From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 23, 1978

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 23, 1978

23 May 2018

KILLOUGH — Down District’s summer programme will begin this year with a new three-day festival in Killough — the first of its kind to be held in the village for over 80 years.

The festival will begin on Friday, June 9, and will be the first major village gala since 1894 when the  last of the old Killough Regatta and Sports was held.

Included in the programme is a wide range of of sports events and competitions, along with a ‘Bonny Baby’ show, a fancy dress parade and festival dance.

The idea for the festival began with Killough publican Noel Kearney, who uncovered an old programme for the 1894 Regatta owned by local man Jimmy Seeds.

A five-man committee was set up and the whole village was asked to organise events and help obtain sponsorship. On Monday night the final programme included some 20 different events.

“Everyone in the village has come together to organise this programme,” said Mr Pat Conway, one of the committee members and headmaster of a local primary school.

“All shades of opinion and interests have been involved and the villagers have put in some really hard work. Killough has been neglected in the past, but this festival is going to put it back on the map.”

DRUMANESS — A commemorative plaque to Mr Dan Rice, the Drumaness councillor for 22 years, was unveiled by his widow in a ceremony on Tuesday night.

Mrs Rice and other members of the family were guests of Down Council, along with other members of the Drumaness community, at the ceremony.

The council chairman, Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton, welcomed all present to the hall, which, he said, was to commemorate a man “who was the most gentle and charming of people.”

Mr James Magee, who succeeded Mr Rice as the Drumaness area representative on the council, said he could not hope to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps.

BALLYNAHINCH — A new heart machine could soon be installed in Ballynahinch — if the brainwave of one of the town’s factories receives support.

More than 35 girls from the Albion clothing factory on the Antrim Road intend organising a sponsored walk to raise sufficient money to purchase a heart machine for the town.

The walk is to be staged on June 19, but in order to make it a success the girls will have to raise the staggering sum of £1,500.

“It’s a tall order but one that the girls are confident they can overcome,” said Mr Hugh McAuley, manager at the Albion factory. “Providing townspeople subscribe to the cause by sponsoring the girls, there is no reason why the total cannot be raised.

“We’ve already been in touch with the local doctors and they welcome the idea. Now it’s up to the people to subscribe so that the target does not fall short,” he added.

This is not the first time the Albion factory has been involved in raising money for charity. Over the past few years they have succeeded in raising almost £1,000 for Multiple Sclerosis and handicapped children.

NEWCASTLE — The final meeting of the season of Newcastle Home Safety Committee took the form of a social evening on Friday night in the Good Companions Hall.

The chairman, Mr Norman Bicker, welcomed a number of guests who included senior citizens, pupils from St Patrick’s Primary School, Burrenreagh, a Newcastle girl guide and parents.

Mrs E N McDonald, home safety liaison officer for Northern Ireland, presented certificates to those children who had been successful in the recent home safety competition.

SAINTFIELD — Pupils from Saintfield Academy Primary School’s Roundabout Club have been presented with the Save the Children Fund’s golden award.

The award, presented to Roundabout Clubs who have earned 2,000 seals, was made by the Save the Children Fund’s Northern Ireland president.

Under the enthusiastic guidance of their teacher, Mrs Webb, the Saintfield children earned their seals by collecting Green Shield stamps, cigarette coupons, postage stamps and by knitting blankets.

One of the pupils, Karen Patterson, collected £17 with her friends by asking people to guess the weight of a cake baked by her father.

DOWNPATRICK — Sisters at the Convent of Mercy in Downpatrick were numbed at the weekend by the sudden death of their former Mother Superior, Mother Mary Aloysius, on Saturday morning.

Sister Aloysius had been receiving treatment for arthritis, but her death at the age of 70 came as a severe blow to the religious community in Downpatrick. Over 700 people attended the funeral mass in St Colmcille’s Church on Monday.

Sister Mary Aloysius, who was born in Belfast, first entered the Convent of Mercy in Downpatrick as a young woman in 1930.

STRANGFORD — Six cattle have been reported missing from two Strangford farms over the past few days. Five one-and-a-half year-old cattle disappeared from the farm of Mr John McKeating, of Glebe Road, while one black and white Hereford heifer disappeared from the farm of Mr John McMullan, of Drumroe Road. Police are now treating the case as cattle rustling.

Another £43 was raised at a concert given for parents and organised by Miss Cole.

BALLYHORNAN — A considerable sum of money and a quantity of postal orders were stolen when thieves broke into Ballyhornan Post Office in the early hours of Monday morning. The thieves gained entry through a ground floor window and then opened the safe with the key which they found in the premises.

CLOUGH — At a special meeting of First Clough Brownies and Guides on Monday night an adult leadership certificate was presented to a pack leader by the Downpatrick District Commissioner, Mrs D Kernaghan.

The award was presented to Miss Susan Blakely, an assistant guider with the Brownie pack, and she was praised for her dedication to the movement by Miss M Robinson, Brownie leader. Another presentation was made to Brownie Sixer Joanne Richey, who received the Artist Badge

SOCCER— Killyleagh YC’s annual dinner dance and cabaret was held in the Dunmore Hotel on Friday night. After the meal the trophies were presented.

Russell Hagan presented the award for leading goal scorer to Colin Watson. The player of the year for the first team was Noel Collins, who had a great influence on Killyleagh’s improvement towards the end of the season and he received his prize from manager Andy Cranston.

Second team manager Aubrey Houston presented the trophy for player of the year to Chris Hagan and the club chairman, Mr Edward Lennon, handed over the trophy for the most dedicated member to secretary Roy Swail.

Mr Lennon congratulated all those involved in the successful fete last year and expressed the hope that this year’s fete would be an even greater success. He also thanked Lyle Jackson for his excellent match reports.

MOTORCYCLING — Tom Herron, the globetrotting Newcastle road racer, became the undisputed king of the North West 200 when he shattered the lap record over the circuit on Saturday.

Herron’s high speed comeback to the North West left 60,000 sun-soaked fans in no doubt as to his ability.

He romped to a 250cc success, followed it up with a superb Superbike victory and only tyre problems prevented him from an unbelievable treble as he jockeyed in the final race of the day.

In fact, Heron’s trouble came as a result of going too fast! Twice he shattered the lap record in style and was so far in front that he looked home and dry.

But the back tyre began to burn away — so hot was Herron’s racing — and he had to slow down considerably, allowing five others to pass him before the finish.