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Former Councillor with Kilkeel
by VisitMourne
Urban Council
Cyril E. Stevenson
I was a Councillor for about five to seven years up to 1973 and represented the Official Unionist Party. Council business was predominantly quiet. The Council had a Unionist majority and relations between Councillors were good.
The main issue facing Kilkeel Urban District Council in the 1960s was the provision of housing. More people wanted to come and live in Kilkeel and the town has doubled in size in the last forty years. Building work was put out to tender with McMullans being the contractors. Among the new Council developments was Harbour Drive which was opened on 24th May 1960.
Notable events during my time as a Councillor included a visit in May 1970 by Lord Grey of Naunton, Governor of Northern Ireland, for the opening of a new road at Shore Bank, Kilkeel. Willie John McBride, the Ireland rugby player, also made a memorable visit to Kilkeel.
The Council was based in an office near the Masonic Hall in Greencastle Street. Meetings took place once a month in the evenings and business revolved around housing and planning. The Council had a Clerk, Junior Clerk and two administrators. Refuse collection was originally undertaken by Willie Aiken with a horse and cart. This was taken over by his son-in-law, who used a tractor and trailer and was paid by the Council.
My fellow Councillors came from different backgrounds and had a variety of occupations. The Chairman, James Stevenson, had been a policeman in Derry and had a milk round in Kilkeel. Robert George Hanna, who was Vice-Chairman was a furniture maker and sold timber. Other businessmen and craftsmen were George McVeigh, a tailor and John F. Speers, who owned a garage and also had an undertaking business. Two other Councillors, Arthur Coulter and Alfie Graham, were builders. Stanley McKee was a fisherman and Stanley Forsythe was a farmer as well as owning a shop in the town.
After Newry and Mourne District Council was set up in 1973, I did not continue as a Councillor as the new area was too large. My brother, James Stevenson, also retired from being a Councillor at that time.
