From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 27, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 27, 1973

27 November 2013

SAINTFIELD — More than 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes on Monday night after a 50lb. bomb was found in a Saintfield garage. The alarm was raised after a telephone call to Downpatrick police station warned of a car bomb in the area.

A search revealed a cylinder of explosives hidden in a recess at the front of Manus’s garage on the Belfast Road. The surrounding houses were cleared shortly after 11pm and the bomb exploded at 12.20am. Substantial damage was caused to the garage and nearby buildings, and electricity wires were brought down.

Among the many goods ruined in the blast were a number of children’s bicycles, which had already been bought as Christmas presents and left in store until Christmas Eve.

Surveying the damage, Mr. Harold Manus said: “No-one was hurt, and that is the most important thing. But the damage seems to be very substantial. The bomb just exploded in front of us.

“The shop is in a shambles. Everything is covered in debris. The inside of the garage was completely wrecked. All but one of our petrol pumps were put out of action and we are now just trying to get operational in a small way to try and keep going.”

KILCOO — A Kilcoo man and his wife were caught in the blast of a bomb which exploded without warning on Tuesday night on the Upper Hilltown Road. Mr. Joe McCartan and his wife had a miraculous escape when the bomb exploded on the roadside as they drove past.

Mr. McCartan was driving a cattle lorry and his wife was following in their car. The car windscreen was smashed and stones were flung through the lorry roof. The explosion occurred about 5.55pm about two miles outside Bryansford and was heard by local police, who were quickly on the scene.

DOWNPATRICK — Three Downpatrick hairdressers made a highly successful sortie to the All-Ireland L’Oreal Colour Trophy Championship in Dublin on Monday. The three, all from Downtown Shopping Centre’s Salon GiGi finished well up the list of 68 national entries.

The debutante trip who set the large audience talking were Miss Linda McLaughlin, who finished fifth, Mrs. Margaret McCauley, who finished 15th, and Miss Carol Maginn, who finished 22nd. Linda’s wonderful achievement is even more remarkable when one considers that she is not yet qualified.

The show rounded off a hectic fortnight for the hairdressing trip. The previous weekend it was off to London for a three-day course on hair-styling techniques. Then back to the grind on Wednesday and trying to fit in competition preparations between appointments.

The full complement of GiGi staff — a party of 16 — left for Dublin on Monday morning with a full weekend’s work behind them in preparing their different styles. Their models were all selected from regular customers who, with no previous experience, added greatly to the achievement by their almost professional approach. They were Mrs. Mina McNamara, Mrs. Roisin Kelly, and Mrs. Phyllis McAllister. Mrs. Peggy Wilson, beautician, accompanied the party to assist with make-up.

It’s all been a bit of a rush, but we’ve all enjoyed it” said GiGi partner Mrs. McCauley. “The results are fantastic.”

DUNSFORD — The residents of a tiny housing estate at Dunsford, near Ardglass, have once more taken up arms in an attempt to settle the 13-year question of who owns the only entrance to their homes. For no-one will admit responsibility for the 25-yard stretch from the main road into St. Michael’s Park.

And now the road is pitted and scarred to such an extent that residents fear someone may be injured. The road is completely unlit at night and the entrance is shielded by a disused house, making it a hazard for motorists entering and leaving the estate.

The fifteen householders who have signed a petition asking for something to be done about the road have the full support of local councillor Dermot Curran. “I have been trying to find out who is really responsible for this stretch of roadway,” he said.

KILLOUGH — More than 1,000 acres of good agricultural land near Killough are useless for farming because of an inefficient draining system, say irate members of the Downpatrick branch of the Ulster Farmers’ union.

They are irate because of what they allege is departmental inactivity and buck-passing. They accuse of the Ministry of Agriculture’s drainage division of being insensitive to their requirements over many years. In turn, the Ministry says it is pointless to undertake improvement works to the offending floodgates at Strand Lough until the Ministry of Development’s roads executive carried out a road realignment scheme.

Mr. Charles Foy, who said he had been brought up in the area, told the meeting that more than 1,000 acres of good land had become a quagmire because the floodgates were not allowing enough water out to the sea.

“More and more acres are being swallowed up each year,” he claimed. “It will have to be done at some time in the future and the sooner the cheaper for all concerned.”

SHRIGLEY — A 50 year-old Shrigley man, Mr. Herbert Fee, was killed instantly on Tuesday night when he was knocked down by a car. Mr. Fee, an unemployed labourer, was walking on the Derryboy/Killyleagh road shortly after 5pm when the accident occurred.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar Women’s Institute celebrated their 25th anniversary with a diner in the War Memorial Hall on Monday night when an excellent meal was served by the staff of the Oak Grill, Castlewellan. At the inaugural meeting held in September 1948, only five people were present. Today, the membership stands at around seventy.

Mrs. L. McKee, president, in extending warm welcome to all present, especially two former presidents, Mrs. L. B. Purdy and Mrs. J. Buchanan, gave a short synopsis of the various programmes and competitions down the years. Mrs. Purdy, before cutting the anniversary cake, presented a silver cup and wished the Institute all success in the years ahead.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch Temperance Silver Band ladies’ committee organised a guest tea which raised over £300 for new uniforms and equipment. In spite of poor weather, the secondary school gymnasium was filled to capacity on Friday night and after the ladies served a beautiful tea in record time, Mrs. Margaret Caughey, the wife of the band chairman, welcomed the guests.

She said that a number of new members had joined the band in the past year, bringing the membership up to the largest in its history, a most happy state of affairs but nevertheless one which necessitated the purchase of additional uniforms and equipment.

ANNACLOY — The offer of £200 for the family pet would be a temptation for most of us, but not it seems for 14 year-old Shane Rodgers. Shane, who hails from Annacloy, didn’t need a second flatly to refuse the lucrative offer for his Irish Setter, Pegwood Commander.

It’s not really hard to believe. Shane and Pegwood Commander had just romped away with first prize in the Novice class and second in the Graduate class at Dundalk Championship Show.

For the successful pair it was their first ever win and when you’ve been trying for months, what’s money at the moment of triumph! The £200 offer came from a breeder after the show. Says Shane: “He’s the family pet and I wouldn’t sell him for a thousand pounds.”

INCH — Over 70 Cub Scouts from Ardglass, Downpatrick, Inch and Killyleagh held an indoor camp fire at Inch Scout Hall on Friday last. Some sketches were provided by the various packs and the boys learned some new songs.

KILKEEL — An almost forgotten First World War incident in which the bulk of the Kilkeel fishing fleet was sunk by a German submarine is told in the 1974 edition of the Ulster Annual, now on sale at 75 pence.