A FASCINATING new book mapping local rights of way has received its public launch.
Entitled ‘The Pads of North Lecale’, the colourful 30-page publication features detailed maps and pictures of Lecale’s villages and townlands, with the names and locations of the traditional ‘pads’ and the stories that surround them.
People from rural areas across Lecale with a knowledge of their parish history supported the new walking guide which has been compiled by Downpatrick councillor Cadogan Enright and local historian Duane Fitzsimons.
Costing just £3, the publication is the first of two editions with all the proceeds going to local community walking projects.
In its foreword, Kilclief Residents’ Association chairman Maurice Denvir explained that during work on the village’s development plan, it became clear that there was an “overwhelming demand” from local residents to map out where traditional rights of way were and to see if safe walking routes could be integrated locally.
“People wanted to see how these walks could be integrated into the wider networks like the Ulster Way, Lecale Way, the Coastal Walking Route or St Patrick’s Way, for the benefit of locals and visitors alike,” he explained.
“We were fortunate that we had two people locally with an interest and ability to tackle this job with Cadogan and Duane undertaking this difficult task, doing their best to include all traditional routes. If anyone sees a route we have missed, please lest us know.”
Maurice added: “We hope that future editions can both improve the content and mapping of North Lecale and cover the Lecale coastline all the way to Dundrum Bay.
“The book would make a wonderful Christmas present for anyone who loves Lecale or anyone with relatives aboard this Christmas who want to be reminded of the beautiful Barony of Lecale and the local history of each parish. We have fully funded this publication so every book sold goes to develop local community walking routes and it will be available in most local shops.”
Cllr Enright said he was grateful for the knowledge and support he had received from older people “steeped in folklore” from every village and townland over the past year in producing the book as well as the invaluable technical expertise of his co-author Duane.
“People like Terry Swail, from Kilclief, Portaferry’s Lennie Lawson and Vincie Curran, from Myra, gave their time freely and ungrudgingly to make this publication such a success,” he said.
Councillor Enright said the book emerged from the process of developing village plans over the past five years with many public consultations highlighting the need for safe, off-road walking routes to keep people active and healthy.
“Every village wanted to know how their walks could be integrated into the wider network of trails around Lecale,” he continued. “There was a demand to know the details of the law and how they could assert local walking routes in their area.
“Residents’ associations in the Downpatrick area led by those in Stream Street actually commissioned technical reports into how walks like the four kilometre Quoile River Walk could once again be integrated with the network of parks like Delamont and Castle Ward.”
Cllr Enright added: “They wanted cycleways on new greenways to Dundrum, Ballynahinch, Belfast and Comber following old railway lines and we packed all this information into the book with maps, photographs and references. I am sure that anyone with an interest in these matters will find it an invaluable reference document for their endeavours.”
The new publication has also been given a ringing endorsement by Dr Tim Campbell, Director of the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick.
He said: “This book illustrates how Downpatrick’s tourism hub around the Cathedral, Down County Museum and the Mound of Down could be linked off-road to every village in Lecale and rejoin the local way-marked trails like the Saint Patrick’s Way and Ulster Way to make a network of walks and cycle paths in East Down.”
The new book is available at Kevin Og’s shop in Strangford, the St. Patrick Centre, The Road Houses Bar, Oakley Fayre, Down County Museum and Down Arts Centre. Copies are also available from Maurice Denvir by telephoning 07846 605729.