From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 25, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 25, 1977

25 October 2017

KILLYLEAGH — The wind howled outside the door of Killyleagh Castle as an unearthly figure glided across the ancient hallway. It was the ghost of Lady Alice Moore, a deadly 17th century beauty, who murdered her husband with poison to satisfy her own greed.

Henry, the second Earl of Clanbrassil, had scarcely completed the rebuilding of this Anglo Norman castle before he took the hand of Lady Alice in marriage. It was a misalliance of the first degree.

The couple had only one child, which died in infancy. Lady Alice discovered that her father-in-law, the first Earl of Clanbrassil, had, in the event of his son dying without issue, left his entire estate to five cousins.

Rather than accept her disinheritance, Lady Alice took the law into her own hands and hatched a deadly and dastardly plot which would take her husband to his grave.

With icy calm, she broke into the charter room of Killyleagh Castle, removed the will from its envelope and laughed blackly to herself as she burnt its contents in her bedroom. Shen then forced her husband to make a will of his own, seconding the estate to her and her brother.

The second Earl may have been a weak man, but his mother, the Dowager Countess, was more of a match for Lady Alice. Although she knew nothing of the original will’s disappearance, she distrusted her daughter-in-law and warned her son: “Within three months of the day you sign that you will with your father in the vault of Bangor.”

Foolishly, the second Earl ignored the warning and on March 27, 1674, did as his wife directed and signed the will. He survived three months — but little longer. Early in 1675 he was found poisoned.

So on Halloween night don’t go near Killyleagh Castle if you are of a sensitive or nervous nature. For when the wind moans in the night and all good souls are tucked up in bed, the ghost of Lady Alice Moore, a doomed spirit who can find no rest, may haunt the ancient hallway of the castle where she drove her husband to death.

DOWNPATRICK — On Saturday Sister M Columba Kirkwood celebrates her golden jubilee as a member of the Convent of Mercy in Downpatrick. A special mass and ceremony will be held in the convent to mark the occasion.

It was back in 1920 the Belfast-born girl of 20 years first entered the convent in Downpatrick. She taught in the convent’s primary school in Stream Street for 20 years before taking over the principal’s duties in 1940.

She remained in the principal’s chair for 25 years before retiring in 1965, to be succeeded by Sister Bridget. Sister Columba has not lost interest in the primary school and has spent some time teaching handicapped children.

TOLLYMORE — Drive through the picturesque village of Bryansford on the road to Hilltown and about two miles out, if you are observant, you’ll see a Swiss type log building nestling unobtrusively in the trees of Tollymore Forest Park.

This is Tollymore mountain centre which was established through a Ministry of Education grant by the Central Council of Physical Recreation in 1968 and is owned and managed by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

The purpose of the centre is to provide opportunities whereby people from all walks of life can profit from the experience gained through mountaineering. The centre, through its four very friendly and helpful staff, under the expert guidance of Teddy Hawkins, from Castlewellan, reflects all that is best in mountaineering.

BALLYNAHINCH — Pupils at Ballynahinch Primary School presented a cheque for £150 to Oxfam at their annual harvest services on Friday. Alison Davidson handed over the cheque, the proceeds of money raised by the pupils as a result of Oxfam’s Ear of Corn posters.

The services were held in the school’s hall, which had been decorated for the occasion by the children of P6, together with their teachers. The flowers, fruit and vegetables were brought in by the children.

A short harvest address was given by the Rev N Duncan, of Edengrove Presbyterian Church. After the service the flowers were taken to Grove House, the old people’s home, while the fruit and vegetables were sent to Manor House Home in Lisburn.

STRANGFORD — Mr Alan McDowell, of The Slip, Strangford, has been appointed as principal of Portaferry Primary School.

Mr McDowell began his career in Killyleagh Primary School in 1947. In 1953 he was appointed principal of Tullycore Primary School and when it closed in 1974 he was transferred to the staff of Downpatrick Secondary School.

Mr McDowell will take up his position early in the new year in succession to Mr R I Beckett.

COMBER — Comber’s housing estates are a cut above the average according to the judges in this year’s Best Kept competition. They voted two estates as the best kept in the Newtownards housing district.

Parkway was voted the best kept small estate — those with 16-60 houses — and Mount Alexandra was chosen as the best large estate — those with 60-200 houses. More than 140 estates from all over the province were entered in the competition.

In Down District Saintfield was selected as the best kept village, while Newcastle took the small town award. Downpatrick was named best kept large town, though it had little competition.

CARRYDUFF — Residents of Killynure Avenue in Carryduff will soon need to tell any correspondents that they have a change of address. Castlereagh Borough Council has agreed to a request that the street name be changed to Todd’s Road, the name by which it is known locally.

The agreement of two thirds of the residents, the property owners and the Post Office is expected to make the changeover complete.

BALLYGOWAN — A Ballygowan woman was killed in a road accident last week. Fifty eight year-old Mrs Letitia Shields died when the car in which she was front seat passenger collided with another car near Maryland Crossroads on the Ballygowan-Castlereagh Road.

Carryduff police report that a number of other injury accidents have occurred on this stretch of road and that it is now locally regarded as an accident blackspot.

CASTLEWELLAN — Mr James King, a well-known Castlewellan dairy farmer and cattle dealer, died recently at his home, The Marsh Farm, Bann Road.

For many years he ran a very successful milk delivery business, but in later years he concentrated on raising beef cattle. In his younger days he was a familiar figure at local fairs, often walking to Hilltown or Rathfriland and back on fair days and he was acknowledged as an excellent judge of cattle.

KILKEEL — Thirteen may be an unlucky number for some, but for a schoolgirl the opposite is true. Seventeen year-old Shirley Campbell, a student at Kilkeel High School, has not missed a day at school for the past 13 years.

In recognition of this marvellous achievement the Southern Education and Library Board presented Shirley with an inscribed gold watch, which she received from the Board’s chief officer, Mr W J Dickson, in a ceremony before the teachers and 650 pupils.

This is one schoolgirl who will never have an excuse for being late to class.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar Anglers and Wildfowlers Association organised their final outing of the season to Kilgad Lake, near Kells, Co Antrim, on Saturday. The largest fish of the day, weighing four-and-a-quarter pounds, was landed by Bill Beckett.

The 1977 season has seen the Crossgar club, which has been going for 15 seasons, grow from strength to strength. They are awaiting an order of 3,500 trout to restock their lakes at Crossgar and Killyleagh and have organised an old tyme dance in the War Memorial Hall on November 4 to end the season with a ‘fling’.