From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 2, 1992

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 2, 1992

5 January 2022

NEWCASTLE – A new strategy has been drawn up by the Planning Service to limit the number of hot food carry-outs and amusement arcades in Newcastle.

The planners have placed an embargo on further application for food outlets and arcades within a specially mapped out zone in the town centre.

Details of the new zone have been outlined to Down councillors who, together with the town’s Chamber of Commerce and some local traders, had expressed concern at the proliferation of hot food carry-outs and amusement arcades sprouting up in the resort.

However, the planners have approved two applications for carry-outs which had been used to highlight the problem. It will give the town a new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and a health food outlet.

Newcastle SDLP councillor, Mr Michael Boyd, said he “deplored and regretted” the decision to allow another two carry-outs.

However, he appreciate the difficulty of the planners’ position in that the two applications were received before a strategy existed and viewed the formulation of the strategy as the “lesser of two evils”.

“Now the planners have agreed to a strategy to by known as the Newcastle enhancement strategy, in response to our concerns and questions,” said Mr Boyd.

DOWNPATRICK – The Gallows Hill area in Downpatrick is to be brought into public ownership, it has been revealed this week.

Local SDLP MP, Mr Eddie McGrady, has announced that the Department of Environment has approved an application from Down District Council to upgrade one of the most historic sites in the town.

“I am pleased to announce that the Department has approved the council’s application for open space grant which will entail grant up to 75 per cent of the purchase cost of land needed for passive recreation,” said the South Down MP.

“The Downpatrick Regeneration Project has also included an environmental improvement scheme at Gallows Hill in its submission for financial aid under the CRISP programme.

“I welcome these developments and hope that the area will eventually be upgraded and regenerated.”

DUNDRUM – Police believe two recent fires at Dundrum schools were caused by the same person.

Detectives investigated malicious blazes as both Downshire and the Sacred Heart Primary Schools say the evidence points to the same person and they have appealed for information from the public.

A Dundrum man, who was detained for questioning about the Sacred Heart blaze, has been released without charge.

That latest fire occurred at the Sacred Heart primary on December 19 and came less than one wek after an arson attack caused damage estimated at over £50,000 at Downshire primary.

Damage to the Sacred Heart school was confined to the assembly hall after residents spotted the blaze at around 9pm. The Fire Brigade managed to extinguish the fire before it caused serious damage, although one fireman at the scene said the floor and curtains were burning fiercely.

The fire was started after someone entered the school through a skylight of the flat-roofed building. A bale of straw, which had been used for the school’s nativity scene and which was due to be taken away the next day, was used to start the fire.

CASTLEWARD – Work is underway to restore the historic corn mill at Castleward to its former glory.

The wheels of the 18th century mill, which were last used 50 years ago, should be back in operation next summer thanks to a £140,000 restoration project.

The mill has not been in operation since the estate was sold by the Bangor family to the National Trust. However, a team of experts is currently bringing the mill back to working order and recreating what was once an essential part of estate life.

The project is being co-ordinated by Dr Fred Hamond, a freelance industrial archaeologist, who outlined some of the history of the mill, beginning from when the strong ties of Strangford Lough were harnessed to turn the wheels.

“It dates back to the 1740s and was initially a tide mill. It was rebuilt in the early 1800s on the same site, but instead of using the tide, it was powered by the force of the river,” he said.

Much work is needed before the mill is readily to grind corn once again.

“The place was in a terrible condition and we have had to carry out a major cleaning job,” Dr Hammond explained.

Even so, the surroundings more than make up for the dirty conditions.

“It has been lovely working here, even during the winter. We have an impressive wildfowl collection close at hand and the mill is situated beside the old farmyard and the original castle,” he added.

BALLYNAHINCH – The first phase of a £600,000 construction project at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Ballynahinch will get underway later this year.

Work on a new parish centre in the grounds of the church is earmarked to begin in the spring.

The two-storey building, which replaces the existing tin structure close to the nearly cemetery, will comprise a main hall to be used for parish functions and indoor sports, a secondary hall, committee rooms, cloakrooms, kitchen and toilets.

The second stage of the project – a major extension of the church which will increase its seating capacity to 600 – is expected to begin a completion of the first phase next year.

Ballynahinch parish priest, Canon Bernard Smyth, said services will be held in the parish centre while the extension work is carried out.

DOWN HIGH – Memories of almost 50 years at Down High School flooded back to Mrs Eleanor Carlisle when she was deluged with gifts to mark her retirement as senior administrative officer.

It was quite a day for her when she was the guest of the headmaster, Mr Jack Ferris, and staff at their Christmas lunch at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch.

It was her first and only job. She enjoyed every moment of it. When she married John Carlisle and raised a family, she came back in 1968.

She recalls pupils of her early days, recalls meeting their children at the same school office and, in a few cases, third generations.

“Yes, I’ll miss this place and the thousands of young people that I’ve come to know every closely, indeed very personally,” she said resignedly.

On reflection, she reckons that she learned by experience to accommodate all the changes introduced to the administrative system without every having to attend courses. 

GAA — Downpatrick are Down’s double champions. The men from the RGU were crowned league champs on Sunday for the first time in 41 years to add to their championship title.

The toughest prize in local gaelic football has eluded the green and whites for nearly half-a-century, but they collected the trophy with a blistering victory over Burren 0-14 to 0-1.

And the man with the broadest smile at Dunleath Park was this year’s East Down Hall of Fame winner, Bernard Deeny.

It was the motion from Bernard and sponsored by the Downpatrick club to the Down County Convention in 1950 that set up the first Down all-county senior football league.

To make it a sweet year for Downpatrick, they were the winners of that first ever all-county league. 

Meanwhile, Conor Deegan, Barry Breen, Gregory Blaney and Ross Carr, four of Down’s magnificent Sam Maguire Cup winning players, picked up Bank of Ireland Allstar awards.

But Down, as all-Ireland champions, must be sickened by the net result. Meath, beaten finalists, received six awards; Leinster champions Dublin got three and Roscommon and Kildare received one apiece.