From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 13, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 13, 1973

13 February 2013

DOWNPATRICK — St. Brigid’s Church — a new chapel of ease at Rathkeltair — built at a cost of £40,000, was blessed and dedicated on Sunday afternoon by the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr. William Philbin, in the presence of a large congregation of parishioners and many priests from throughout the diocese.

The church, which is of modern design, has seating for 400 people and should take the pressure off attendances at Mass in St. Patrick’s — the parish’s principal church — on Sunday mornings. The principal celebrant of the Concelebrated Mass at which Dr. Philbin presided, was the parish priest, the Very Rev. Patrick Conway. The other celebrants were the three curates of the parish, Fathers P. McVeigh, Sean Rogan and H. O’Boyle.

Work has already started on the building of another church, to be known as St. Colmcille’s, at the Flying Horse. Soon there will be three churches bearing the names of each of the three saints said to be buried near Down Cathedral.

CARRICKNAB — Mr. and Mrs. Malachy Smyth, of the Four Roads Inn, Carricknab, must be the happiest publicans in Ireland. They have won the first prize — a Honda 600 — in a sales promotion contest run by the Belfast firm of McKenna and McGinley Ltd. Other local prizewinners were Mr. R. Kerr, Bucks Head Inn, Dundrum, and Mr. Hugh Smylie, Hotel Bar, Main Street, Ballynahinch, each of whom won £20.

DUNDRUM — At Dundrum Development Committee’s annual general meeting in the Buck’s Head inn on Tuesday night it was decided that the treasurer, Mr. J. Johnston, should have talks with a representative of the Down County Welfare Committee to press the village’s need for a community centre. It was also decided to make representations to East Down Rural Council concerning the delay in providing playing fields on the new housing estates at Donard Walk.

Concern was expressed by Mr. N. C. Brannigan that the proposed trunk road would run between the village and the sea, thereby cutting off the village from this amenity. Mr. Jarlath Carey praised the work of Mrs. J. Whatmough, who had retired after serving as the committee’s secretary for five years.

CASTLEWELLAN — A Castlewellan man who received a broken forearm in a three-car collision on the morning of Christmas Eve, 1970, was awarded £3,000 in damages in the Ulster High Court this week.

The man, Henry Mooney, who was in one car, sued jointly William Campbell, Rathfriland Road, Dromara, driver, and Samuel David Hanna, Aughnaskeagh, Dromara, owner of a second car, for injuries received in the accident.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Presbyterian Church’s plans to build a row of shops in front of the town’s Roman Catholic Church is proving a big headache for the local urban council.

In a bid to reach a compromise that will meet with the approval of all parties involved, the council have referred the problem, lock, stock and barrel, to the Ministry of Development.

The council feel that, with the reshaping of local government due in October, it would be advisable for the Ministry to deal with the matter directly.

The controversy arose in November of last year when the council granted planning permission for the 17 ft. high shops which the local parish priest, Fr. Hugh O’Neill, claims will screen the front entrance of his church in Main Street. No objections were lodged when the council approved an outline plan for the scheme in September, 1971.

MONEYSCALP — Two .303 rifles and 43 rounds of ammunition were found in a field at Moneyscalp, near Bryansford, by a UDR patrol at the weekend.

CROSSGAR — A Crossgar farmer is one of 99 award winners of this year’s Churchill Travelling Fellowships. He is 27 years old James Kirk and he will be travelling for three months in Europe, studying developments in dairy farming.

A farmer since he left Down High School ten years ago, James concentrates exclusively on dairy farming. He runs 260 acres with a dairy herd of 112 cows, and keeps 150-160 head of young stock, the heifers of which are retained.

BALLYNAHINCH — Two policemen were injured with their patrol car was forced off the Ballynahinch-Downpatrick road on Friday night. An overtaking car, believed to be a Mini, hit the police car’s offside front wing, with the result that the vehicle pulled to the nearside ditch and overturned. The other car did not stop.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Yacht Club’s annual meeting approved plans for the construction of a new clubhouse to be built behind the existing temporary one and increased the annual subion rates, which range from £2 to £10. The building of a new headquarters will be phased over a number of years, with the more urgent facilities being built first.

The present clubhouse has given good service for a number of years, but rust and corrosion are destroying doors and windows. Changing accommodation and showers are required as a basic necessity.

The committee felt this was the time to take a new look at the accommodation and facilities which a growing club should have in the next ten or twenty years.

The conclusion was that a new clubhouse should provide adequate space for club social events, a kitchen, committee room, storage space, etc.

“I feel that the club is on the threshold of a new and expanding future,” Mr. W. J. Carruthers, secretary, said.

NEWCASTLE — Vandals took advantage of a power cut to go on the rampage in Newcastle on Tuesday night, breaking many windows in the Post Office. They also caused similar damage to Maxwell & Neill’s grocery shop and to the vacant factory formerly occupied by Homa Engineering.

STRANGFORD — Strangford Youth Club drama society staged its first production on Sunday, a variety concert in Stella Maris Hall. The venture is a great personal achievement for schoolteacher Nuala Reid, who worked wonders with the young members of the Youth Club.

Compere Cathal Kerr introduced a number of act, including Malachy Magee, Paul Fitzsimons and variety folk dancing which the audience fully appreciated.

The highlight of the evening was the popular Generation Game and among the competitors were Mr. and Mrs. Willie Shields from Strangford.