From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 4, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 4, 1974

4 June 2014

KILMORE — Jubilant Unionists attending a meeting in Kilmore only hours after the downfall of the Northern Ireland Executive were warned by loyalist speakers to be ready to face difficult times in the immediate future.

Mr. Harry West, UUUC leader, was joined at the meeting by Eileen Viscountess Brookeborough, Captain Austin Ardill and Assemblymen Cecil Harvey and Herbert Heslip.

Loudspeakers relayed speeches outside to those who were unable to get in. There was no mistaking the mood of the people. It was one of jubilation and hope as the speakers insisted that there should be no let up in the campaign. Bursts of applause punctuated speeches and it was obvious that people were being given what they wanted to hear.

Mr. West, returning thanks for a “magnificent welcome,” said nobody could convince him that Ulster was safe while members of the Executive were travelling to Dublin. It was quite possible that they could have taken with them confidential information relating the cabinet discussions. This sort of thing could not tolerated.

“We have come to a very important day in the history of our country, but it is by no means the end of the road,” he said.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass police moves to beat the bomber following last month’s abortive attack in the village are being hampered by vandals. A number of yellow triangular ‘no waiting’ notices, placed for security reasons in certain areas, have been dumped into the harbour.

Each time they are fished out, the vandals promptly throw them back. This week three of the signs were found burning at the harbour wall and now police fear the vandalism could have far reaching consequences.

It’s been a recurrent happening since the signs were first placed and it could leave the way clear for the bombers to park unnoticed, as they did on May 4 when a bomb-packed car sat outside the Lecale House bar for almost 24 hours.

KILLOUGH — Killough Village Committee have been advised against the formation of vigilante patrols to combat a wave of vandalism that swept through the village.

Inspector Robin Dunlop, of RUC Downpatrick, outlining security matters at the committee’s annual meeting, said that vigilante groups would not provide an answer and urged all residents to advise police immediately if they saw anyone attempting to damage property or act in any other unlawful way.

Sergeant L’Estrange, of RUC Ardglass, regretted that because of a lack of manpower he was unable to spend sufficient time to get to know everyone in the locality and establish the good relationships which the police wanted for the community.

He asked the village committee to give the police every assistance to maintain law and order and said that people who do assist police should not consider themselves as informers. In fact, the police would ensure that no one would become involved if they did not wish to be.

At the election of officers, the follow office-bearers were appointed for the new year: chairman, Mr. E. Nelson; hon. secretary, Mr. G. Wallace Ash; hon. treasurer, Mr. V. Teague. Committee: Messrs. J. Rogan, P. Rogan, A. Weaire, A. Carroll, J. Milligan, S. O’Kane, K. Kaville and T. Teague, Mrs. T. Duffy, Mrs. J. McClean, Rev. M. McHenry, P.P., and Rev. J. Stafford (ex-officio members).

DOWNPATRICK — Ten Downpatrick football enthusiasts are now awaiting confirmation that they have been logged in the Guinness Book of Records as the marathon indoor five-a-side record holders.

The ten completed a remarkable achievement when they sunk on their knees on the floor of the local technical college gymnasium after 65 hours of non-stop football. The ten world beaters are brothers Michael, Tommy and Paddy Kelly, Dave Watson, Mickey Robinson, Cliff Fryer, Kieran Mageean, Laurence McQuoid, Dessie Higgins and Gerard Trainor.

Weeks of preparation culminated at the starting whistle at 5pm on Friday evening and from then until 10am on Monday morning it was a gruelling test of stamina and endurance of the highest calibre. The scenes on Monday morning were those of triumph, but it was straight to bed for players and officials.

QUOILE — The friendly buzzard which was featured in one of four January editions has been killed on a farm at the Quoile. It was first found injured and exhausted in Ballyhossett during the January gales and was source of great interest to local farmers and naturalists during its hospitalisation stay with the Ferguson family.

As the bird’s strength was regained on a diet of pigeons and rabbit supplied by Downpatrick naturalist Stafford Cochrane it was given the freedom of a large barn. The barn doors were left open and eventually it flew out. It soared off and has since been seen regularly in the Finnebrogue estate where it fed mainly on a diet of rabbits.

However, while it was eating a jackdaw at the Quoile it was shot. Local naturalist Bryan Coburn, obviously annoyed by the slaying, said: “The ‘sportsman’ armed with a shotgun, which tests the skill of the shooter at the fast moving snipe, duck or pigeon, murdered this bird as it sat, or perhaps flapped slowly off in an effort to gain air speed.”

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle RNLI’s annual coffee morning and bring and buy sale, held in Newcastle Technical College, received excellent support and the 60-odd places which had been laid were filled for most of the two-hour period of the function. RNLI funds should benefit by over £250 when the final accounts have been closed. This compares with last year’s total of £300 when conditions were normal.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar soccer enthusiast Paul Teggart has a problem — in fact 300 of them — which any self-respecting soccer club would be proud to shoulder. Stacked around the living room of his home in the Westlands estate are more football jerseys, shorts and socks than the average club is likely to keep in stock over a five-year period. But Paul wants rid of them.

Over the past five years he has been the manager of, first one, and then two, teams in the Downpatrick Youth Football League. Each year he insisted his lads were a credit to their name by togging out in well groomed outfits.

So each year Paul bought a new strip and most of the money came out of his own pocket. One particular strip — the Liverpool red — cost him a cool £86.

BALLYKINLAR — Two youths who stole a car from Ballykinlar had only travelled about 400 yards when it spun out of control and crashed into a wall. Both of the youths were injured and had to be taken to hospital.

It is thought they panicked while trying to make a quick escape and lost control on a wide bend at Shore Road. The car, a Morris 1300, belonged to Mr. Bertie Spiers, of Carnacaville, Newcastle, who was visiting friends in Ballykinlar at the time. The car was extensively damaged.

RAFFREY — A big swoop by security forces in the Raffrey area revealed nothing more than two men and three boys out hunting for foxes. Police in Downpatrick received reports of suspicious movements and immediately set a swoop in motion. Roads were sealed off and three helicopters were involved in the operation.

After a check-up the men were found to have legally held guns. A police spokesman said later that the tip-off to the police was given in good faith and this type of public alertness was very welcome by the security forces.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Farming Society’s show has been cancelled and the committee will contact the Show Jumping Association with a view to finding an alternative date. Most suitable dates are already booked and Mr. Edward Lennon, the show secretary, could not say whether or not they would be successful.

This is the first time the show, the oldest in Ireland, has been cancelled since the war.