Day for the people of Downpatrick.

BALLYNAHINCH — There has been an unexpected hold-up in progress over a proposed housing estate at Antrim Road in Ballynahinch. Planning permission for the site was suddenly withdrawn from the schedule of planning appellations presented to Down Council this week.

A spokesman for the Planning Department assured councillors that permission had not been refused for the proposed 50 houses on a 5.4 acre site and said the matter was still being actively considered. Apart from that he could make no further comment about the withdrawal.

Mr Eddie McVeigh, the council vice-chairman, said he was “very disappointed” to see that the item had been withdrawn. he said there were about 156 applications for houses in Ballynahinch at the moment and he added that he knew of no other suitable sites in the town for house building.

PORTAFERRY — Coronary victims in Portaferry and the surrounding district will have immediate help in future thanks to the local Lions Club.

Members of the club have raised over £1,600 to buy two new heart machines which can sustain victims of a heart attack until they are taken to hospital. The machines were handed over to the local doctor in Portaferry at a special presentation recently.

Both machines are badly needed in Portaferry, with the nearest hospital 35 minutes away. They are an ECG, which monitors the heart condition, and a defibrillator, which sustains the coronary victims.

Most of the £1,600 was raised by a concert held by the Lions Club in St Columba’s High School in December when Scottish singing star Moira Anderson was the special guest.

TYRELLA — Weekend motorcyclists scrambling on the sand dunes at Tyrella are to get their marching orders. The scramblers were lashed by Down councillors for the damage they are doing to the beach and for the noise they are creating.

Mr Sean Quinn said some way of controlling the problem should be found quickly as Tyrella was too valuable an amenity to lose. He was supported by Mr Cecil Maxwell, who said the police should be asked to “keep an eye” on the beach.

However, the scramblers’ days are numbered because the council’s recreation and tourist committee have already recommend that the Department of Commerce be asked to acquire the area between the two existing accesses immediately.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Glee Singers’ production of ‘Viva Mexico’ is currently packing ‘em in at the Annesley Hall where it is presented every evening this week. Monday’s gala performance in aid of Multiple Sclerosis raised a total of £200 from audience takings and sponsorship.

The excellent performances which the Glee singers have been turning in each evening have more than vindicated the confidence placed in them by the sponsors. Under the production of Angela Bradley and the musical direction of John Scullion, this experienced troupe have recaptured the verge and excitement of Latin America.

Bella senorita Racquelita has been more than ably portrayed by a high-spirited Aline Hanna, whose singing proved a high point of the evening. The leading man, Ramon, is portrayed by John Scullion, who copes admirably with this double-sided character who eventually casts aside his bandit’s cloak to win the hand of the lovely Racquelita.

Cast, chorus and dancers have combined to present a vivid, eye-catching show which the Glee singers mark down as yet another of their long string of successes.

KILLYLEAGH — An antique and fine art auction of 288 items in the Dunmore Hotel raised almost £9,000. The most expensive item was a solid silver tea service which sold for £600, while a J H Craig oil painting was sold for £450.

Most of the 60 people who attended the auction came from the surrounding area, although one big buyer travelled over from Yorkshire for the event. The auctioneers, J H McKeague and Co, were well pleased with the evening’s sale.

KILMORE — Lying in the grounds of the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra there is a pile of stones which represents the entire remains of the old Church of Ireland church at Kilmore.

The church, which stood for almost two centuries at Kilmore, was demolished stone by stone in 1976 and is to be rebuilt in the grounds of the museum.

The church will be one of the centrepieces of a whole village, which researchers at the museum are intending to crate in an endeavour to capture the real flavour of life in Ulster in the 1700s and 1800s.

STRANGFORD — Problems over land boundaries and development costs mean that Down Council will no longer be buying the old Strangford Sailing Club premises. The council had hoped to turn the premises into a community centre, but now they are to consider using a prefabricated building instead.

Announcing the decision, local councillor John Ritchie said the council had taken with the decision with regret.

DRUMANESS — Down councillors have ordered their works manager to draw up an immediate report on the senior soccer pitch in Drumaness. This follows complaints by footballers that loose stones have caused many serious injuries in recent games.

Indeed so bad has the problem become that there has been speculation that the pitch might be closed by the Amateur  League.

HILLSBOROUGH — Troops and police lined the streets of Hillsborough as Princess Anne arrived at Hillsborough Castle by helicopter. The princess, who was met by the Lord Lieutenant of Co Down, Lord Clanwilliam, from Ballynahinch, was in the province to attend the Save the Children Fund’s spring meeting and to meet organisers of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal.

LEITRIM — Leitrim GAC held its annual dinner and presentation of prizes in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle.

Willie Doyle won the player of the year award and Gerard McCartan the junior player of the year award. Bernadette Brown received the camogie personality of the year award and Michael McCartan the hurler of the year award. Charlie Keown was presented with the East Down club of the year award and Fr Mooney presented the clubman of the year award to P J McGee.