Mournes fundraiser in memory of descendant who died in accident

Mournes fundraiser in memory of descendant who died in accident

1 May 2024

THE descendants of a man who died building the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle almost 130 years will be climbing in the Mourne Mountains  this Saturday to raise money for an important cause.

In 1897, Dromore man Francis Magee plummeted 23 feet to his death after failing from scaffolding on the then new hotel.

An inquest into Mr Magee’s death found that it was an accident and that his death was “instantaneous”.

Mr Magee was born in or around 1840. His great-great grandson, Sean McKinney, researched his family tree, and found report on the inquest into his death in the Down Recorder.

“Sadly there is no photo of Francis,” Mr McKinney said.

“He got married to a woman called Elizabeth McCrea in 1868 and they later moved to Belfast. At the time of his death, he was living in Somerset Street in Ballynafeigh at the top of the Ormeau Road.

“Due to the impracticalities and difficulties of travelling to and from Newcastle every day in 1897 I assume he was staying in Newcastle during the construction of the hotel,” Sean said.

Mr Magee worked for the construction firm H&J Martin which was founded in 1840 and continues to operate throughout Northern Ireland.

At the time, the hotel had not yet been named and was described by locals as “the new hotel at Newcastle”.

The inquest, which was held the day after his death, described Mr Magee as a foreman and labourer, who died as a result of a fall when part of a wall he was leaning on gave way. 

Mr McKinney’s research indicates his remains were on view in the refreshment rooms of the railway station, which is now the local Lidl supermarket.

The findings of the jury were that he “came to his death from injuries caused by an accidental fall when endeavouring to move a beam on one of the walls.”

Mr Magee is interred in Belfast’s Milltown Cemetery, though his name is not on the headstone.

His wife Elizabeth died in 1910 of senile debility. The years after her husband’s death were very difficult as her son, Thomas, had died aged 25 of pneumonia in 1894, three years before her husband.

This Saturday, five generations of Mr Magee’s family ywill be heading to the Slieve Donard Hotel for a photograph at the seat dedicated to his memory.

The fundraising event was the idea of Mr McKinney’s youngest son, Sean, who is 16 and has been using a wheelchair since he was 10.

Whilst honouring his ancestor, Sean junior is also raising awareness of the lack of suitable holiday accommodation for disabled people.

He has organised this fundraiser to help make the dream of family friends Sharon and Richard Douglas, from Hoist Away Holidays, come true.

The mother and son want to build a fully equipped holiday facility, complete with handrails, ramps, hoists and electric beds, for adults and children with complex physical needs.

Seven of Sean’s younger cousins are participating in the climb with the hope of raising £850 – £1 for ever metre of the height of Slieve Donard. 

To donate, go to Sean’s just-giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sean-mckinney-3?utm_term=vqR7Yzwp2.