At the Live Here Love Here Community Awards 2019 ceremony on 12th February, Saintfield Development Association’s Lawrence Murphy won the Good Neighbour Award which was presented to him by Ursula Connor of Choice Housing. The event took place in the City Hall, Belfast and the MC was Joe Mahon. It was great to see Lawrence’s exceptional contribution to Saintfield so widely recognised.

Saintfield Development Association’s Martyn Todd, Dorothy Walker, Vivien Lovell and
Good Neighbour Award winner Lawrence Murphy with Ursula Connor from Choice Housing.

Lawrence Murphy with his Good Neighbour Award trophy. Lawrence is the Chair of Saintfield Development Association's Green Committee.

Lawrence Murphy, Vivien Lovell and Dorothy Walker, who are all members of SDA's Green Committee.

Lawrence Murphy, Dorothy Walker and Vivien Lovell with Martyn Todd who is the Chair of Saintfield Development Association.

The fourth event in the Discover Saintfield Community series took place on Sunday 3rd February. Nearly sixty people attended, most of whom had been to hear the lectures during January (see previous posts).

Due to the large number of people attending four tour groups were formed, each led by a guide from Saintfield Heritage Society – David Williams, Elsie George, Martyn Todd and Ronnie Graham – helped by Anne George, Ian and Norma Mack, Fiona Watters, Jane Todd, Janice McHenry and Jim Craig.  The tours started in the Rowallane Community Hub and included the Memorial Garden, the site of the Battle of Saintfield, the early industrial sites of Saintfield, notable buildings and the Fair Green.

Afterwards those attending were given tea, coffee and biscuits in the Masonic Hall, provided by Bob Pollock, Brian Gamble and Denis Conn. Everybody said that they learned something new about Saintfield, even those who had lived here for years.

The final event of the series, a Community Open Day to be held at the new community centre was planned for 24th March. However, the construction work on the site has been delayed and so the event is being postponed. The revised date will be announced later, on this website.

The third in the Discover Saintfield Community series of events was held on 29th January in the Church of Mary, Mother of the Church. Over 300 people attended to hear the renowned historian, Eamon Phoenix, share his amazing knowledge of the United Irishmen, the 1798 Rebellion and the Battle of Saintfield.

Afterwards, members of the congregation, led by Philomena, provided refreshments, which were very much appreciated.

There was a great buzz of chat after the talk, when Eamon answered many individual queries.

This was the third of five planned events funded by the NI Housing Executive and Saintfield Heritage Society and was organised by volunteers from the Heritage Society and Saintfield Development Association.

The fourth event, a guided tour of the historic sites of Saintfield on 3rd February is almost sold out, but an additional tour will be organised later, if required. Interest can be registered for this additional tour, as well as a possible visit to see artefacts from the Saintfield area in the Ulster Museum, and a guided tour of Saintfield’s archaeological sites by emailing info {at} discoversaintfield {dot} com. When events are confirmed booking will be made available on Eventbrite and by phone.

I am searching for descendants of Thomas McKee who are still living in Northern Ireland.

Thomas was born in Saintfield in 1868 to William McKee (1814-1893) and Eliza Currie (1821-1897). He married Mary Catherine (Minnie) Fitzsimmons at Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church 22 April 1889.

Thomas and Minnie had five children: Robert (1891), William (1893), Georgina (1895), Thomas (1898), and Samuel (1901). Minnie died four days after Samuel’s birth and Samuel’s aunt (Thomas’ oldest sister, Sarah McKee Massey Gabbey) took Samuel to raise.

Thomas married Agnes McFerran 26 June 1902 at First Larne Presbyterian Church. Thomas and Agnes had three children: twins John and Catherine (1903), and James Holden (1907). Thomas became a contractor and owned Thomas McKee & Sons Builders located in Belfast. Thomas died 12 June 1945 and is buried in the cemetery at Second Saintfield Presbyterian with his parents and first wife.

When Thomas’ sister Sarah came to the United States in 1905 to be near her children who had emigrated earlier, she brought Sam Mckee with her. He was four years old. Sam only saw his dad once after leaving Ireland and that was when Thomas made a trip to the US in 1923 to visit his extended family.

Descendants of Sam are now living in several states in the US but have lost contact with their relatives in Northern Ireland. Any information provided to help us make contact would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for any help you can provide,
Jeffrey Bullins
North Carolina, USA

The second talk of the Discover Saintfield Community series of events, funded by the NIHE Community Cohesion Fund, took place in 1st Presbyterian Church hall on 22nd January. The speaker was Philip Orr and the subject was the person from Saintfield who has had the most impact on the world, Professor Francis Hutcheson. Professor Hutcheson was born in Drumalig, Saintfield, and wrote a number of books on philosophy in the early 1700s while he was running a school in Dublin. His ideas were the main influence on Thomas Jefferson’s drafting of the American Declaration of Independence and on Adam Smith’s famous book “The Wealth of Nations”.

If you want to read more about Francis Hutcheson’s life and ideas click HERE.

If you want to see a list of the books that he wrote click HERE.

The talk was the second event in a series of five, called Discover Saintfield Community, funded by the NI Housing Executive Community Cohesion Fund and Saintfield Heritage Society and organised by members of Saintfield Development Association and Saintfield Heritage Society. To see the details of, and to book a place in the next events, click HERE.

Martyn Todd (Chair of Saintfield Development Association), Philip Orr (Guest Speaker) and David Williams (Chair of Saintfield Heritage Society).

David Williams (Chair of Saintfield Heritage Society)

Thank you to the hospitality team for providing the refreshments after the talk.

Over 150 people attended a talk on the Early History of Saintfield given by local historian and author, Alister McReynolds in 2nd Presbyterian Church hall on Tuesday 15th January. Alister shared his research on the origin of the name, Saintfield and what the area was like before and during the early years of the Plantation of Ulster. He explained how the eruption of a volcano in Iceland in 1693 caused famine in Scotland for seven years and drove migration to Ulster. He also talked about some precious historical finds from the area that are now held in the Ulster Museum.

The Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Mark Murnin attended.

Afterwards, Irene Craig and her team provided refreshments, allowing those who attended to chat and share memories of Saintfield.

The talk was the first event in a series of five, called Discover Saintfield Community, funded by the NI Housing Executive Community Cohesion Fund and Saintfield Heritage Society and organised by members of Saintfield Development Association and Saintfield Heritage Society. To see the details of, and to book a place in the next events, click HERE.

Alister McReynolds (speaker), Mark Murnin (Chair Newry, Mourne & Down Council), Janice McHenry (Vice Chair Saintfield Development Association), Martyn Todd (Chair Saintfield Development Association)

Thank you to the hospitality team for providing the refreshments after the talk.

Download the flyer HERE.

The first general meeting of the Saintfield Development Association this year will be held on

Monday 14th January at 7.30 pm in The Rowallane Hub, 35 Main Street.  

The theme for the meeting is “Communication” so please come along and let us have your views on how we can improve communication between us and the community at large. You can also raise any other issues which concern you regarding our village.
This is your opportunity to be heard and we look forward to seeing you there.