From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 31, 1973

31 July 2013

KILLOUGH — Killough harbour, at present lying unused and an eyesore on the County Down coastline, is to be made operational again as a colourful and attractive £250,000-plus marina. The crumbling 100 year-old piers at Killough and Coney Island are to be restored as part of a scheme to build a yacht harbour which would be second only to the massive one planned for Killyleagh.

Both the Killough and Killyleagh schemes have been approved in principle by Down County Council and are awaiting approval from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Ministries of Development and Commerce.

The obvious tourist influx to Killough would mean that tourism accommodation such as caravan parks, hotels, picnic sites and shore walks would have to be investigated and also general landscaping of the area. Integrating the harbour with the village would be essential, as would be the preserving of interesting buildings in the area.

The consulting engineers, who say that Killough is one of the finest natural harbours on the County Down coast, believe that with the completion of the marina, the village could be a very attractive centre for tourism in the county.

DOWNPATRICK — The young people of Downpatrick made an unprecedented presentation on Sunday evening when dancing in St. Patrick’s Hall was interrupted to pay a special tribute to Fr. Hugh O’Boyle. Fr. O’Boyle, who was in charge of all activities in the hall, left Downpatrick parish this week to take up an appointment at Ramoan parish, Ballycastle, and the dancing set did not let him go unnoticed.

The popular priest trooped shyly on to the stage amidst a tremendous ovation from the packed hall and to the tune of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow,’ lauded out by the evening’s entertaining group, Teddy Palmer and the Rumble Band. Hall manager, Mr. Jack Smyth, presented Fr. O’Boyle with a cine-camera outfit on behalf of the hall committee and the Downpatrick Youth Movement, who jointly arranged the tribute.

STRANGFORD — The 1st Strangford Scout troop has just returned from their summer camp, which was held at Crawfordsburn, near Helen’s Bay. Although the weather was not too good, it did not stop the Scouts taking part in the many activities, including swimming football, venture trails and cooking.

The Strangford troop played a combined army and scout team at football, winning 4-1. They paid visits to the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra and Bangor indoor swimming pool. They also took part in a five-mile orienteering course and finished third.

The scout leader in charge of the camp was Eric Sullivan. Congratulations to the following scouts on gaining proficiency badges: Robert Maxwell, Julian Sandford, Philip Sandford, Alan Murphy, Colin Murphy, George, James and Richard McKibbin.

DUNDRUM — Dundrum regatta and sports committee have come up with a novel item for their sports day on Saturday, August 18. It’s a man-powered chariot race and they hope to make it as memorable, if not as spectacular, as the original Ben Hur four-legged dash around the Olympic Stadium.

The committee is canvassing for entries who must have chariots built to the design of one presently being constructed by Mr. Gerry McCormack, who suggested the running of the event. Each chariot is drawn by two men with a ‘Ben Hur’ perched atop wielding his whip.

SAINTFIELD — Rev. Fr. Brian Mullan, who was ordained last week by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Philbin, Bishop of Down and Connor, in St. Peter’s Pro-Cathedral, Belfast, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mullan, Saintfield. Fr. Mullan attended the local primary school, Downpatrick CBS and St. Joseph’s College of Education, Belfast, before going on to study for the priesthood at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. He will be attached to his own diocese.

BALLEE — Ann Gilchrist, of Ballybranagh, Ballee, returned to London this week after spending nearly a year working in a training college in Nigeria with the Voluntary Service Overseas organisation. Miss Gilchrist is one of the 1,500 graduates and professionally qualified workers coming home this summer after working with the VSO in developing countries for more than a year.

NEWCASTLE — Seventeen year-old Fiona McCracken will realise an ambition next month when she joins the Sea Cadets Corps sail training bring, Royalist, at Portsmouth. Fiona, of Slieve Corragh Avenue, Newcastle, was one of ten girls chosen from more than 800 candidates to receive a Daily Mirror sailing scholarship for a cruise aboard the square-rigged sailing ship.

Sailing is Fiona’s favourite sport and she is a member of Newcastle Sailing Club, where her father, Robert, is secretary. A pupil at Down High School, Fiona will also be fitted out with sailing hat, trousers, sweater and shoes as part of the scholarship.

STRANGFORD — Nurse Rose Anne McManus, Castle Street, Strangford, was a guest of Her Majesty the Queen at a summer garden party held in Buckingham Palace last Thursday. She was one of two Queen’s district nursing sisters who made the trip from Northern Ireland. Nurse McManus, who has worked in the Strangford area for over 20 years, received her long service medal some time ago.

RAIN — Northern Ireland had the driest June since 1949 and some parts of the province had the lowest rainfall ever recorded. But Belfast Water Commissioners and the Ministry of Agriculture said that while the rainfall was extraordinarily low, there was no cause for alarm.

The Met Office figures for the rainfall all over Northern Ireland in June are 1.6 inches and this compares with the normal June average of 2.8 inches. Particularly dry areas were parts of the Ards peninsula and East Down. Kilkeel, for instance, had only half an inch of rain.

BLOOD — The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service is appealing for the support, not only of old donors, but of new donors in order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals. Any normal healthy person between the age of 18 and 65 years can give blood. It is both painless and harmless and takes only half an hour of the donor’s time, but may mean a lifetime to someone whose life is in danger. The Blood Transfusion Service will visit Saintfield on Monday.

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