From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 8, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 8, 1993

13 December 2023

DUNDRUM – A Christian organisation has purchased Dundrum’s Murlough House. The group plans to use the former Queen’s University coastal research property as a local centre for its community-based work.

Project Evangelism, a leading non-denominational, spiritual organisation, held an open day on Saturday to explain its work to local people.

Established in 1969, the group has links all over Ireland, UK and France, and has been welcomed to Dundrum by the local rector, the Rev Brian Russell.

“We are a Christian community and we have several care centres here, including Glenarm, Portrush and Belfast,” said Keith Giles, administration manager for the group.

“In these centres we seek to meet the needs of the unemployed people and others from every part of the community.”

Mr Giles added they had an established record in the province and were known internationally as a caring and support group. Next summer, they will be joined at Murlough House by visiting American students.

The property sold at the start of the month for an undisclosed sum, will continue to act as a residential facility when required by Project evangelism, as well as other groups.

BALLYNAHINCH  – The daughter of two victims of the Shankill Road bombing has severely criticised Down Council for its regulations on grave marker wording, but the council is refusing to change its policy.

Michele Williamson, whose parents were killed in the Shankill Road massacre in October, was sharply critical of the council after she was refused permission to inscribe how they died on their headstone.

The couple were buried at Down Council’s Lough Inch cemetery in Ballynahinch and their daughter says it is a “downright disgrace” that she cannot say how they died on their headstone.

A spokesman for the council said this week the regulations concerning the district’s two cemeteries at Ballynahinch and Downpatrick prohibited the inion of cause of death, no matter what the circumstances.

“The regulations apply to the size of the headstones which can be erected and what can be said on them,” he explained. “However, the policy prevents the cause of death being inscribed. All inscriptions on headstones in our cemeteries have to be approved by the council.”

The spokesman also said that inscriptions which my cause offence are not permitted and revealed that a similar policy was adopted by Omagh Council and one other local authority in the Province.

DOWNPATRICK – Down Council is investigating claims that rubble from a Downpatrick regeneration site is being dumped illegally on the outskirts of the town.

And it is still unclear whether or not the contractor or landowner has applied for a licence to dump builders’ rubble at an area close to the town’s Racecourse Road.

Residents in the area say they have been ‘plagued with problems’ with illegal dumping over the past number of years and have called on Down Council’s Environment Health Department to act quickly.

Mrs Alwyn Leungsoon said that despite signs being put up by the owners of the land in question, dumping was still continuing.

She explained that tonnes of soil had been tipped at the site over a number of months and that this week, lorries began dumping rubble which was being drawn from two old buildings at Irish Street.

“What is going on outside our front doors is an absolute disgrace,” she declared. “The roads are covered in dirt and they are almost impossible to walk on.

ARDGLASS – The death of a seal-pup in Ardglass has prompted the USPCA to issue a call urging the public to leave the animals alone.

The warning came after it was revealed that the three-week old pup had been taken from Ardglass beach twice last weekend by locals who wrongly thought it was abandoned.

USPCA Inspector Michael Gillen said he was called to a house in the village “quite a way from the beach” and battled for two hours to save the seal, in deep shock at being away from the sea, but failed.

He later urged the public not to go near a seal like this under any circumstances – for their own sake as much as the seal’s – and to phone the USPCA, which can check on the animal without endangering its life.

NEWCASTLE  – Newcastle Chamber of Commerce has this week vowed to ensure that the good times will return to the seaside resort after they unveiled a blueprint for bumper Easter festival.

Despite the fact that the Circuit of Ireland has been lost to Bangor this year, chamber officials do not intend to dwell on the loss. Instead, they will come out with all guns blazing, calling on the support of everyone in the town.

Details of the major Easter extravaganza were mapped out after several traders criticised Down Council’s input into the area’s premier resort.

One even went as far to suggest that while Newcastle is referred to by many councillors as the ‘jewel in the crown,’ Downpatrick are still the crown and received the bulk of European and International fund for Ireland money.

A committee will be set up to put the finishing touches to the Easter extravaganza which will include the Down heat of the Rose of Tralee competition.

This marks an important foot in the door for the chamber and Newcastle has been promised that it will host the 1995 Ulster Rose of Tralee final, which is held over three days.

CASTLEWELLAN – Two Co Down meat processing firms have been awarded grants in excess of £100,000 each by the European Community to upgrade facilities.

S&M Meats of Castlewellan and  Bell’s Poultry, Crossgar are the latest recipients of £260,000 in aid from European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, a move welcomed by Agriculture Minister, Lord Arran.

The Castlewellan meat-processor intends to build an EC-approved plant with the help of £148,533 to advance processing and marketing agricultural products.

Lord Arran said the development of the food processing industry here was essential. “The grants award will assist the companies in their efforts to improve their processing plants to meet the high standards necessary to compete in today’s market,” he said.

TULLYMURRY – Downpatrick’s newest indoor arena played host to another major showjumping event last weekend. 

Tullymurry was the venue last Friday evening for another excellent night of competition and it also saw the introduction of a new covered waiting area.

The new covering was particularly welcome during the heavy downpours and provided competitors with some much-needed shelter.

The first competition saw the novice fences standing at 2’ 3” and the height went up to 2’ 9” and riders from both Newcastle and Downpatrick enjoyed success on the night.

CARRYDUFF – Carryduff could soon become a major venue for sports clubs in Down District.

Castlereagh Borough Council has stolen a march on its counterparts in Down by unveiling plans to develop an astro-surface at its Lough Moss Leisure Centre.

And it appears that local sports clubs will be offered full use of the new facilities.

Castlereagh council chiefs believe Carryduff would be an ideal site for such a pitch and its Leisure Service Director Jim Rose said the venue was “being looked at seriously”.

“As well as already having good changing and social facilities, the creation of an artificial pitch would allow five-a-side bookings to be moved out of the main hall,” said Mr Rose.

Council officials are also confident that if an astro-surface is developed, it would become profitable within a short period. They also say the project would enable a wider choice of sports to be provided at the centre.