Rathkeltair Community Association

03/10/2026

HALLOWEEN 2026

🧙‍♀️🎃 a spooky hello to everyone 🎃🧙‍♀️

Just a wee reminder that our county Town’s mini Halloween festival will be returning on Saturday 31st October 2026

We will have the forever popular fancy dress parade (with great prizes / registration in Down County Museum from 5.00pm, then brace yourself for a walkthrough of our spectacular spooky trail, visit the festival marquee with plenty of entertainment on offer (disco, magician, dance troupe etc) & our fabulous firework grand finale 🎃👏😊☠️💀

For 2026 the event will again be based in St Patrick’s Square & our friends in the Saint Patrick Centre (Ghost stories & reptile 🦎display) & Down County Museum (Fancy dress) will also be spookily involved .. 💀👻🎃 🧙‍♀️

So keep the early evening free on Saturdsy 31st October & start getting those scary Halloween costumes ready .. 👽👻💀☠️

Please like & share 👻🎃

fans
Down County Museum
The Saint Patrick Centre
Housing Executive
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Visit Mourne Gullion Strangford
Police Newry, Mourne & Down

13/08/2026

Rathkeltair Community Association are saddened to hear the news of the death of another one of our long term residents. Rest in Peace Mick.

MILLAR, 10th August 2026 MICHAEL, peacefully at Silverbirch Nursing Home, dearly beloved husband of the late Christina and a loving uncle and friend. May he rest in peace.

Requiem Mass will be held in St. Patrick’s Church Downpatrick on Monday 17th August at 10.00am, interment afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Killough Road, Downpatrick. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on his soul.

Very deeply regretted and will be sadly missed by his sorrowing family and friends.

13/07/2026

Rathkeltair Community Association offers our sincere condolences to Ita and all the family at this very difficult time. Rip Bob

12/03/2026

27/01/2026

Bins will now be collected on Saturday instead of today

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄 – 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄; 𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐𝟕 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 #𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞
In line with Met Office Yellow and Amber warnings for Tuesday 27 January, some disruption to our services is expected 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖:

🟠 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
Bin collections across the district are 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝. For safety reasons please do not leave your bin out overnight during adverse weather.

➡️ 𝐁𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒: A catch-up service for missed bins, due to be collected on 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟕 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 will run in all areas on 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝟏 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲. Please leave your bin out for collection at kerbside for 𝟔𝐚𝐦.

➡️ If your bin is due to be collected on 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟖 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲, please leave your bin out for collection at the later collection time of 𝟕:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦.

🟠 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬
Household Recycling Centres will be 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃. They will reopen as normal on Wednesday subject to safety checks and any necessary repairs being completed.

🟠 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬
Public Toilets will be 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 and will reopen as normal on Wednesday morning.

🟠 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬
Newcastle and Killough harbour gates are 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 and will reopen Wednesday morning subject to safety checks and any necessary repairs being completed. There is no access for pedestrians or vehicles.

🟠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
The district’s four Forest/Country Parks (Castlewellan, Delamont, Kilbroney and Slieve Gullion), Warrenpoint Park and Community Trails, Play Parks and Open Spaces are 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃. All associated facilities (Forest drives, Mountain Bike Trails etc) will also be closed.

Due to the increased likelihood and risks associated with falling branches and debris. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐑 𝐕𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐒.

Please note that there may be some delays in the re-opening of the Parks and Open Spaces on Wednesday morning (to facilitate safety inspections) but we will endeavour to reinstate public access as soon as possible.

If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea.

In an emergency, call 📞999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change, when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For more information: https://tinyurl.com/2tj2ebwa

Please keep an eye on our social media channels for further updates.

Stay

17/12/2025

Rathkeltair Community Association would like to wish all our Friends and Residents a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas!

(Dear Drivers please drive and park your vehicle with care and consideration of all as Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated in Saint Brigid's Church at 6.30pm).

🎄

09/12/2025

Rathkeltair Community Association offers our sincere condolences to the Vaughan family at this very sad time.

VAUGHAN (Nee Rice) 8th DECEMBER 2025, CECELIA peacefully at home, 9 Rathkeltair Road, Downpatrick, surrounded by her loving family, dearly beloved wife of the late Peter, much loved mother of Patricia, Denise, Karen, Stephen and Gareth, dear mother-in-law of Brian, Brian, Peter, Mandana and Judith, loving grandmother of Michael, Ashleigh, Aaron, Jennifer, Martin, Conor, Rory, Eimear, Matthew, Zach, Nicholas, Jonas and Imogen and great-grandmother of Theo and Elliot. May she rest in peace.

Requiem Mass will be held in St. Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick on Wednesday 10th December at 12.00 noon, interment afterwards in Struell Cemetery. St. Martin pray for her.

Family and friends welcome to call at her late home on Tuesday 9th December between 10.00am and 8.00pm.

No flowers please, donations may be made in lieu, if desired to Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support c/o Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors, 51 Church Street, Downpatrick BT30 6EH.