A unique walking trail map has been launched in Killyleagh.
xa0
A map featuring a trail of sites associated with the First World War has been compiled… the first of its kind in Ireland.
xa0
The free colour guide, which features water colour paintings by Killyleagh artist Mrs Wendy Cromie and with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund,xa0was launched at the town’s Library on Friday.
xa0
The trail of Killyleagh takes the visitor around the streets of the town, featuring some of the key sites and historic places connected to the Great War.xa0
xa0
Killyleagh artist Wendy Cromie with Ann Fee and Austin Cheevers at the launch of the Great War map of Killyleagh. Included are a number of those who attended the official launch.
The information is based on a series of guided war walks held between 2014 and 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War. The information draws on the stories recorded by the guides on those walks – Mr Austin Cheevers, Mrs Ann Fee, Miss Zena McAllister, Mr Dougie Marr and Mr Chris Hagan.
xa0
The map was launched by Austin Cheevers and Ann Fee.
xa0
Ann Fee paid tribute to the late Martin McCloy who had first generated interested in the lives of the Great War veterans through his annual photographic exhibition and through the Sloane’s History Group. She explained: “Elsie Berner had suggested collecting information and photos of those named on the War Memorial.
xa0
“As part of the 100th anniversary of the war, guided walks had been held to tell the stories andxa0explore the places connected toxa0the 242 men and two women from Killyleagh and Shrigley who went to war.
And in paying tribute to artist Wendy Cromie for her work, Ann Fee added: “Mr Cheevers said it had been humbling on the walk to learn of the sacrifices of the soldiers who went to war, many of whom never returned.xa0 Copies of the walking trail will be available at the Ulster Tower at Thiepval on the Somme where many of the local men had lost their lives on the 1st of July 1916.
xa0
Austin Cheevers said: “A copy of Wendy Cromie’s water colour of the Killyleagh War Memorial, which features on the cover of the map, is already on display at the observation post at Thiepval.
xa0
Chris Hagan, chairman of Killyleagh Remembers the Great War, said: “While many paintings are done of the castle and other Killyleagh scenes, Wendy Cromie had been the first to paint the War Memorial and the group were keen to make it available to a wider audience.”
xa0
He also praised the printers Plus 2 Print of Downpatrick for an outstanding design and print work.
xa0
The first copy of the war map was presented by Mrs Cromie to Miss McAllister who was unable attend the launch.
xa0
Free copies of the map are available from a number of outlets in Killyleagh including the library.
xa0
Meanwhile, the war group has organised a special art competition for primary school children in which they are being asked to colour in a war scene drawn byxa0Killyleagh artist Mr Darren `Duxy’ Leahy.
xa0
The competition is open to all children in P6 and P7 withxa0special prizes for the winners, thanks to the Heritage Fund.xa0Any children interested in taking part can pick up a copy of the drawing from Killyleagh Library.
xa0
