South Down Alliance 26/27

09/10/2026

09/10/2026

Current Service Updates

09/10/2026

It is the first time a tree in Northern Ireland has won the national title since it was launched in 2014.

09/10/2026

“I can’t really put it into words how depressing it was to be standing with a friend and her family from the Garvaghy Road last weekend as if we had all been sucked back into some sort of twisted time warp"

09/10/2026

Hospital waiting lists, access to GPs and the state of social care suggest the job is far from finished.

09/10/2026

After repeated attempts DfI are refusing to do anything with regards to extending speed limits or placing traffic calming measures into the Castlewellan Road between the Burrendale Hotel and Church Road/ Tollymore Road junction.

My request has been with them since the beginning of July.
The Department of 'no' strikes again.
🛻 🛻 🚔 ⚠️

Dear Cllr Truesdale

Our Ref: 206452-26

Thank you for your correspondance dated 8th July 2026 regarding concerns about the Castlewellan Rd at Church Hill. Firstly, can I apologise for the delay in getting back to you, the delay has been as a result of ongoing resource pressures within the Department.

DFI Roads receives many requests related to traffic management issues on the road network and in order to target our resources to the areas of greatest need of improvement all requests must be prioritised.

Following a review of PSNI collision data over a Two-year period, there have been no recorded collisions at this location. The Department have no road safety concerns at this time.

While we understand that residents may be aware of “damage only” incidents or near misses that do not appear on official statistics, the Department must prioritise engineering interventions based on validated collision data to ensure resources are directed where the risk of injury is highest.

With regards to any excessive speeding or driver behaviour concerns, please note that the enforcement of existing speed limits is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

I trust this information is of help and explains the Departments position with this matter.

Yours sincerely,

DFI Southern

09/10/2026

This poem was penned by Helen Sky Madden from Belfast at the height of the RNLI negative rhetoric.

She was so incensed by people saying dreadful things about such a superb and highly regarded institution she decided to use her writing skills to remind people just what the RNLI do.

The institute have now published it officially, through their media team and supplied the background picture.
Newcastle RNLI
Seamus Mcconkey

A brilliant way to channel frustration when empty vessels are making the most noise.

Brilliant 👏 work 👏