Book delves into the history around Strangford

Book delves into the history around Strangford

11 December 2019

INVERBRENA Local History Group has launched the latest edition of its annual magazine — just in time for Christmas.

Memories From Inverbrena: Strangford 2019 features a selection of memories, stories, histories and photographs of people and places within the Strangford area, preserved for future generations. 

The magazine includes an article by Michael McConville in which he chronicles the history of the the local parish drama club during the 1940s and 1950s, including a selection of photographs of local amateur actors and actresses who participated in some of the popular well received productions.

In his second article in this year’s publication, Michael remembers happy days potato picking, recalling how everyone worked together as a team, both boys and girls, and all getting the same pay at the end of the day.

Melanie Hamill puts pen to paper to provide an invaluable record of her splendid conversion of Strangford Presbyterian Church, earning it the prestigious 2019 Heritage Angel award for Best Rescue of a Historic Building Or Place for projects under £2 million. The building has also recently been awarded 5 stars by the Northern Irish Tourist Board.

Eamon McMullan, with his wonderful gift for storytelling, charms readers with his tale of ‘The Little Folk of Kilclief By The Silent Sea’, revealing to us all how the Chimney Rocks “really” came in to existence.

He also delights with his poem, ‘The Fairy Festival’, when the Little People came to sing, dance and play about Killard banks. Eamon also reminiscences about his joyful memories of ‘A Village Childhood’ in Strangford — his first friends, their pastimes, of when he became “affluent”, less positive aspects and adventures, earning a “bob” and of time spent as a “reluctant” Christian.

Michael Howland from Ardglass takes a look at the history of the lighthouse on Rock Angus, investigating why the Ballast Board erected a lighthouse there but for some inexplicable reason did not place any light on it, resulting in shipwrecks occurring in its vicinity. It was not until 1983 that a light was fitted, giving a red flash every five seconds, being converted to solar power in 2000.

Maurice Denvir relates how the idea of a community garden in Kilclief was first mooted and how the formation of the Kilclief Residents Association was instrumental in bringing the original idea to fruition.

He details the various stages, from the clearance of the site to its eventual transformation into the garden that exists today, something that would not have been possible without input from the many volunteers within the surrounding community who so generously offered their services

In ‘Memories of The SS Georgetown Victory’, Eddie Wright (now deceased) from Swindon vividly recalls the day in April 1946 when he was aboard the ship when it ran aground on Killard Rocks.

He remembers that following their rescue from the ship local farmers transported them to RAF coaches which drove them to the local airfield for breakfast. Later an Army convoy took them to Belfast Army barracks and at midnight on April 30 several hundred boarded an ordinary passenger steamer to Glasgow — which was their original destination.

Joan Magee and Robert Connolly write about the history of Killard Point radar station, which was part of the RAF Bishopscourt complex and a key feature of the UK’s air defence network until its eventual closure in 1978.

‘The Little Sisters of Jesus in Northern Ireland: The First 25 Years 1994-2019, is an article by Jocelyne, Emiko and Helene, of the Little Sisters of Jesus, who have just recently relocated from Bishopscourt to Belfast. Their story tells us a little about community members and explains their decision to finally relocate to Belfast.

Also included in this years edition is a reproduction of a Kilclief Gaelic Athletic Club souvenir programme from 1968, which includes addresses to Raymond McConville and to Carmel Reid, who achieved success with 

the Down Gaelic football and camogie teams.

Inverbrena Local History Group would be delighted to welcome members. The group meets on the third Friday of each month in the Inverbrena Hall in Strangford at 8pm. Those who are unable to commit to attending the monthly meetings are invited to contribute articles or photographs to future publications. 

Memories From Inverbrena: Strangford 2019 can be purchased from Kevin Og’s shop in Strangford, priced £12, or by contacting the group directly at inverbrena@hotmail.co.uk