From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 14, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 14, 1977

14 June 2017

SHEEPLANDMORE — A Housing Executive bid to buy up land for a road scheme near Ardglass came under fire at a public inquiry in Downpatrick this week.

It seems now that the scheme could become a Northern Ireland test case and it is likely that the inquiry’s findings will not become known for many months.

Housing Executive officials have applied to vest land near St Michael’s Park housing estate at Sheeplandmore, They want to widen the main road near the estate and provide better sight lines at a spot which they consider hazardous.

Two Downpatrick solicitors have demanded that the application for a vesting order should be scrapped.

Mr George Wheeler, appearing for one of the landowners, told the inquiry that the Executive had no function or responsibility to bring the road up to standard, while Mr Michael O’Kane pointed out that no traffic survey of the area had been carried out and he was also amazed to hear that no Government official knew the area’s accident figures.

Earlier the hearing had been told that the scheme involved seizing strips of land from two farmers in the Sheeplandmore area. Mr Gerald Gilchrist and Mr Robert Gill objected to losing a hedge which would be replaced by a wire fence. Both men felt the hedge provided valuable shelter for their livestock and did not want a wire fence.

Mr Gill claimed he had been offered “pitiful compensation” for his land and said that if he had been treated more fairly he might have been able work out something with Government officials.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ten lambs were slaughtered and sixteen injured in the worst ever attack of sheep worrying in the Ballynahinch area.

The attack took place on the lands of Mr James Clements, of Drumaness Road. Two dogs, one thought to be black and white and the other tan, did the damage, chasing the flock all over the field.

This is not the first time Mr Clements has been hit by sheep worrying, as he lost other sheep in isolated incidents throughout the season.

Police are anxious to end the attacks and appeal to dog owners to keep their animals under control, especially at night.

CASTLEWELLAN — A Castlewellan councillor will be meeting planning officials for discussions on the future of a new factory which could bring over 20 jobs to the area.

Mrs Ethel Smyth will be trying to persuade the planners to allow the development of the new factory. Last week the Planning Department turned down an application from Banbridge businessman Mr Brendan Murphy to build a new factory for making pre-cast concrete products at  Clanvaraghan.

The decision sparked off a storm of protest at a meeting of Down Council and led to the proposed meeting between Mrs Smyth and the planning officials.

The application is for a 4,400 sq ft factory to produce such products as gate posts and cattle slats. Mrs Smyth said that the Clanvaraghan site was one of the few suitable areas for this type of factory. She said it had all the necessary requirements including water and sewage.

DOWNPATRICK — Weary residents on the Flying Horse and Model Farm estates in Downpatrick need suffer tired feet no longer.

Ulsterbus have just announced the introduction of a new town service in Downpatrick. The buses will start running immediately the road at the Model Farm is completed and that should be in a matter of weeks.

The new proposals were given a warm welcome by Down councillors this week and on the proposal of Mr Eddie McGrady the council has written a letter of thanks to Ulsterbus.

MOURNES — The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team had to be called out to rescue a 14 year-old Lisburn boy at the weekend. The boy was Gavin Jess, a member of a party from Lisnagarvey Secondary School, who had been trekking along the Annalong Valley on the Devil’s Coach Road.

Unfortunately the party were unequipped for the sudden change in weather and Gavin suffered from bad exposure. A party of climbers from Ardnabannon came across the schoolboys and treated them before leaving to raise the alarm.

They guided the rescue team back to the boys along the Dinny Watergates route. The Northern Ireland Mountain Centre at Tollymore was also notified and joined in the help.

The boy was carried back over several miles on a stretcher where he was met by a waiting ambulance and taken to Downe Hospital where he was kept overnight.

DUNDRUM — Young people form the parishes of Kilmegan and Maghera were confirmed at a service held in St Donard’s Church, Dundrum. The Right Rev G A Quin, Bishop of Down and Dromore, confirmed 22 candidates during a service conducted by the rector, the Rev J D Caldwell.

Miss Linda Connor played the organ. After the service the confirmants and their parents got the chance to meet the Bishop over a cup of tea in the parochial hall.

KILLYLEAGH — A Ballygowan man has been appointed vice-principal of Killyleagh Primary School in succession to Mrs O H Stevenson, who retires this summer. He is Mr Charles O’Fee, who lives at Manse Road, Ravara, and he will take up his new appointment in September.

Mr O’Fee was educated at Bangor Grammar and Sullivan Upper schools and obtained a BA degree at Queen’s University in 1971. He is a keen sportsman and has an interest in coaching school sports during and after school hours. He has also written and produced two short plays and is also keen on horticulture.

SAINTFIELD — The Sunday School Festival of the Parish Church, Saintfield, was held on Sunday. The service was conducted by Rev N Woodrow and Miss Joan Nicholson, a missionary from Rwanda and Burundi, spoke about her work.

Miss Nicholson presented certificates to a number of children for consistent church attendance during 1976 and a special medal was presented to Pamela Lowry for achieving ten years’ consistence attendance. Twenty seven awards were also presented to children for very good attendance at Sunday School.

Other awards presented: William John Davidson Memorial, Heather Woodrow; William Dick Memorial Senior, Alayne Rooney; William Dick Memorial Junior, Lesley Rooney; William Dick Memorial Minor, Morag Baird.

SOCCER — More than 100 people attended Downpatrick Rec’s annual dinner dance in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, when the Border Cup and league championship plaques were handed over to the players. Mr Tommy Thompson, president of Ballymena United, presented the plaques and the individual awards.

These went to Artie Rice, the players’ player of the year; Peter Mulhall, the supporters’ player of the year, Donal Bell, top goal scorer with 35 goals, Stevie Rice, second team player of the year, Malachy Wynn, the second team’s top goal scorer, and Joe Lyttle sen, sportsman of the year.

Downpatrick’s manager, Jim Prior, received an inscribed tray from the club committee and an inscribed tankard from the players in recognition of leading the club to the league championship and Border Cup double.

GAELIC FOOTBALL — Down’s senior footballers are back on the Sam Maguire trail after having given Dr McKenna Cup holders Fermanagh a lesson in the arts and crafts of football to win by an eleven-point margin, 3-9 to 0-7, in Newry on Sunday.

Showing a new courage, a new approach to the game and using the long through punted ball to near perfection, they adapted themselves to the wet and slippery conditions and the longer the game lasted the more pronounced became their superiority.