From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 23, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 23, 1976

23 November 2016

DRUMANESS — Plans are in the pipeline for a big new dairy complex on the site of the old Drumaness Mill — and the news could means jobs for up to 500 people.

The new five-and-a-half thousand square metre complex is planned by Northern Dairies, who bought the old mill a few months ago. If all goes well they hope to have the new plant in production in just over two years’ time.

The proposed factory will manufacture a variety of dairy products, including butter, yoghurt, cream, chocolate and chocolate crumb. This will be the first Northern Dairies plant in Co Down.

Explaining why they had chosen the Drumaness site, a Northern Dairies spokesman said: “This is good milk producing country and rather than hawking the raw product all over the country we decided to take the building to the raw material.”

The old Drumaness Mill was first built in 1850 and was owned by Hursts Ltd, a flax spinning firm. Hursts were then taken over by a group of five firms, of which Ulster Weaving was the head.

In October 1968 the news broke that Drumaness Mills were going to close and a gradual rundown began. An American company bought the firm the following year, but production never got underway and since then many attempts have been made to attract new industry to the Mills.

CASTLEWELLAN — The resident magistrate, Mr John Petrie, and a Newcastle solicitor, Mr Colman Hanna, have complained about the facilities in Castlewellan Court.

Mr Hanna said before the start of Monday’s court that the facilities for both the legal profession and the press were “absolutely inadequate.” He said he was standing on a trap door “which might go down at any time.”

Mr Petrie said he agreed that the accommodation was unsatisfactory and added that he had already determined to refer the matter to the Northern Ireland Office.

However, he did point out that it was difficult for the government to provide adequate accommodation for courts which are only held once a month. Castlewellan Court is held in the town’s Market House.

NEWCASTLE — An estimated 1,500 people attended a peace rally in Newcastle on Saturday. The rally was part of a countrywide Day for Peace organised by the Peace People.

Supporters of the movement from all over the South Down area assembled at the car park in Downs Road at 2pm and then marched along Main Street and Central Promenade before finally halting at Donard car park where a short service was held.

Church bells rang at 3pm for two minutes before the start of the service. Prayers for peace were said and the Peace Declaration was read aloud by all those present.

Mr Ralph Williams, husband of Mrs Betty Williams, one of the founders of the Peace People, was on the platform, as were the Dean of Down and other clergy. Among the appeals for peace was a very moving poem written by a young poet, Damian Gorman.

A smaller peace rally was held in Killinchy at the same time as part of the countrywide peace demonstrations and was attended by around 300 people.

DUNDRUM — Keown Cottage Industry of Dundrum has received yet another sign of its fame worldwide with the award of huge orders for its high quality aran knitwear.

The cottage industry has grown both in size and reputation since its owner, Mr William Keown, who has suffered from birth with spastic paralysis, first learned how to operate a knitting machine when he was recovering from a total of 18 operations.

The new orders came from as far afield as Canada and from department stores in the United Kingdom.

Mr Keown told the Recorder that he was already oversold for 1977 because shops across the water have asked him for more garments than he has knitters to meet the demand.

At the moment Mr Keown employs about 100 home-knitters. He also has a knitting machine in his shop, but this will not be sufficient to meet demand for more aran garments.

DOWNPATRICK — Downtown Shopping Centre in Downpatrick has always been a great help to local housewives. Now Downtown is offering even more help.

Christmas is little more than a month ahead and Downtown wants to make sure that it will be a happy one for its customers. It plans to do this by providing everyone with necessary for a good Christmas — from the fairy on the top of the tree right down to the children’s presents at the bottom of the bed.

Ever since its opening in 1972 Downtown has been making Christmas a happy time for local housewives. Christmas present can be as happy as Christmas past if you stop off at the one-stop shopping centre.

SAINTFIELD — Seven cows valued at more than £3,000 were found electrocuted at a Saintfield farm on Tuesday.  The cattle belonging to Mr John Connolly, of Liberty Hill, Ballycloughan, had been killed as a result of a power cable accident.

They were electrocuted in one of the farm’s concrete yards after one of the stays used to secure electricity poles had become live.

BALLYGOWAN — There has been an objection to a Housing Executive plan to build 25 new houses in Ballygowan.

One couple who lived there complained that the growing number of public authority houses being built in Ballygowan was ruining the character of the building.

Mr Sidney Blakely, planning officer to Ards Borough Council, told a meeting of the council that the complaint had been received about the plan to build 25 new houses at The Brae, Ballygowan.

However, outline permission had been granted to the Housing Executive and Mr Blakely said he felt that approval should be granted.Mr Jim McBriar, councillor for Ballygowan, said he was pleased to see that more houses were being built in the village.

KILLINCHY — A group of oyster farmers have banded together to take over the highly successful shellfish purification plant at Sketrick Island, near Whiterock, Killinchy.

The plant was set up four years ago by the Department of Agriculture as a pioneering venture. It consists of a small hut, half a dozen big tanks and a few pumps. When the oysters are fully grown and ready for the market they are put into water which has been specially purified by being pumped through ultra-violet rays.

The plant has proved so successful that the Government recently decided to withdraw and let the people it had trained to take over the plant.

PORTAFERRY — Work on a new play area for children at Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, is expected to get underway in three weeks’ time. The news was revealed at Ards Borough Council by the councillor for the area, Mr Brendan McPolin.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh Young Farmers’ Club have congratulated one of their members, Jill Porter, who won her way through to the Northern Ireland final of the YFC public speaking competition. They also congratulated Helga Smyth, Irene Price and Linda Casement on reaching the Co Down finals.

TYRELLA — Tyrella Homing Pigeon Society held their annual dinner and prize giving in the Slaney Inn, Raholp, when more than 100 fanciers and friends attended. The prize money, which amounted to £387, was shared among 14 members of the club, the biggest amount going to the loft of B McCartan & Son (jun).

KILCLIEF — The members of Ben Dearg Kilclief GAC held their annual dinner in the Donard Hotel, Newcastle. The chairman, Mr George Conway, welcomed everyone, including the guests of honour who were Rev Fr Magee, PP, Rev Fr Coyle CC.

Fr Kelly presented the senior sports personality of the year award to Joe McConville and the juvenile trophy to Michael Conway.