From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 12, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 12, 1993

10 May 2023

DRUMANESS — Police are probing a claim that a Loyalist terrorist group was responsible for an arson attack on Drumaness Gaelic Club last weekend.

The botched attempt to burn down the club was claimed by the Red Hand Commandos in a coded message on Monday morning. Two days ago, the same group claimed responsibility for destroying GAA premises at Ballycran, near Kircubbin.

After being informed of the attack on their Crawfordstown Road premises, relieved club members discovered that the attempt to ignite the isolated building had failed.

Police are working on the theory that after breaking a rear window and spraying a seated alcove area with petrol, the terrorists made off without making sure if their mission was a success.

Scorch marks  at the rear of the building suggest that the terrorists could have been disturbed before they could established if the fire had taken hold. A follow up search by RUC forensic experts uncovered two plastic containers which still had some petrol in them.

And it has emerged that the arson attack was the second setback for Drumaness officials last weekend.

During the early hours of last Friday morning, the club was targeted by vandals who forced their way into the club via the roof.

Once inside, they smashed their way into the bar and rifled a cigarette machine before making off with an undisclosed sum of money.

BISHOPSCOURT — An environmental impact study has backed a planned £3m development of the former Bishopscourt RAF site as having “very substantial benefits.”

The study, compiled by five specialist consultants, claims the plan to transform the former airfield into a major motorcycle, kart and saloon car racing circuit and equestrian centre would be of considerable overall environmental benefit.

The study also claims the development would be a major tourist attraction and when fully operational, would create 48 full and part-time jobs as well as 50 construction jobs during an 18-month development programme.

The report was drawn up by Queen’s University lecturer, Dr P L Braniff, and will be used as the major plank for a planning application which includes doubling the number of motor racing days to 28.

One of the largest sections of the report deals with the noise such a major development project would generate, and comes to the conclusion that noise levels would be “reasonable” parameters.

KILLOUGH — The wraps have this week been taken off a plan to develop a £1m maritime interpretative centre in Killough, and the men behind the scheme are confident it will prove a bit hit with tourists and local people alike.

The centre, which will seek to describe and explain the sea-faring history of the Co Down coast, is the brainchild of local councillor Malachi Curran, who runs a business in the village.

He says it has been designed to fit into an overall strategy to establish the local coastline as a major tourist attraction.

Unveiling details of the scheme, which is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors after three years in operation, Mr Curran claimed the centre would have wider social and economic consequences  for the village.

CROSSGAR – Crossgar’s newest golf attraction owes it origins not to top courses such as Gleneagles, Royal Belfast or St Andrews, but to a rocky pitch ’n’ putt which showed it was possible to tee-off on the roughest of sites.

John Cuffey, owner of the nine-hole, 45-acre site on the Derryboye Road, said the idea come about because he was in Donegal in the middle of nowhere, when he came across and pitch ’n’ putt course in a remote area. 

“I though it was  very good use of rough land, and then realised that I could build a course here which would be better,” He did his own feasibility study to confirm the demand, and then smoothed and re-seeded the ex-grazing land into rolling fairways and pristine greens.

What means it all the more surprising is that John had done all the work himself, with the help of his brother’s landscaping design service, and he said the opening match could be played as soon as July.

Initially, he was not sure the the course, which is close to residential developments, would get planning permission. Down Council agreed with his proposal that it was needed because of lack of facilities in the Crossgar area.

BALLYNAHINCH — Planners are considering shifting the Royal British Legion’s headquarters in Ballynahinch — but Legion officials are in the dark about the move.

The DoE Planning Service is examining the possibility of transferring the Legion hall in the town to make way for a redevelopment programme at the Fair Green.

However, branch officials  are completely unaware of the plan and have not been approached by anyone from the Planning Service.

It is believed that the suggested scheme would involve moving the Legion hall to another location in the town and building a water fountain and pathway on the existing site.

Details of the scheme emerged at a recent meeting between senior planners and representatives of Ballynahinch Chamber of Commerce.

But the chairman of the local Legion branch, Mr Robert McClements, said he was unaware of any such plan. “This is the first I have heard of it,” he remarked.

“I have not been approached by anyone from the Planning Service, nor have I been offered anything,” Mr Clements added.

NEWCASTLE — A new committee meets in Newcastle later this week to formulate an enhancement and improvement plan for the town to take it into the 21st century.

The meeting of the Newcastle Enhancement Committee has been called by the town’s SDLP councillor, Mr Michael Boyd. The group was formed last year following a numb er of controversial decisions by local planning chiefs.

Group members include local councillors, Down Council officers, Chamber of Commerce officials and senior DOE representatives.

The committee will operate under the umbrella of the local council’s recently established partnership programme, a forum created for local chambers of commerce and community committee.

CASTLEWARD – Next Saturday’s five-mile walk through Castleward estate is expected to raise thousands of pounds for the Northern Ireland Hospice.

It is being organised by the Strangford and Ardglass Hospice Support Group, who last year generated over £4,000 from the event.

A good turnout of people is expected to assemble at Castleward farmyard car park at 10am.

Walk organiser, Mr Alan Johnston, has contacted local schools in his bid to encourage support.

He hopes that, regardless of weather conditions, many people will be keen enough to spend a few hours in pleasant surroundings to aid of the country’s most worthy causes.

KILLINCHY – Killinchy’s Hayley McBride was one of the winners in the Co Down Young Farmers’ Clubs hostess competition.

Hayley came tops in the U-18 section of the competition which was held at  Ballynahinch College of Further Education recently.

Competitors were asked to prepare and present a packed lunch for a farmer to take to the field and a salad 

for a woman coming home from a day at the office.

The dishes had to be carefully thought out, taking nutritional value into consideration, and competitors also had to answer a written questionnaire on health, home management and hygiene.