From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 4, 1995

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 4, 1995

1 October 2025

DOWNPATRICK – Major renovation work at Denvir’s Hotel in Downpatrick is expected to start next spring, after the owners secured a substantial grant from the Department of Environment.

Cash aid has been made available by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Branch and work on the first phase of a project to restore the hotel to its former glory has been estimated at £140,000.

An initial application for grant-aid was refused because of the number of submissions made to the Department, but thanks  to the lobbying power of South Down MP Eddie McGrady, the owners will soon be able to plot their first step towards restoring the English Street complex.

As a result of Mr McGrady’s dialogue with Environment Minister, Mr Malcolm Moss, the Department was made aware of the key role the hotel plays in the life of the town and its important architectural and historical contribution to the life of Downpatrick.

Another key aspect which Mr McGrady raised with the Minister was the lack and quality of bed accommodation in the Downpatrick area and how cash investment at Denvir’s would help address this.

KILLYLEAGH – Killyleagh’s 25-year campaign for a major new waterfront development could be coming to an end.

Next Monday morning, the wraps are to be taken off a feasibility study which will pave the way for the development of an ambitious multi-million pound scheme.

Up to 150 new jobs are expected to be created by the project which will see the redevelopment and revival of the town’s harbour area.

The promoters of the project, the Killyleagh and District Development Association, say not only will the proposal inject new life into the harbour area, it will also act as a catalyst for major new investment in Killyleagh.

Plans for the first major yacht haven on the shores of Strangford Lough have been included in the ambitious scheme which will feature a number of developments owned and run on behalf of the people of Killyleagh.

But the overall scheme goes well beyond the provision of a new boat park and looks towards helping transform the town to provide a number focus for the next millennium.

QUOILE – A cocktail of deadly acid is being blamed for the most recent ecological disaster which swamped Downpatrick’s Quoile River two weeks ago.

The claim has been made by the Friends of the Earth, which says it has also been able to trace the source of the pollution incident which contaminated a three-mile stretch of the river. 

Group spokesman Keith Bradford says the environmental group carried out an investigation into the pollution incident which killed several hundred watercourse fish and claims he is aware of the company responsible for the leak.

He says that around 7,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid was flushed into the sewer two weeks ago, but has denied suggestions that the acid was neutralised with lime before it found its way into the watercourse.

“There is an ecological time bomb ticking in the Quoile and it is time the Department of Environment and the Fisheries Conservancy Board came clean and told the public of Down District exactly what is going on,” he said.

Mr Bradford said the group believe it was acid which found its way into the watercourse via the sewerage system because of the coffee-coloured water which was evident in the river. 

BALLYHORNAN –  A 200 year-old cannon, recently removed from a shipwreck near Ballyhornan, has been recovered by the Department of the Environment.

The eight foot cannon was part of the wreckage of the gun-running French ship, L’Amitie, which ran aground on rocks near Ballyhornan in 1797. One of the guns, which has remained untouched for two centuries, was fished out of the sea by a local diver and brought to his Ballyhornan home.

However, his catch should have been reported to the Receiver of the Wreck and an urgent appeal for its return was made, both by the Department’s Environment Service, which is responsible for maritime archeology, and local historian and councillor Albert Colmer,

The Department confirmed on Tuesday the cannon was being held by DoE officials on behalf of the Receiver of Wrecks and would undergo preservation treatment before going on display. Under maritime legislation cannons are considered state property.

NEWCASTLE  – Ambitious plans are underway to seek funding for a major seafront development in Newcastle.

The proposals, which are expected to focus around the Newcastle Centre, will also include a new indoor heated swimming pool.

A detailed study, designed to change the face of the resort, had originally centred on a limited promenade development, but the town’s Partnership Board, set up to examine the proposals, has proposed shelving this in favour of an extensive seafront facelift.

Running alongside this, radial proposals, which centre on the Castle Island Parks, could generate private sector investment.

Meanwhile, the Board has already proposed shelving controversial plans for the redevelopment of Donard Park and a working party is expected to meet this week to examine them more closely.

In an effort to get financial backing from Europe, Board members will be urging Down Council to submit an application for their extended seafront development to the Millennium fund.

They have also called for plans to be drawn up and discussions have already been held about the siting of the new pool.

RINGHADDY – A family, who live aboard a boat on Strangford Lough, escaped with minor injuries on Sunday when gas bottles exploded in a fire on another of their boats moored alongside,

Mr Alan McGarvey, who lives afloat at Ringhaddy Sound with his wife, Ray, and sons Andrew and Conor, was scorched around his head and arms as he untied the flaming vessel.

The damaged boat, which contained documents and lots of valuable possessions, sank in deep water as it was being towed into the bowl of the lough in blustery weather by Portaferry lifeboat.

Sunday’s drama began when Mr McGarvey made a radio call to the Coastguard at lunchtime after a solid fuel stove is believed to have ignited clothing in the boat he used as an office and store.

The lifeboat crew soon realised that, with several gas cylinders aboard the burning boat, they would need fire brigade assistance.

Two units were sent from Downpatrick and the lifeboatmen ferried firemen across the few hundred yards of choppy water to the scene with pumps, hoses, cutting gear and first-aid equipment.

KILLYLEAGH – Royal British Legion officials in Killyleagh have unveiled plans to more the town’s War Memorial to a new location in front of the historic castle.

The move has been proposed by branch chairman Gerry Walsh and he has already received the backing of local Legion officials and other RBL branches in the area.

The idea to move the present war memorial from the side of the castle to a more central location has been under consideration for the past number of years, but no firm proposals were ever drawn up.

Mr Walsh says he hopes permission will be given to utilise one of the grass areas in front of the castle which he believes will help made the annual Remembrance Sunday service more of a spectacle.

At present, wreaths are laid at the side of the castle away from the full view of ex-servicemen and those attending the parade and  Mr Walsh believes the plan to move the memorial will be welcomed by everyone in Killyleagh.