Events take place in aid of Declan

Events take place in aid of Declan

29 May 2013

PICTURESQUE gardens outside Downpatrick will be thrown open to the public this Sunday afternoon.

The event at 1 Ballytrustan Road is being hosted by John and Brenda McMullan in aid of the Declan McMullan Trust. The gardens, which stretch across seven acres, will be open from 2pm to 6pm, with admission £5.

The Declan McMullan Trust was launched last last year to raise funds for John and Brenda’s son. In March 2012, Declan suffered a heart attack in which left him brain damaged and suffering from a profound physical disability.

Declan has been in hospital ever since, but thanks to a series of fundraising events, money has been raised to allow his home outside Saintfield to be adapted to allow him to leave hospital to be with his family.

Alteration work is nearly complete and it is hoped that Declan will be home in the near future. Fundraising efforts to assist with Declan’s continued recovery and rehabilitation are continuing, with the latest taking place this weekend at the Ballytrustan Road outside Downpatrick.

The magnificent gardens at Ballytrustan were created by a Dr. Magill over the last five decades of the 20th century who transformed a disused quarry into a large sheltered amphitheatre surrounded by trees and shrubs.

The garden is noted for its collection of rhododendrons, with views into the garden and the surrounding countryside obtained from a circular path through the trees around the quarry rim.

The present owners are rebuilding the house and have carried out considerable peripheral planting of native trees.

The garden is partially suitable for wheelchairs but children must be strictly supervised in view of the dangerous cliff faces.

To get to Ballytrustan, follow the B1 Ardglass Road, but instead of turning right at the Downshire Hospital, continue straight on towards Bishopscourt and Ballyhornan. After Ballyalton, turn left at the next crossroads into Ballytrustan Road and the garden is on the right.