From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 8, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 8, 1974

8 October 2014

MOURNE — A ban on inshore fishing along the Mourne coast is angering skiff fishermen intensely and because of threats to ignore the law inspectors are afloat all the time. The ban came into effect last Wednesday and will last to Sunday week.

The local water involved extends from just south of Newcastle to Carlingford and up to six miles out. It coincides with a ban on fishing herring anywhere within 12 miles of the Isle of Man and is aimed at conserving fish.

Skiff fishing is a traditional and largely part-time occupation lasting six weeks. In summer and autumn about 300 men give up their normal jobs to go to sea for herring in the small boats, which vary in size from 25 to 35 feet. They are based mainly in Annalong and Kilkeel, but others live in Ardglass and Newcastle.

They see the ban as robbing them of their traditional cream, for this is the peak of the herring catching season. Some of them have boats costing several thousands of pounds.

A fisheries officer said the ban was introduced to protect the fishermen’s own interests and those of the country as a whole. “They will have to stay in and give the fish a chance to multiply so that herring fishing is maintained.”

STRANGFORD — Sustained pressure for the provision of a second vehicle ferry vessel at Strangford has brought a promise that a new look is to be given to the problem.

A feasibility study is to be undertaken and perhaps the purchase of a suitable second-hand boat may be considered. Ferry installations in Scotland and elsewhere will be examined.

The existing ferry was taken out of service last weekend and its annual survey and refit in Belfast may take another fortnight. The boat is five years old and is doing much more work than was ever envisaged.

The machinery is running 17 hours day every week day. Nevertheless, with continued high standard maintenance, its projected life of 40 to 50 years should be attained easily, according to the experts.

DOWNPATRICK — Work is beginning on a £13,000 scheme to restore Downpatrick’s Assembly Hall, free use of which is being offered by Lord Dunleath to the district council.

The offer comes at a time when the town is without a sizeable hall that is not under church or political ownership and a few months after the large Roman Catholic parochial hall was burned down.

The ‘town hall’, as it is known locally, was built in 1882 and designed by William Batt, Belfast, on the then fashionable Venetian Gothic lines. Lord Dunleath plans to carry out complete external restoration, including substantial work on the tower. The clock will be made operational again.

The problem before Down Council will be to determine whether or not the advantages of accepting Lord Dunleath’s offer outweigh the disadvantage of having control of the hall over a long period. They will have to consider whether or not the town needs such a hall.

ARDGLASS — Brother Charles Cross, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cross, Ardglass, made his final vows at a ceremony in St. Patrick’s Monastery, Crossgar, on Thursday evening. Present were his parents, family, friends, the Passionist community and 16 young men who are studying for the priesthood at Tobar Mhuire.

Bro. Charles was educated in St. Mary’s Primary School, Dunsford, and St. Anne’s Intermediate School, Ardglass. In 1970 he went to the Passionist Novitiate, Enniskillen. At present he is based in Dublin at Mount Argus while he studies philosophy and theology in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood in two years’ time.

DRUMNAQUOILE — Over 1,000 people attended Sunday afternoon’s Holy Year celebrations at Drumnaquoile, where a concelebrated Mass in the Friars Field was followed by a procession to the 30-foot memorial cross which marks the site of a Franciscan place of refuge in the penal days.

The master of ceremonies was Dr. Joseph Maguire, PP, Drumaroad, and Rev. Dr. Ambrose Macauley, Dean of Residences, Queen’s University, Belfast, preached the sermon.

He said: “It is fitting that one of the places chosen for our local Holy Year Pilgrimage should be Drumnaquoile, for here we have a shrine to the self-sacrifice, dedication and heroic perseverance of the Franciscan priests who served this area in the 17th and 18th centuries.

“Forced to move from Downpatrick some time after the martyrdom of three of their community, the Franciscans ministered to the faithful  of the surrounding countryside from Drumnaquoile for 150 years.”

BALLYNAHINCH — The Ballynahinch branch of the British Red Cross Society held a very successful jumble sale in the British Legion Hall on Friday night. Almost £60 was raised and the members of the branch wish to thank all who supported the sale in any way.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Parish Scouts held their parents night in the church hall recently when two former cub scouts, William Garrett and William Walkingshaw, passed up into the troop after a going-up ceremony. Among the guests were the District Commissioner, the Rev. W. E

KILLOUGH — Mrs. Sheila Crossle, of Fisherman’s Row, Killough, owns three-and-a-half pounds of flesh and bone which she thinks might fetch her upwards of £2,000 on the open market.

The three-and-a-half pounds in question is her chihuahua, Playhill Chipkin (Chippy), who won the reserve champion certificate at Cruft’s dog show this year.

Chippy resumed her winning ways by taking four titles at the Belfast championship on Saturday. On top of winning the Limit class and open bitch class, Chippy won the bitch championship certificate and best of breed awards.

Mrs. Crossle estimates that if she sold her to a buyer in either Australia or Japan for breeding purposes she could collect that £2,000. However, she has no intention of parting with her little champion.

NEWCASTLE — Among the events discussed at Newcastle and District Road Safety Committee’s meeting recently the police were asked to investigate the flow of traffic along Main Street and the possibility of introducing two lanes of traffic. However, some members felt this would be a safety hazard with tghe parked cars on both sides of the street.

The problem of children cycling on the footpath was raised again. Some parents felt this was safer for the children, but it was a hazard for pedestrians, especially senior citizens.

Poor lighting at the Castlewellan Road at housing estates is to be investigated.

CROSSGAR — Sir James Martin, who was born in Crossgar, has just celebrated his 78th birthday — but has still no intention of retiring. Pioneer of the ejector seat, more than 3,000 pilots owe their lives to the inventive genius.

Sir James is still very active in the aircraft company of which he is both managing director and chief designer. Only last week he was in Germany watching tests of a new jet fighter which includes one of his ejector seats.

DUNDRUM — A 25 year-old man was hurt on the right hand when a shotgun discharged accidentally at his home in Dundrum. Police said the man, who was removed to hospital but subsequently released, was handling his brother’s legally held weapon when it went off.

SAINTFIELD — At the weekly pig sale at Saintfield Livestock Mart the continuing increase in trade created more mart records. In the centre ring 15 springers sold to £96 for a sow exhibited by Hubert Gabbie, of Crossgar, with another at £90.

PORTAFERRY — The speaker at Portaferry Camera Club’s first night for beginners was Mr. Patrick Magennis, of Downpatrick, who explained the functions of the camera and the relation of aperture to shutter speed to members.