Latest News Items …

Countless numbers of men and women lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.  The scale of the conflict was so vast that it left its mark on the rural heart of County Down, including Saintfield.  Thirty men from the town died in service during both world wars but the soldiers, as young as 19, have not been forgotten.

More information about those from Saintfield who died during the First and Second World Wars can be found HERE.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in the article.  However, given the passage of time and the information available, some errors may have occurred.  If you have any additional information or can update the information, please contact David Woodrow via email david.woodrow@tiscali.co.uk or call 07811009876.

Saintfield Heritage Society has launched the latest edition of its Saintfield Heritage book.  Book Nine, with 176 pages, is much larger than previous volumes.  The Foreword was written by journalist and broadcaster Mark Carruthers who attended the launch in Saintfield Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening.

Book Nine of Saintfield Heritage can be bought in:

Saintfield Post Office

Vivoxtra

Jacksons

Rowallane National Trust Shop

Buy a copy now and post it abroad in time for Christmas!

If you do not live locally you can email info [at] discoversaintfield [dot] com and we can make arrangements to post any volume of Saintfield Heritage to you.

Saintfield Development Association received a Highly Commended award at the Housing Executive Rural Community Awards 2014.

“Following careful consultation of all the applications received … the panel were impressed by the standard of your application and would like to acknowledge this by presenting you with a certificate that highly commends your project.”

Last year a few Musicians of Saintfield got together and tried their hand at putting on a local music festival towards the end of the harvest season. Over the course of the weekend around 1000 people enjoyed a feast of music in the local churches and pubs.  From Choirs and Classical Music, to Rock Bands and Singer-Songwriters; Saintfield was enveloped in quality music making from start to finish. Such was its success that, with the support of Down District Council, it’s back this harvest on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October.

More details about this year’s HarFest can be found HERE.

Rowallane Garden’s Spooktacular Ghosts and Gourds event is taking place on 18 & 19 October.

Head along for a bewitching day out for all the family. The Garden will come to life this Hallowe’en with a terrifying ghost trail, spooky stories and watch your little ones be transformed with fearsome face painting. Pop along and meet Phil and his animal friends and to top of the event why not behead, scoop out and carve your very own pumpkin to take home with you, to ward away the evil spirit this Hallowe’en.

Their vibrant café and shop reflect the change in seasons, so on your journey why not take the weight off your feet and pop in for a hot cuppa and a winter warmer with their hearty soups, and a nosy round the shop and see what Hallowe’en goodies you can pick up.

The event takes place between 12 noon and 5pm on both Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 October and remember to come along in fancy dress, the Rowallane team will be!

Normal Admission charges, National Trust Members Free Admission.

The Met Office issued a Yellow Alert of wind for counties Antrim, Armagh and Down valid from 0000 Mon 06 October to 1200 Mon 06 October.

The result of the wind was that a tree fell and blocked the main Belfast to Downpatrick road causing rush hour traffic disruption, and a power line was brought down causing an interruption to the electricity supply.

More photographs of the disruption can be viewed HERE.

Down District Council will unveil its plans for the proposed Saintfield Community Centre at a Public Consultation to be held in Saintfield High School on Tuesday 7th October at 7.30 pm.

The council members and consultants in attendance will focus on the plans for the Belfast Road site shown above, and no other topics will be discussed.