From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 29, 1977

29 November 2017

DOWNPATRICK — Top representatives of three government departments will be meeting a deputation from Downpatrick this afternoon in a bid to break the deadlock which has held up the development of a new car park in the town’s Scotch Street;

The dispute centres on one building which the Historic Monuments branch of the Department of the Environment has listed as being of architectural importance. It was bought by the old Downpatrick Urban Council in 1972 to be demolished in order to provide an access to a proposed new car park between Scotch Street and English Street.

Since then it has become the property of the Roads Executive, but up to now the Historic Monuments people have resisted all attempts by both the Planning and the Roads Service departments to demolish the building.

This has outraged local traders, who say the new car park is urgently needed to stop the decline in business in their part of the town.

The Downpatrick deputation at today’s meeting will comprise traders from Scotch Street along with representatives of the town’s Chamber of Trade. They will be led by Mr Eddie McGrady, vice-chairman of Down Council.

LOUGHINISLAND — The question of whether or not to demolish an old telephone kiosk at Loughinisland was solved rather abruptly recently when a heavy lorry crashed into it and knocked it into the next field.

However, the driver of the lorry may have done everyone a favour. The Post Office was considering whether or not to demolish the kiosk and replace it with another situated in a more practical area and so the accident has helped make up their mind.

The people of Loughinisland got little use out of the kiosk as it was situated well away from the village, beside a house which already has a telephone. They now stand to get a new public telephone out of the accident.

The Post Office referred the matter to Down Council, who have agreed that the kiosk should not be replaced where it stood. They agreed instead with the GPO’s suggestion that the box be replaced with one at Loughview Cottages.

ARDGLASS — The children of Ardglass and Dunsford could have a lot to look forward to during the winter days if all goes well at a public meeting in St Mary’s Hall, Ardglass, next week,

Two months ago local parents formed a steering committee to investigate the possibility of setting up a youth club in the area. Now the committee’s findings show that there is definitely a need for a club and the public meeting will held to form a youth club management committee.

Representatives from the South Eastern Education and Library Board, Down District Council and the Department of Education will be present and the steering committee will be informing the public of its findings.

The lack of provision for young people in the area bas been evident for some time and recently the local committee studied potential facilities to accommodate a club and possible financial assistance from the South Eastern Area Board.

In a special survey it was also discovered that a large number of local parents are willing to help with youth activities and letters have been circulated to householders in Ardglass and Dunsford.

NEWCASTLE — The new Oakley class lifeboat and Fowler launching tractor will be put into operation in Newcastle on Friday afternoon. The trials are scheduled to start at 2pm and are expected to last for at least three hours.

The Oakley boat should arrive today, but the more modern launching tractor has already arrived at the lifeboat station. The trials have been organised to establish whether the heavier type boat can be operated successfully at Newcastle. At the moment, a Liverpool boat, some four tons lighter, is operated from the Newcastle station.

CASTLEWELLAN — Saturday night saw the end of the line for notorious Castlewellan outlaw Black Jake. Jake met his Waterloo when he happened to tackle a posse of Viking raiders, otherwise known as members of Newcastle Round Table.

The Round Tablers were on their annual ‘Viking Hiking’ — a sponsored bicycle run to raise money for local charities. Their escapade with Black Jake was one of several entertaining stops they made en route to collect money and no doubt Jake’s contribution will go towards a good cause.

They convoy of bikes left Newcastle’s Donard Park and made its way through Dundrum to Clough before going on to Castlewellan and back to Newcastle. They made good progress on the 20-mile run, largely due to the efforts of their pace setter, ten year-old Charles O’Hare.

It isn’t known how much the Tablers raised with their efforts this time, but last year’s Viking run made over £400 for charities.

CROSSGAR — Fifty Crossgar parish Pioneers received gold and silver badges and certificates at the evening service on Sunday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph.

Three Pioneers redefined gold awards — Mrs Elizabeth Moreland, Mrs Anne Degans and Mrs Margaret Morgan. The 47 other winners received silver awards from the parish priest, Father McNugh.

LISTOODER — Listooder and District Ploughing Society’s annual competition attracted a bigger entry and a bigger crowd of spectators than in previous years in spite of the wintry weather.

The competition was held on the lands of Mr Lowry and Mr Young, of Cahard, Saintfield, on Saturday, although at one time it was thought that the heavy frost would force a postponement.

There were eight classes covering the various ploughing skills, including a class for vintage tractors and ploughs which drew much public attention.

The prizes won at this 88th show will be presented at the society’s dinner dance in the Drumkeen Hotel on February 10.

COMBER — A 26 year-old policeman was killed when he accidentally shot himself in his Comber home. Constable Frank Robinson is believed to have been showing his wife and two friends how the weapon worked when it went off.

KILMORE — Kilmore Parish Church benefited by £50 this week, thanks to a ballot organised by a Crossgar woman. The ballot was for a teddy bear and was organised by Miss Ivy McCormick, of The Square, who has been confined to a wheelchair for a number of years.

The draw was made on Friday night and the winner was Sadie Brown, of Westlands, Crossgar.

BALLYNAHINCH — The life and music of the late opera singer, Maria Callas, were described to members of Ballynahinch Business and Professional Women’s Club at their meeting last week.

The guest speaker was Mr Derek Hanna, head of languages at Down High School, who told his audience that Callas was singing principal roles at the age of just 16, such was the quality of her voice, and later sang in the great opera houses of the world, including Covent Garden in London and La Scala in Milan.

SAUL — Saul GFC’s annual dinner dance was held in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, on Friday night. The special guests were the Rev Fr McHugh, of Randalstown, and Donal McCormick and Fergal McCormick, from Warrenpoint.

The clubman of the year award went to Martin Fitzsimons and the senior player of the year award was presented to Sean Stranney. A special presentation was made to Sean McMullan, Ben Ritchie and Brian Curran, who all helped St Patrick’s High School, Downpatrick, win the All-Ireland Colleges’ B final at Croke Park.

TECONNAUGHT — Teconnaught Youth Club and Sports Club held a highly successful bazaar in St Columba’s Hall on Friday night. Over £400 was raised from the sale of a variety of home products, cakes, toys, books and sideshows.

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