From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 12, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 12, 1975

12 August 2015

ARDGLASS — The patience of Ardglass fishermen snapped again this week as boat skippers, salesmen, professors and packers faced delays of up to four hours to unload herring catches.

A meeting is to be held over the weekend to discuss the situation and it thought a dossier of complaints, complete with photographs of this week’s harbour scene, will be sent to the Minister responsible for the Department of Agriculture.

An invitation had sent this week to the Minister to come and view the state of the harbour at low tide — a predicament many believe could lead to a massive sales slump. However, there was no Stormont visitor, just a Downpatrick photographer hired by the fishermen to capture the scene. The fishermen hope that his photographs will prove conclusively that something must be done — and done quickly.

In March this year the Recorder reported on the fishermen’s fears that catches could be landed elsewhere because of the harbour’s lack of deep water to accommodate any more than a handful of boats at all states or the tide. 

According to many of those involved in the industry, the only answer lies in a deepening of the water by the quayside. Dredging apart, many are convinced of the need for a new herring jetty to be built.

One fisherman summed it up this week when he told one of our reporters: “We are simply fed up. Some people might find it hard to believe that the problem can be so acute, but you only have to be in Ardglass to see the mess.”

CASTLEWELLAN — An elderly couple had a miraculous escape from serious injury and possible death when a bomb exploded outside their Castlewellan home.

The couple, who are in their late 70s, were sleeping in their terraced house at Blue Row when a bomb estimated to be between five and eight pounds exploded at their front door where it had been planted by the bombers.

The blast severely damaged the home, as well as houses on either side of the target. No warning was given before the explosion. Families in their night clothes gathered round as a local doctor treated the elderly couple at the scene for shock. Fortunately, no-one else was injured.

The couple have been left homeless and are now staying with friends. As yet no organisation has claimed responsibility for the bomb.

KILLYLEAGH — Tough TV cop Kojak is to have his bald head immortalised in Irish linen this autumn — and more than 200 workers in Killyleagh and Annsborough could be helping to spread to the fame of cheroot smoking Greek-American.

The Ulster Weaving Company, with works in both towns, hope to have a new range of tea towel ‘faces’ on the world market within the next two months. Teenage heroes the Bay City Rollers will also be featured in the new range, as will the BBC disc jockeys. The company previously marketed towels with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, so it is not a new idea.

The former Killyleagh Flax Spinning Company and James Murland, the bleaching and dyeing works at Annsborough are part of the Ulster Weaving Company’s set-up. More than £250,000 worth of modern machinery has been installed at the Killyleagh works, making it one of the most up to date plants in Ireland.

The workers a the two factories come in for a lot of praise from the company. One of the firm’s directors, Mr Peter Larmor, said the two workforces were “first class.”

NEWCASTLE — Bathers at Bloody Bridge in Newcastle on Sunday beat a hasty retreat when sharks were sighted in the water. People on higher ground saw three sharks further out in the sea and shouted warnings to people bathing near to the beach.

DOWNPATRICK — Stewart Ritchie and his wife Elizabeth certainly felt good to be back n Downpatrick after 16 years’ exile in Toronto, Canada. Not surprisingly, his first call was to his parents, Mr and Mrs Jock Ritchie, of Irish Street.

Not surprisingly also, Stewart has noticed quite a few changes, but although the town he left is no longer the same, he vows to come back for good.

KILLOUGH — Killough’s annual sports day was launched by the local accordion band leading a fancy dress parade through the village in blazing sunshine on Sunday. Close finishers in the sports events and a lot of fun in the novelty races meant a feast of entertainment for the spectators.

Rivalry was also keen in the boys football competition eventually won by Legamaddy. In the seven-a-side ladies match the tables were turned with Killough the victors over Legamaddy.

BALLYNAHINCH — The crowds should be flocking to Ballynahinch on September 5 and 6 – for that is the weekend the town is to hold its own mini festival, More than 20 events have been planned for the two-day festival – the first to be held in the town for a number of years.

Prize money of more than £28 will ensure that the ever popular pram race is one of the major successes of the weekend. Big prize money is also on offer in the waiters’ race and the car driving test.

Other attractions should be customary fancy dress parade and a novelty eating and drinking competition at the Square. The organisers have also lined up a welly boot throwing contest, a goat show and a dog obedience demonstration.

There is also a road safety contest, a best kept estate garden and a best dressed shop window competition. A variety of sporting events is also in store for the athletically minded during the weekend.

LISTOODER — Two doctors who rescued Jews from persecution in Europe during the Second World War are to speak and show slides at Listooder on Monday evening. Dr and Mrs J S Hook will give their illustrated lecture of ‘Israel Today’ in the Listooder Mission Hall.

CONEY ISLAND — A sum of money was stolen from the home of Mrs Maginn, Coney Island, last Thursday morning. Police say the thief gained entrance through an unbarred back door. On the same mooring money was also stolen from a boat at Ardglass harbour.

PORTAFERRY — Portaferry Camera Club are to be congratulated on an interesting and unusual show staged during Gala Week. Entitled ‘Those Were the Day,’ this photographic history of Portaferry and the surrounding district was greeted with great enthusiasm by both young and old.

The show, which ran for an hour, was shown twice nightly to packed houses. Unfortunately, some people were still unable to see it, but the club have promised there will be a chance to see it again during the winter.

INCH — Sightseeing from a canal boat and exploring a 200 acre park by bicycle were highlights of Inch scout troop’s recent visit to Amsterdam. The 25 scouts and four leaders left home on July 23 and travelled to the Dutch capital via Stranraer and Harwich.

Their destination was a large scouting centre just south of the city where they had their own large hut. Facilities were need far off with a shopping centre within ten minutes’s walk and a massive swimming complex only 25 minutes away by foot.

QUOILE — A dull morning last Wednesday at the Quoile Basin, Downpatrick, did not deter Belfast angler Ronnie McAleese from catching 63 fish weighing a total of almost 47 pounds. Using maggots, Ronnie landed 58 rudd totalling 40lbs and five rainbow trout.

BALLYGALGET —In the beautiful setting of St Patrick’s Park, Portaferry, on Sunday underdogs Ballygalget beat the odds and defending champions Ballygalget by 1-10 to 1-9 in a thrill-a-minute game that had the fans cheering right to the final whistle and produced the greatest hurling county final of all time.

No county champions have succeeded in retaining their title and the sequence was continued as Ballygalget produced a scoring burst in the final ten minutes to brush aside the Ballycran side and so regain a title they last held in 1973.