From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 4, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 4, 1973

4 September 2013

TOURISM — If the East Down coast were anywhere else in the world, ten times more money would be spent on developing its natural amenities for tourism, Mr. Paddy O’Donoghue told Down District Council on Tuesday.

He said he was disappointed to find that only three per cent of the council’s spending in its first half-year was allocated to tourist amenities — just £2,850 for maintenance, publicity and ancillary expenses.

He said all aspects of promoting tourism should be the new council’s primary task and this included the provision of access to the beautiful beaches extending from Kilclief to Newcastle. Very little had been done in this respect so far by any of the local authorities. They should have a survey made, the recommendations costed and a programme of action drawn up.

Agreeing, Mr. Cecil Maxwell said that this part of County Down, which was one of the most attractive in Ireland, was falling behind Antrim and certainly the Republic when it came to the promotion of amenities.

BALLYNAHINCH — The opening of Ballynahinch’s new playing fields will take place tomorrow at 3pm. Rugby, hockey, and soccer clubs will take part and the local sports committee hopes that there will be a good representation to show appreciation to East Down Rural Council which provided the facilities.

The general public, too, are asked to support the event, for this is only the commencement of a programme which is to provide further recreational fields and indoor areas for the youth of Ballynahinch and district.

TECONNAUGHT — There was a crowded congregation in Holy Family Church, Teconnaught, for the concelebrated Requiem Mass for the late Mr. John Braniff, a well-known Annacloy church builder and contractor.

Memories of Mr. Braniff went back to September 26, 1936, when he was handed the trowel for the laying of the foundation stone of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in Clanvaraghan by the late Most Rev. Dr. Mageean. Mr. Braniff also had a hand in the extensive renovations at Drumaroad and St. Colman’s Church, Dunmore, and in the erection of the huge cross and altar in September 1951 on the ancient site of the Franciscan Refuge at Drumaroad.

On his transfer to Kilkeel from Drumaroad, the late Canon Cahill asked Mr. Braniff, of Tullynacree, to erect a suitable oratory in the town where people could pray in worthy surroundings.

The concelebrants included Fr. Patrick Braniff, SMA, brother of the deceased, and Fr. Patrick Moore, SMA.

SHRIGLEY — Miss Helen Watson, of Shrigley, was presented on Sunday by the Rev. J. Harper with a golden medal of the League of Church Loyalty for attending the Sunday services at First Killyleagh Presbyterian Church without missing once. This to our calculation means that Helen attended 520 times and she is setting a very good example to the whole congregation. Well done Helen!

CROSSGAR — Mr. Tom Orr, of Crossgar, chairman of the Northern Ireland Pigs Marketing Board, and Mr. John Loughlin, of the Ulster Farmers’ Union poultry committee, will discuss the impact of the crisis on the pig and poultry industry in BBC-1’s ‘Protein Crisis’ in the farming series on Sunday.

ANNSBOROUGH — Nearly 10,000 sq. ft. of warehousing space, originally used for experimental work with flax, has come up for sale at Annsborough with a price tag of £25,000. The site, which consists of two buildings, is immediately behind the old Annsborough Mill and is owned by Irish Flax Developments Ltd.

INCH — A party of Inch scouts consisting of D. Cockfield, R. Lennon, W. McCorkell, R. Eynon, D. Noon, J. Dickson, R. Campbell, B. Donaldson, A. McMullan and led by Mr. D. Noon and Mr. J. Craig set off recently from the Bloody Bridge, Newcastle, to spend two nights in the Mournes.

The object was that each boy should draw up, provide and cook his own menu, hike at least 35 miles and identify by sight as many mountains as possible using compass and map.

Planning and the right equipment, even on a small expedition like this, are essential and some boys are already trying to find ways to overcome the equipment weight problem before the next trip which, it is hoped, will be in the very near future.

All the boys have shown enthusiasm to have another go. Thanks must be extended to the parents and friends who provided transport to and from Bloody Bridge and made the weekend possible.

DUNDRUM — Concelebrated Mass was offered on Friday evening in Sacred Heart Church, Dundrum, by Fr. Henry Flynn, Fr. William Buckley and Fr. Terence Molyneaux, all from the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, to mark the Silver Jubilee of Fr. Flynn’s ordination to the priesthood, all of which was spent in South Africa. Later that evening, Fr. Flynn was entertained to a dinner in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, by over 100 of his relations, at which a presentation was made.

Before leaving South Africa for a holiday in his home town of Dundrum, Fr. Flynn was entertained by his parishioners and also by the priests of the diocese. His sisters, Sister Mary Helena, CP, Sister Rosaleen, CP, Sister Clare, Assumption Order, and his cousins, Sister Ann, Sister Kevin and Sister Marie Louise, were also among the guests.

KILLYLEAGH — Last Monday’s general meeting of Killyleagh Yacht Club revealed complete opposition to the proposed yacht harbour at Killyleagh. Members deplored the fact that no discussion had taken place with the club before the feasibility study had been finalised.

It was felt that the good will, support and co-operation of the local boating fraternity should have been a prime consideration, but the consultant engineer had chosen to ignore everyone. Members found difficulty in finding any advantages to the club, but there was much adverse comment on the effects of the scheme on membership, mooring space and racing activities.

An inquiry among the members showed that over 90 per cent of them would not use the yacht harbour; a few might if they could afford the charges. It was decided to ask for immediate consultations between the club and Down County Council.

NEWCASTLE — Robert Harrison, of Newcastle, is an employee of the Urban District Council, whose job it is to carry out painting maintenance. The Recorder caught up with him while he was busily furnishing a goalpost with a lick of paint at Donard Park.

A lifelong football enthusiast and Spurs supporter, Bob also believes in supporting a local team. “To keep a local football team together for any length of time has always been difficult,” he says. “There was certainly a good team here a few years ago, but then it seemed to fall away.”

It most assuredly would be a pity if there was no team in Newcastle as they such a ready-made central pitch.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Golf Club has warned the town’s vandals: If we catch you trespassing, don’t expect any mercy. Greens have been torn up, the tractor shed broken into and machinery damaged. The club tractor has been driven round and rammed into a drain.

The club has embarked on a £25,000 extension of the course and is being substantially helped by local contractors who are lending earth-moving machinery. Says secretary, Mr. J. P. Smith: “We are making every effort to see that this behaviour stops. If anything happens to the machinery on loan we will be in terrible trouble.”

All 16 members of the council are making systematic tours of the course in an effort to catch the trouble makers.

VOTES — An extensive ‘get your vote’ campaign is now being mounted throughout Northern Ireland to inform people of the new electoral lists being prepared by the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff.