This was a significant year in the history of the Society.

The Downe Society was formed in 1947 and its first meeting was held in Denvir's Hotel in January 1948. The Downe Societyand the Lecale Historical Societyamalgamated in 2009 to become the present Lecale & Downe Historical Society

The seventieth anniversary was marked by a celebratory dinner in Denvir's in September 2018. This was a most enjoyable event and the guest speaker, Dr. Eamon Phoenix, fully rose to the occasion with a splendid talk on the 'decade of centenaries'.

The Society's programme of lectures and outing continued to reflect the diverse range of members' interests.

The Society had a most successful outing in June to Collon, in County Louth. We visited Collon House, which many of us had driven past on numerous occasions, without realising that it was there. It is opposite the lovely Parish church which we also visited, after an excellent lunch in the house. The house was once the home of John Foster the last speaker of the Irish House of Commons, before the Act of Union. As well as having a most interesting tour of the house we saw the lovely garden which even on a wet morning was stunning.

It has been a busy year, as the Society also contributed to, and supported the erection of St Patrick's Cross opposite the front door of Down Cathedral. This was a scheme to make a new cross modelled on fragments of the original 8th Century cross, which had been located in various places and were cleaned at the Down County Museum, after research by and under the leadership of the Curator Mike King. The Society's contribution is acknowledged on a plaque at the Cathedral.

Members are looking forward to another rewarding season.