Secreta
sRe
ort 2021
2022
The Society's year began with our AGM. The previous management and
committee apart from the Treasurers position with Marie steppin8 down due
to health problem5 were elected to serve for another year. As there were no
nominations for a replacement George James agreed to look after the flnances
meantime.
After the business was completed the re-elected Chair Margo Groves
welcomed the speaker for the evening Mr Robert Trotter who gave a very
interesting and informative talk on the History of the Annesley Gardens and
Estate.
In October we were shocked and dismayed at the death of our Presidents wife
following a short Illness. She had been a long standing and faithful member of
the So£lety since its Inception. Her generous nature and willingness to help and
support members and the wider community are sadly missed by everyone.
The October speaker was Mike Hartwell, a keen photographer from Klllyleagh,
HIS inspirlng talk with flrst rate photographs showed the beauty of many local
areas In Co Down during varlous seasons.
November speaker Tatiana Sokolskaia from Russia now Ilving here in
Rathfriland brought food for thought as she described the harsh condStion5 she
and family members went through growing up and living in Soviet Russia
before eventually moving to the West.
January brought disappointment as we had to cancel our Annual Dinner due to
Covid restrictions.
In February Clive Scoular, well known hlstorian, lecturer and wrlter of several
books visited us once a8ain and talked about the "Stolen Village" of Baltimore
Co Cork and in March Primrose Wilson and her husband kept us enthralled
with details and phot05 of the work of the Follies Trust.
April and May saw us ernbarking on two outings, firstly to Pontyzpass With Roy
Copeland and secondly to Klllyleagh and a visit to the well.known castle along
with a bit of retail shopping.

In conclusion I would like to thank the committees for their sUPPOrt over the
year and you the members for coming out to the meetings for without you the
Society would founder. Thanks also to Barbara for all her hard work in getting
us grants to pay our way and to my husband George for keeping the books up
to date. To The Parish Centre Committee for letting us use the hall for our
meetings and Marie Mccomish, Caretaker for getting the hall ready each
month.
Mr Presldent, fellow members this concludes my report.

Secreta
'sRe
ort 2022
23
Our Society's year began in September 2022 with the AGM. The
President, vice president, Chair, vice Chair secretary were re-elected,
George James, Noreen Smith, Catherine Fegan, Shelagh Henry and
Barbara Dixon were also duly elected.
The speakers for the evenin8 were Arlene Copeland and Ann Harper
from Knock Iveagh Group who gave a very interesting talk about the
Ancient Burial Ground at the Knock Hill. In October Glynn Kelso
enthralled us Wlth old maps and in November we enjoyed a talk with
Una Walsh accompanied with slides of Slieve Gullion area.
In January 2023 we began our 50th Annivsery celebrations with a
dinner in the Downshire Hotel, Hilltown and since then we have had
a very busy year.
February saw Bronagh McAtasney from Nl Digital Film screen delight
us with films from thelr archives of the Mourne area featuring some
of our own members and in March our speakers were Martina Byrne
and Mary Savage from the Shared History Group and in April the life
of Andrew George Scott aka Captain Moonlight was explored
through music and verse in Chandlers House. Our speaker Ciaran
Conliffe, blogger from Belfast had done a lot of research about Capt.
Moonlight and brought many of hi5 escapades to life,
In May our annual outing was a bus tour of the Slieve Gullion area
with Una Walsh a very knowledgeable and extremely talented guide
followed by light refreshments at Killeavy Castle annex.
Behind the scenes during the year Barbara, Patricia, George, Margot,
Dr Shannon and myself have worked extensively on the Historical
Trail Booklet first published in 2000. It has taken quite a few
meetings and endless discussions before we were satisfied with the
new enhanced and extended booklet. Many of the old plaques which
were erected back then were showing signs of wear and tear due to

weather over the past 23 years and needed replaced. At present the
new plaques with QR codes are being put in place which we hope
will meet with everyone's approval. However, we still have to record
the information so the general public can hear as well as read the
booklet and we hope they will prove to be popular with residents
and tourists alike.
All these events this year were made possible because of the
generous grant from the National Heritage Grant and we are
indebted to them, without their help we would not have been able
to have this lasting accolade. Our thanks go to Barbara for that. I
think that Rathfriland Historical Society should be very proud of what
we have achieved not only with this but the fact that the Society has
continued for 50 years, have published several books, now got our
own webpage up and running with the help of Sam Faulds and Mark
Potts 2 very helpful gentlemen who have agreed to help maintain it
for the next 3 years.
My thanks to all the committee for their help and support over the
past year also to Patricia, Barbara, Margot, George and lan for all
thelr help,