Calls Come To Mark 70th Anniversary of Saul Street House Fire
A CALL to mark the 70th anniversary of Downpatrick’s worst house fire in living memory came this week when Down News reporter Anne O’Hare talked to the families linked to the tragedy. Inside she looks back at the horror surrounding the event and highlights the bravery shown by neighbours who helped save the life of a toddler.
Read more: Calls Come To Mark 70th Anniversary of Saul Street House Fire
Mourne Gaelscoil Seeks Grant Aid Status
SINN Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane accompanied a delegation from Gaelscoil na mBeann in Kilkeel to a meeting with Education Minister John O’Dowd.
Read more: Mourne Gaelscoil Seeks Grant Aid Status
Newcastle Wastewater Works Upgrade Announced
NI Water unveiled its plans for a £7million upgrade to Newcastle Wastewater Treatment Works during a stakeholder presentation and open public information event in Newcastle Leisure Centre.
Programmed to get underway in January 2012, the improvements will see the installation of modern new treatment processes which will benefit the seaside town and meet future EU directives by May 2013.
Read more: Newcastle Wastewater Works Upgrade Announced
More Rural Development Funding On Offer In Down
A new round of funding for rural development projects has opened in Down. In the latest call for financial applications to help improve the quality of life in rural communities, the Down Rural Area Partnership (DRAP) is inviting local people across the Down, Banbridge, Ards and North Down areas to submit project proposals under two of its six themes – diversification into non-agriculture activity and business creation and development.
Read more: More Rural Development Funding On Offer In Down
Downpatrick Bad Romance Seminar Attended By Education Minister
THE South East Domestic Violence Partnership (SEDVP) in conjunction with the Down District Community Safety Partnership held the Bad Romance seminar in The St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick today (Wednesday 23rd November). The seminar explored the issue of abuse in young people's romantic relationships.
At the event, post-primary school pupils across the district were given recognition for participating in the healthy relationships poster competition which aimed to raise awareness of the domestic violence issue.
Read more: Downpatrick Bad Romance Seminar Attended By Education Minister
Remembrance Sunday
REMEMBRANCE Sunday is a special day when many paid tribute to those who have fallen in the two great wars in the Twentieth Century and in more recent times.
The main celebration is at the Cenotaph in London, but across the country in provincial towns, ordinary people from all walks of life gathered to pay their respects.
In Downpatrick the parade mustered at The Mall in front of Down Cathedral and marched to the War Memorial at the bottom of the Strangford Road where a short ecumenical service took place.
Read more: Remembrance Sunday
Help Billy Douglas Walk
An everyday trip to the play park in Comber is not without its trials for little three-year-old Billy Douglas writes Anne O'Hare.
Billy Douglas crawls through the tunnel at the local playpark in Comber. As he excitedly hoists himself onto the new disabled swing recently installed there, Billy belies the struggle which accompanies his condition known as Cerebral Palsy.
Read more about: Billy Douglas from Comber
UNIONIST Councillors have voiced anger over the Irish language being included in the new Down District Council flag, ahead of this year's St Patrick's Day parade. Discussions took place to try and break the log jam over the design folowing the flags row in last year's St Patrick’s Day Parade in Downpatrick. And Council members fear Down district’s long-standing, community relations success story is in jeopardy over the issue.
FILM projectionist, Willie Connor, reeled back the years on the first day of trading in Milligan's new mini supermarket which opened in Ardglass, this week. The shop stands upon the grounds of the once iconic building, the old Shield Hall Cinema in the town which was located at the top of the old fishing port.
Eamon Byrne from Loughinisland is confident the practical experience gained during an onsite engineering placement will stand him in good stead for future employment, having been the recipient of a new scholarship award, writes Anne O'Hare.
