6. Leisure

Like Pat Hudson, and indeed many other young people growing up in the 1930s, Cecil enjoyed hiking and youth hostelling. However, Cecil took his interests and professional knowledge further by helping to establish the hostels at Kinnahalla, Slievenaman, Bloody Bridge, Silent Valley and Aughnaloopy. He and his friends actually built some of these. During his late thirties he rented a climber’s cottage at the head of Slievenaman Valley, which he enjoyed as an escape from his Belfast flat. As a result, in his professional career, Cecil understood the need for preserving a place of retreat, a ‘wilderness’ that should remain undeveloped and offer the opportunity to become active and engage with the natural environment.

Whilst the Mournes offered Cecil the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ and experience solitude, many of his photographs include friends and family and demonstrate the benefits of spending time together enjoying the scenic landscape. He photographed numerous outdoor pursuits including climbing and water-skiing and his memorial stone at Trassey Bridge ensures that he is still remembered by hill-walkers today.

The photographs in this chapter capture these periods of quiet reflection and friendship as well as more adventurous pursuits.

6.2 Dundrum Dunes

The dunes at Murlough are an important ecological environment, and as with other sensitive areas, it is important to balance protection with accessibility for visitors. This photograph was probably taken during a Summer School for planners. (N-041)

6.3 Crocknafeola Picnic Tables Aug ’67

Cecil and his colleagues advocated the inclusion of picnic tables in Mourne car parks and he invariably travelled with a packed lunch. The group in this photograph seem to be enjoying numerous home comforts including freshly-made tea or coffee thanks to their tilley stove. (N-192)

6.4 Kinnahalla Youth Hostel

Kinnahalla Youth Hostel was one of several that Cecil helped to establish in the area. Able to accommodate up to 44 people, it was purpose-built in 1959 following a grant received from the King George VI Memorial Fund (Northern Ireland Ministry of Development, 1970). In the 1990s it was converted into an Outward Bound Centre to accommodate up to 14 children for the Richmond Fellowship. (N-169)

6.5 Silent Valley – Binnian, June ’68

This atmospheric image gives an idea of the perspective offered by the Mournes. Cecil was an experienced hill walker and understood the importance of being prepared for sudden changes in weather conditions such as the mist that has descended on this particular view. However, he was conscious that the increasing numbers of inexperienced visitors would not have the same understanding and recommended that routes be clearly marked with signposts and information boards. (N-146)

6.6 and 6.7 Traffic jam Silent Valley 29.5.66 and Silent Valley SS Bus Sept ’67

Cecil took this photograph on the left to demonstrate the issue of congestion during holiday periods and the pressure being put on the narrow road networks, but at the same time it illustrates the popularity of Silent Valley as a visitor attraction. Right: This photograph was taken on the occasion of an organised tour of the Mourne area and the northern part of County Armagh, as part of the Royal Town Planning Institute Summer School, which was held in Belfast in 1967. (N-358 and N-362)

6.9 Mountain Centre Tollymore

Tollymore Forest Park was, and remains, another popular site for recreation. When it opened in 1955 it was the first forest park in Northern Ireland and by 1966 there were up to 160,000 visitors a year (Evans, 2005). The site has been extensively developed since this photograph was taken, to provide facilities for the increasing number of visitors. (N-890)

6.11 Newcastle – power boats Sept ’67

As well as the parks and mountains, the sea provided great opportunities for recreation. Here a group have gathered at the harbour to watch the powerboats and someone who appears to be a very proficient water-skier. How long he remained upright after the photograph was taken is anyone’s guess. (N-417)

6.12 Newcastle Boat Pool Aug ’68

This pool was established where the Tollymore River ponds before joining the sea at Newcastle and is still very popular with small children. (N-410)

6.13 Dinneywater and Bridge, 29.5.66

This idyllic photograph shows the simple pleasure to be gained in exploring the natural environment and the importance of escape and adventure for children as well as adults. (N-333)

6.14 & Hen Mountain CCPR Climbing Instruction, Jan ’67 and 6.15 CCPR Mountaineering Course

The Tollymore National Outdoor Centre began as a mountain centre (see previous image in this chapter) managed by the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR). It provided accommodation and mountaineering training for brave enthusiasts such as these. (N-182 and N-185)

6.16 Bloody Bridge Car Park Aug ’68

Forty years ago it was quite common for families to stop and park their caravans at the side of roads rather than in serviced parks. The lack of facilities didn’t seem to spoil their holidays but as visitor numbers increased, some control became necessary. (N-382)

6.17 Tyrella Beach Shop, 22.3.66

This has long been a popular destination for families who wanted a quieter place than the bustle of Newcastle, but still with the magnificent backdrop of the Mournes. (N-432)

References

Archaeological Survey of Northern Ireland, 1966. Archaeological Survey of County Down. HMSO: Belfast. Berry, R.G. 1928. “Report on the work carried out at Drumena with Note to Plan of Drumena Cashel by A. Robinson”. Report and proceedings of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society 46-55. Brett, C.E.B. 1973. Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in the Towns and Villages of East Down including Ardglass, Killough, Dundrum, Clough, Seaforde, Loughinisland, Killyleagh, Killinchy and Crossgar. Ulster Architectural Heritage Society: Belfast. Chart, D.A. (Ed.) 1940. A Preliminary Survey of the Ancient Monuments of Northern Ireland. HMSO: Belfast. Evans, E.E. 2005. Centenary Edition of Mourne Country: Landscape and Life in South Down. Dundalgan Press (W. Tempest) Ltd.: Dundalk. Harris, W. 1977. The Antient and Present State of the County of Down. Davidson Books: Ballynahinch. King, Mike, editor, Twentieth Century Down, Down Survey 2003. Maxwell, I. 2010. Down: History and Guide. The History Press Ireland: Dublin. Monuments Advisory Council For Northern Ireland. HMSO: Belfast. Moore, S. 2012. The Archaeology of Slieve Donard: A Cultural Biography of Ulster’s Highest Mountain, Down Survey 2012. Northern Ireland Ministry of Development, 1970. Mourne: A Study by Technical Officers of the Ministry of Development. HMSO: Belfast. Rankin, P.J. 2010. Tollymore Park: The Gothick Revival of Thomas Wright & Lord Limerick. The Follies Trust: Belfast. Simpson, M Lesley, editor, Down on the farm, Down Survey 2009. Totten, A. 2009. The Tenth: A Century of Scouting at the 10th Belfast. 10th Belfast Scout Group: Belfast.

Down County Museum’s collection includes many other photographs and objects associated with the Mournes. There are, for instance, photographs taken by D J McNeill, as well as archive material, paintings and engravings. If you would like to see any of these items please contact the Museum.

D J McNeill, Cutting granite (DJ-05-02-08-02) Photograph: D J McNeill, Work on the Ben Crom Reservoir, 1950s (DJ-36-01-01)

Photograph: D J McNeill, Pipeline construction, (DJ-05-75-33-01) Image to come

Caption to come

Watercolour, Jim Manley, Silent Valley (DB405 1992-49)

Oil painting: Tom Carr, Mixed farm, Slievenaman (DB543 1992-71)

Print, R Creswell Boak, Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea, (DB42 1985-102/5) Engraving: Detail from The Mourne Mountains – a new field for tourists, The Graphic, 1877 Wooden plough (DB88 1988-3)

National Museum Northern Ireland has an extensive collection of photographs of Northern Ireland taken by Cecil Newman, the most important of which are his aerial views. Some of these can be viewed on line at http://www.nmni.com/Home/Online-Collections then search the Photographs section. Contact the museum through the website or at 028 90428428, to find out more.