From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 6, 1978

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 6, 1978

6 June 2018

DOWNPATRICK — With a growing wave of teenage vandalism and destruction sweeping Downpatrick, the town’s parish priest has hit out at the culprits and has warned local parents: “Make sure your children are not involved.”

Dr Joseph Maguire said he had been so alarmed by recent incidents that he felt compelled to speak publicly. “The damage done to property and the anxiety caused to people, especially the elderly, is a very worrying trend,” he said.

Dr Maguire made his condemnation from the pulpit at Mass on Sunday. His remarks followed a series of incidents on Thursday, Friday and Saturday when vandals attacked at several locations around the town.

Worst hit was St Colmcille’s Church on the Killough Road where considerable damage was done. A glass vase and a confessional box were vandalised and other items were thrown across the floor.

In other incidents two windows were smashed at McCartan’s hairdressers in Market Street and windows were also broken ant St Patrick’s High School in Saul Street.

“These were very uncharitable acts,” Dr Maguire said. “I would appeal to parents to educate their children and make sure they are not involved in this type of mindless destruction. We must foster a sense of community consideration and neighbourliness in our young people.”

One of the main targets for the vandals has been St Patrick’s High School. The weekend attack brought the total damage caused to the school this year to a staggering £1,000.

The school’s headmaster, Bro Cornelius said: “Breakages occur practically every weekend and there seems to be no way we can stop them.”

CASTLEWELLAN — Twelve families in Castlewellan will have telephones operating in their homes by the end of July if the latest proposals by the Post Office go according to plan.

At the recent meeting of the Castlewellan branch of the SDLP, Councillor Eamon O’Neill said that he had received a letter from the Post Office outlining the situation and he was pleased with the progress being made.

The letter said that the Post Office had been able to provide lines for 12 of the 20 telephone applications in Castlewellan and “all being well they should have the service connected by the end of July.”

The letter continued: “Of the remaining cases, at least two should be cleared fairly quickly and will not of course keep anyone waiting any longer than can possibly be avoided.”

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch will definitely be getting a heart machine — thanks to the generosity of the townspeople and the hard work of one of the town’s factories.

More than 30 female workers at the Albion clothing factory, Antrim Road, organised a sponsored walk and so far have raised over £3,000 — more than double the original target — even though the walk is more than a week away.

Mr Hugh McAuley, factory manager, said: “We have banked £2,500, which was received from direct subions, and another £1,000 has been promised on sponsorship sheets. We are hopeful that more sponsors will come forward and more subscriptions will be made.

Local doctors have given the idea their blessing and it will left to them to decide if the money will be used to purchase one machine with all the accessories or to get two smaller machines.

DUNDRUM — Weekend revellers in Dundrum are causing headaches for other residents in the village. According to local councillor Mr Norman Bicker Friday night dancegoers are causing problems through noise and damage to property.

Mr Bicker brought the matter up at a recent meeting of Down Council’s police liaison committee and said he had received numerous complaints from residents of the village. The police said they would deal with the complaint.

CARRYDUFF — In a month’s time Carryduff woman Margaret McGrath will be on the otter side of the world enjoying life in Hong Kong.

Margaret is looking forward to her new life, but has many regrets about leaving Carryduff Primary Schooo where she has been secretary for three years.

Margaret is going to join her husband, a civil servant in Hong Kong, and has lived there for three years, from 1970 to 1973.

“It is a very fast but exciting life out there,” she said. “It’s very hot and humid and we will be arriving right in the middle of the typhoon season.”

“It’s the end of one chapter for me — I’ll find it hard to leave here because everyone is so friendly — but it’s the opening of a new one.”

Mr Robert Wright, headmaster at Carryduff Primary School, said: “We will all really miss Margaret.”

NEWCASTLE — More than 100 trophies and medals won by Newcastle sports clubs were on show at a big gala evening in the Burrendale Hotel on Friday.

The silverware, won by 11 of the 15 clubs affiliated to the Newcastle Sports Clubs Union, were on show to mark one of the most successful sporting years for the seaside town.

The guest for the evening was local man Bert Slader, from the Northern Ireland Sports Council. A special presentation was made to Mr Colman Hanna and Mr Bobby Thornton, the founder members of the Sports Club Union. These two, it was pointed out, had done a great deal for the Association and for the town’s sports facilities in general.

The eleven clubs recognised were: Newcastle Nomads Hockey Club, Bryansford GAC, Royal County Down Golf Club, Mourne Golf Club, Newcastle Football Club, Newcastle Presbyterian Badminton Club, Dundrum Badminton Club, Olympia Athletic Club, Newcastle Yacht Club, Sandpipers Sandyacht Club and Newcastle HPS.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar Community Association is very conscious of the village’s litter problem and during this year’s Best Kept Town Week, June 12-17, residents will be asked to solve it.

A gardening competition will be held and the tidiest and smartest three gardens in each estate in the village and district will be awarded prizes.

Householders in Westlands, Kilwood, Woodside, Whitefield, Kilmore and the village who wish to enter their gardens should fill in the Association’s entry form and leave it in the Post Office or with any Association member.

Another new aspect of this year’s Best Kept Town Week will be a special exhibition of ‘Old Crossgar and District’ which will be on display at the prize giving ceremony in the War Memorial Hall.

ARDGLASS — More than 100 young people attended the official opening of Ardglass and Dunsford Youth Club last Wednesday. A special party night was arranged, together with a disco in the club’s premises in Kildare Street.

A full programme of outdoor activities will commence on Tuesday under the guidance of club leaders Ray Ross and Mary Wylie. The club will continue to operate throughout June on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7.30pm. Parents are reminded that for the present, membership of the club will be restricted to those over the age of 10.

BALLYGOWAN — A white donkey, three calves and two bullocks were found wandering near Ballygowan at the weekend. The animals can be claimed from Mrs Wakefield, of Ravara Road.

QUOILE — An army bomb disposal officer defused an old wartime shell which was found at the Quoile, Downpatrick, on Friday. The shell was handed into Downpatrick police station by a member of the public where it was made harmless.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy young farmer John McMordie has won sponsorship for a trip to the Royal Highland Show in Scotland. John has been a member of the club for six years and the sponsorship has been provided by BOCM-Silcock (NI) Ltd.

He lives and works on a beef farm with his mother and father and devotes a lot of time and effort to rearing pedigree Hereford and Simmental cattle.