Anniversary for local housing charity

Anniversary for local housing charity

21 March 2018

JUST outside the seaside village of Killough lies a little-known legacy — the Charles Sheils Charity which has been providing shelter for those in need in Co Down for the last 150 years. 

The Charles Sheils Charity is a private housing charity established by statute with five complexes in Ireland. Four are in Northern Ireland — at Killough, Carrickfergus, Armagh and Dungannon — and the fifth is in Dublin.

The Killough complex was the flagship of the five and opened in 1868 at the bequest of a local man, Charles Sheils, who had bequeathed his entire fortune for the building of alms houses.  

The Killough complex comprises 31 grade B1 listed buildings that have been fully renovated and restored over the last five years. The final phase of renovations is nearing completion and will be available for occupation in the coming weeks.

The history of the charity is being researched by the superintendent of the Killough houses, Cathy Moore, and she has gathered amazing information from local people in Killough who have ancestors who availed of the provisions of the charity.

In 2017, a long-lost minute book was returned to the Charity which was a wonderful discovery as the book covered the period leading up to the outbreak of the first world war and was packed with information. 

In addition to the ongoing research, it would be greatly appreciated if anyone, from the local area or from further afield who may have historical information in the form of documents, letters, maps or photographs relating to any aspect of the Charles Sheils Charity, could contact Cathy.

Any contribution would be greatly appreciated and acknowledged as sometimes the smallest clues can be the key to unlocking the biggest stories.

It is hoped that a comprehensive history of the charity can be compiled to form a fitting tribute to a local man who has helped many generations of people to have a better standard of living over the last 150 years.    

Anyone seeking to apply for housing at Killough, or one of the other complexes, can visit the charity’s website at www.sheilscharity.ie for contact numbers and details of the application process.