Around Ardglass used to be one of the best read pages in the old Down Democrat a number of years ago before the weekly paper made its last cough and died! Â I enjoyed writing up these notes as each week there usually always was something interesting to report.
Now Down News has launched its very own Around Ardglass due to public demand. Now my razor sharp wit and long-didactic exposes will be inflicted on the people of Ardglass and further afield once again.
If you have any notes you wish to be includes in the notes each week, upcoming events covered etc, just call me on 07855545873Â or in the office at 028 44 615690 or message me by email at jim@downnews.co.uk
A very busy week lies ahead in Ardglass so get the Go Plus tablets looked out !
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Christmas Fair. Well done to Siobhan Rooney and her team for organising a Christmas fair in memory of the late Marianne O’Shea. They have raised around £10,000 so far and this is a fantstic achievement and they should all be very proud. I know Marianne would be delighted at this effort as she herself was a very dedicated fundraiser for cancer charities.
So I hope that the Ardglass Community Centre is packed on Sunday  30 November from 11-3pm.
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Well done to the St Nicholas’ PTA for being awarded a grant of £10,000 towards new equipment etc. Included is Kevin Burns, School Principal.[/caption]
HJ O’Boyle session. The session in the Ardglass Golf Club did attract a few interested persons and some employers. It was supported by Councillor Dermot Curran. But given that around 23% of youth are unemployed, where were they??? The event was well publicised and the venue and what was on offer was first class.
St Nicholas’ Primary School. There was on open day on today (Friday) at the school. Well done to the PTA for attracting a grant of £10,000 towards new equipment etc for the early years etc. Today, young parents had a chance to chat to the new principal Kevin Burns and learn more about the workings of the school and its ethos.  There is certainly a very lively Facebook page going now – check them and Like their page at: www.facebook.com/St NicholasArdglass
Christmas Lights Switch On. Don’t miss the Christmas lights switch on in Ardglass on Friday  5th December at the Marina Car Park organised by Ardglass Festival Association, and don’t miss Santa Claus as you may not see him again until Christmas day!
Check out their Facebook page at:
ADA Premises in Bath Street.  After a £75,000 investment in improving the ‘Everyone’s’ drop-in centre with assistance from a £55,000 grant, Ardglass Development Association has greatly improved the building with a boat shed in the back yard, a TV to show off a fantastic range of old images of Ardglass that ADA has accrued, many not seen in recent years. There is also a disabled toilet and the front windows and doors have been replaced. And with a spanking new kitchen there will be plenty of cuppas on the go as the various classes, sessions  and meetings get off the ground.
The ADA website designed by The Web Bureau from Belfast is almost complete and will have a terrific business and services directory so you will be able to find a local business in a jiffy. And there  will be apps for your smart phone to download so you can enjoy this new website on the move.
The website is really designed to attract visitors and to Ardglass and will be a first portal for many. It is still being tested but is due to go live in days – so keep an eye on Down News for details.
The upgraded premises will be used for a number of activities including a knitting club, arts classes, internet accesses, meetings, a disabled sailing club, and a lot more as time progresses.
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Ardglass harbour – settling down into its winter mode.[/caption]
Fishing. The wind has temporarily died down and the seas were pretty well whipped up. Quite a number of the local prawn trawlers have opted to fish in the Clyde estuary which is more sheltered. The prawn fishery  off County Down has dropped off as it does at this time of year and fish stocks are minimal so Ardglass basically has become a one trick pony as far as the fishing is concerned. It’s prawns or virtually nothing as there is no room to diverisfy into anything else. There is too rumours from Brusells as usual that there will be another cut in the prawn quota again this year.
It is a pretty desperate time of year for our fishermen who year upon year struggle to get a wage for weeks and months on end. Last winter the fishing dies off in September and there was hardly and serious fishing done until after April. Many boatowners and fishermen were under severe pressure and were gratefu lo the Fishermen’s Mission last April for bailing many of them out of hardship.
Thursday Night Quizes In The Old Commercial. If you want to test your grey matter why not get a team organised and nip in to the Old Commercial on Thursday evening at 8pm for the pub quiz. Always good craic in front of a great fire.
Ardglass FC. Â At the moment Ardlass are sitting second top of the Premier League having played 11 matches and have 20 points. Aeds Rangers are top at the minute by another 4 points and also have games in hand as do some other teams. But still a good place to be.
Good luck to the lads this Saturday when they play at home in the Intermediate Cup against the Crusader Reserves. The pitch will no doubt be boggy, but they can do it.
Ardglass Maritime Heritage FB page. Â Check out this relatively new page that has been set up with lots of interesting items of old Ardglass, people, boats etc. It’s a real treasure trove of information and does our village proud. Â Go to:
 www.facebook.com/ArdglassMaritimeHeritage
Down Coastal Rowing Meeting at Harbour. There was a meeting of members of Down Coastal Rowing held in the Fishermen’s Mission building in Tuesday 25 November to discuss the way forward for the organisation. To date six St Ayle’s skiffs have been built around east Down with three in the pipeline for next year. Discussion took place around how the local groups should be managed including introducing a booking system using a book to ensure that the communities have access to their local skiffs for rowing and cox training.
Ardglass Community Forum. This facebook page was set up as a reaction to a meeting in the old supermarket in the harbour a few weeks ago due to concerns about general community safety. However, a further meeting has yet to be organised to bring this forward but is expected to be held soon.
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Ouch – Jim Masson breaking news from the Downe Hospital.[/caption]
Plastered Update: I fell at the last fence at Downpatrick races and broke my wrist just as the third race was galloping up the homestraight – honest! I fell on the path just as I was taking photos of the race and to protect my camera I went forward wrecking my knee and elbow, but it was my left wrist that took the damage. It has a nasty fracture of the scapoid bone and may need pinned – or plastered up for three months. It is uncomfotable and gives an odd pain at times.
But thank God I’m not a horse – I would have had to be put down. I count my blessings. I remember seeing two killed in one day – it was quite sickening. It has slowed me down a bit but I’m getting through the typing eventually so will get over it. I was impressed at the speedy treatment I had at the Down A&E – one hour ten minutes, all x-rayed and plastered. Excellent job.
Last but not least – be careful on the roads over the Christmas. Road conditions are not great just now with wet or flooded patches and even heavy mud in some places. Beware – the PSNI are checking out drivers and if you are stopped using your mobile phone, are involved in a road traffic accident or  cause concern to the police you will likely be breathalysed!! So just don’t get ‘plastered‘!!!
One drink may just be one drink too many !! Keep Ardglass and the roads safe folks.
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