From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 26, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 26, 1974

26 February 2014

DUNDRUM — The sincerity of the Roads Service in pursuing a proposal to build a new route to by-pass Dundrum village is to be challenged by Down District Council.

The clerk, Mr. Seamus Byrne, gave the proposal as the reason for the decision by the Department of Agriculture to construct a coastal walk running from the Twelve Arches bridge to a point considerably north of the village.

Mr. Jarlath Carey, the local representative, called upon the authorities to give Dundrum “the kiss of life rather than the kiss of Judas.” He said that the coastal walk scheme was initiated nearly five years ago by the village committee and that the National Trust were prepared to sponsor it.

Negotiations had taken place to acquire the necessary land north and south of the village and the council had been asked to purchase and make available the necessary ground within the village. The scheme made provision for a children’s playground, picnic areas, pavement, repairs to the sea wall, cleaning of the foreshore and removing some old buildings.

Mr. Carey disagreed that the road proposal should endanger the scheme. Even if they only got a few years without further disturbance the scheme would be worthwhile, for Dundrum had very little industry and it had to look to tourists and holiday makers for much of its income.

Everyone agreed that the village was in need of a facelift and better facilities, and this was a scheme which would give considerable employment to local men. If it were shelved, it was no exaggeration to say that the village would be killed.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Round Tablers entertained about 50 senior citizens from Downpatrick, Crossgar, Strangford, Killyleagh and Ballyhornan in Quoile Yacht Club.

After a turkey dinner a full musical programme rounded off a very successful evening. Special guest was Strangford singer Percy Artherton, backed by Adrian Kearney’s electric organ outfit.

This was one of the biggest parties yet organised by the Tablers with numbers far in excess of their previous ventures. As a change, too, they extended invitations mostly to people outside Downpatrick, although there were about 20 invited from the town.

NEWCASTLE — An extensive project on 25 acres of land at Central Promenade in Newcastle is part of a “pleasure and leisure” package of tourist amenity schemes announced by the Minister of Commerce, Mr. John Hume.

Proposals for this area include the provision of car parks, paths and river walks along the Shimna River, shelters, toilet blocks, adventure playgrounds, picnic areas and a miniature golf course.

Negotiations on land acquisition are going on and subject to these work could start on the project in July. It would take an estimated three years to complete all the phases, although the first phase could be ready in late 1975. The scheme is estimated to cost £120,000, and all direct labour work will be carried out by Enterprise Ulster.

Announcing the projects, Mr. Hume said that with the exception of one scheme which is already under way his Department was to provide the total finance for the projects, which he described as an imaginative step towards improving facilities for the people of Northern Ireland and making the area more attractive for the tourist.

BALLYNAHINCH — Police in Ballynahinch are seeking information relating to a hit-and-run accident in the town last Thursday. A Ford Cortina owned by Mr. Ray Martin, of Magheraknock, was struck by a red Mini which emerged from Harmony Road into Main Street. Extensive damage was caused to Mr. Martin’s car.

DRUMAROAD — The County Down finals of the Scor Seachto Ceathair attracted a capacity crowd to Drumaroad Parochial Centre. During the interval the first Ciste Gael draw was made by Mr. Tony Williamson, chairman of the County Down Board and one of the originators of the Scor competitions.

Ciste Gael is the GAA’s new fund-raising project to provide amenities. The proceeds are divided between the County Board and the participating clubs. Two £10 prizes were won by Mrs. Mary Magee, c/o Carryduff GFC, and Mr. Seamus McManus, c/o Saval GFC.

The adjudicators of the Scor competition were all from Belfast. The question master was Mr. John Ritchie; the time keeper was Mr. Peter Brannigan; the score keeper was Mr. Gerry Quinn; the adjudicator was Mr. Seamus McGrattan; and the Fear a Ti was Mr. Harry McEvoy.

CASTLEWELLAN — Mrs. Finlay, an elderly resident of Lower Square, Castlewellan, received injuries when on Sunday night she was knocked down by a motorist as she was crossing the road to her home. She was taken to Downe Hospital for treatment.

NEWCASTLE — Dr. Anne Watts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. R. Watts, Slievemoyne Park, Newcastle, is one of three missionaries returning to Africa. She left on Sunday. She spent six months working in Belfast City Hospital before taking a holiday prior to flying to Malawi, where she will work in a hospital.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick firemen extinguished a blazing car at Downe Hospital car park at 1.15am on Wednesday. The abandoned vehicle was burnt out.

TOILETS — Mr. James Mitchell, Down Council’s works manager, told this week’s meeting that he found the condition of many of the public lavatories in the district “shocking,” even at 11 o’clock in the morning. He said most of the installations were in the charge of part-time caretakers who had other jobs and this meant that he had virtually no means of supervising their work.

If the lavatories were placed in the charge of council employees he could exercise better supervision and ensure that they were opened at eight each morning and closed each night, thereby minimising the risk of damage by vandals.

He was asked to consider the situation sympathetically in regard to use of part-time caretakers and to make the best arrangements he could.

OYSTERS — The revival of the Strangford Lough oyster industry is gaining momentum and if goes well there will be a ready supply of oysters for local and more distant markets later this year. During the past two years the Department of Agriculture has issued a number of oyster licences to private interests intending to take up oyster farming on a commercial basis. At the moment there are ten new applications under consideration.

In common with most Irish sea loughs, oysters are reputed to have provided a commercial fishery in Strangford lough at the beginning of this century, but probably because of over-exploitation wild stocks are now extinct.

As part of its Fisheries Development Programme, the Department is doing exploratory and experimental work on oyster farming. Results so far obtained are encouraging and the Department is satisfied that there are good commercial prospects.

More recently the Department has been involved in assessing the market potential of the processed product. As a result of this, Strangford’s 20th century oysters will not necessarily be eaten in the traditional style of raw on half shell, but may, for example, be served deep fried in batter.

TRIBUTES — Members of Down District Council stood in silent tribute to the memory of Fr. Sylvester McGrady, brother of their vice-chairman, Mr. Edward McGrady, and in memory of Mr. James A. Faulkner, father of Northern Ireland’s Chief Minister, Mr. Brian Faulkner.

Mr. Seamus Fitzsimons, one of Fr. McGrady’s Castlewellan parishioners, said he would be very much missed in the area. The chairman, Mr. Edward McVeigh, said Mr. Faulkner was very well known to him for many years and his service in many fields of activity would be missed.

The clerk, Mr. Seamus Byrne, was asked to convey the council’s sympathy to family relatives.

RECORDER — A Down Recorder advertiser who received more than 40 replies to his invitation to housewives to work for his firm in their own time has expressed his amazement at the response. “Full marks for an excellent service,” he said.

It underlines again what coverage of households really means. And the Recorder goes into nine out of ten.