From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 10, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 10, 1974

10 December 2014

DOWNPATRICK — Work on Downpatrick’s major sports complex will begin within the next 12 months. This emerged from a high-powered meeting of Ministry and local council officials last week.

With the scheme over two years on the Ministry’s long finger, it will certainly come as something of a shock to local community leaders that the green light has come.

When the calendar turns into 1975 Down Council will have the money to spend on their most ambitious project. The next step will be for the council to get their architects weaving on the preparation of final working drawings and phase one of the scheme then goes to tender. Actual work could begin in the autumn.

Phase one is expected to take on provision of a swimming pool, squash courts, cafeteria facilities, all engineering and plant works, with the possibility of a general purpose area.

The news was delivered on Monday night to the first full sitting of councillors for many months and all 20 members seemed more than pleased by the decision. Not unnaturally, it was the Downpatrick councillors who hogged the limelight.

Mr. E. K. McGrady, council chairman, didn’t attempt to hide the obvious signs of being a happy man as he congratulated the people who, down the years, had helped to bring the scheme to fulfilment. Mr. John Ritchie felt the decision was splendid news, while Mr. Cecil Maxwell congratulated everyone involved and paid a special tribute to Mr. McGrady for all his efforts.

KILLOUGH — Members of Killough Village Committee have welcomed the proposal from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to build 19 new houses in the village next year. At their meeting on Tuesday night it was unanimously decided that they should press the importance of giving priority to local people in need of them.

CASTLEWELLAN — The name of Castlewellan will be known in the four corners of the world thanks to a tree named after the town by Green Leaf Nurseries of Tandragee.

The consortium were asked to provide plants for the Northern Ireland stand at a recent exhibition in Paris and when the ‘Castlewellan Gold’, as it is known, appeared on the stand enquiries rolled in to see where it could be obtained.

Over £2,500 of an order has been placed for the firm to carry out before Christmas, while an order for £22,000 has to be filled for autumn of next year.

With most of the cuttings of the ‘Castlewellan Gold’ belonging to the six-man consortium, plans are in the pipeline to establish the hardiness of the tree abroad. To this end specimens have been sent to places as far afield as Iran, USA, Norway and New Zealand.

BISHOPSCOURT — Speculation over the future of the RAF base at Bishopscourt was still mounting last night after a speech by the Defence Minister, Mr. Roy Mason, on Monday. However, although Mr. Mason has still to specify which 12 bases he will close, it was thought that Bishopscourt and Ulster’s other base at Aldergrove will survive the purge.

BALLYNAHINCH — The first indoor horse race meeting of the year was held at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel on Monday. No real horses showed up at the foyer, just the man with his suitcase of films. For the hotel’s large function room had been hired out by the members of Loughinisland gaelic club to run a ‘night at the races’ to raise needed funds.

The function is a relatively new one in Northern Ireland, but evenings such as these have been held in America and other parts of the world for quite some time Several races are shown, with members of the club ‘owning’ a horse in the race for the night. If it wins they take away a handsome trophy and the proceeds go to the club.

John Brennan, from Downpatrick, thought it was a good night, while Mr. and Mrs. Liam Byrne, also from Downpatrick, thought it proved to be a big success.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle is in line for a lively summer season next year when the Looney Noon festival gets underway on July 19. Many of the organisations which attended a convention arranged by the newly formed town committee are planning special events for the week.

At present it is hoped to have a one-day fete in Donard Park organised by the Crimson Arrow Pipe Band at which the star attraction will be a free-fall parachute , while the town’s yacht club are organising a regatta to coincide with the festival.

DRUMANESS — Drumaness hall, which is at present undergoing extensive renovations, will retain some of its ‘features’ when work is completed early in the new year. Most notable of these features are two chip pans which, according to local councillor, Mr. Dan Rice, are a landmark at the hall and the place just wouldn’t be the same without them.

A local resident wanted to buy them, but the application was turned down by Down Council’s recreation department. Mr. Frank Cunningham, council official, envisaged the chip pans to be of future use by the local community and suggested that the council should keep them.

Within the next few days council workers will be collecting the pans for an overhaul to keep them in line with their new surroundings.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy Young Farmers’ Club invited members from Killyleagh, Legacurry, Newtownards, Hillsborough, Moira, Hillhall and Belfast YFCs to join with them in their annual quiz and social last week. After three lengthy rounds Hillhall were announced the winners, closely followed by Moira, with Killinchy in third place.

Supper was enjoyed by everyone, but the highlight of the evening was provided by the music of ‘Telstar Mobile Disco.’

BRIGHT — Miss Esther Ann Gilchrist, who died recently in hospital, was sub-postmistress at Bright Post Office for 39 years. She took a keen interest in the Savings Movement and was highly respected by her friends and neighbours.

Miss Gilchrist was organist of Bright Parish Church at one time and was always interested in the work of the Sunday School. She is survived by her sister, Frances.

KILLYLEAGH — Knees were at the centre of attraction at Balloo House, Killinchy, on Tuesday night when Killyleagh shopkeepers hoisted up their trouser legs. No, it wasn’t an ‘Old Mother Brown’ routine, but something which still put the breeze up those who attended the annual dinner of Killyleagh Shopkeepers and Traders Association.

It was a knobbly knees contest and the winner was High Street butcher Harvey McIntyre. No doubt he’ll be getting something of a leg pull when he next delivers a ham shank over the counter.

SAINTFIELD — A record entry of 1,114 cattle came under the hammer with an almost complete clearance at the weekly cattle sale held by Saintfield Livestock Mart Ltd. Dairy cows met with an excellent trade, selling to a top price of £240 for a calved Friesian cow from C. F. Caughey, Kircubbin.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick fire brigade were called out around midnight on Wednesday to deal with a suspected incendiary device at the shop of Miss Lily Smyth in Church Street. A policeman who smashed a window to try to extinguish the blaze was slightly hurt. The fire caused considerable damage to stock in the shop window.

SOCCER — Ardglass man Jack McEvoy has taken over the managerial reins at Downpatrick Rec in succession to Charlie Oakes.

Jack is a former chairman of the Newcastle and District League and has strong connections with Cliftonville. He is also a golf fanatic and is attached to Ardglass Golf Club.

He will be expect nothing less than 100 per cent from his players. In fact, they will have to give of their best as he strives to emulate the successes which Charlie brought during his three-and-a-half-year reign as both player and manager.=