Last Update - 21 November 2013

24th. March 1909 Telegraph

On Thursday evening a very successful gathering took place in connection with the local parish church, in the Londonderry Schools. There was a very large attendance, and after tea the chair was occupied by the rector, the Rev. W.L.T. Whatham, B.A. A very interesting programme was gone through, speeches being made by the chairman, Mr. T.R. Lavery, J.P., Mr. M.H. Walker, and Rev. H. Swanzy, all heartily welcoming the new curate, the Rev. C.P. Fisher, B.A., to the parish. Mr. Fisher suitably replied. The musical programme was a capital one, the following taking part -- Mrs. Whatham, Miss Stevenson, Miss M'Neilly, Miss Morgan, Miss Kelso, Miss Harrison, Miss Savage, Miss Croke, Miss Spence, Misses A. and J. M'Neilly, Mr. Harris, Mr. Mercer, and the band of the Church Lads Brigade.

NEWTOWNARDS BOARD OF GUARDIANS. Saturday 27th. March 1909 Belfast Telegraph

The Chairman, Mr. Wm. Gowan, presided at the weekly meeting of this Board held to-day. The thanks of the Board were accorded to General Montgomery for a gift of pictorial periodicals for the use of the inmates. The contract for the supply of tea to the house at 1s 6d a lb. was, on the advice of the tea-tester, given to Messrs. Job Brothers, Newtownards. Dr. Harriett Neill, Bangor, wrote accepting nomination on the Ladies' Boarding-out Committee.

17th. July 1909 British Medical Journal
The news that a serious accident had befallen Dr.McIlroy was received with deep regret in Co.Down. Dr.McIlroy had been in his usual excellent health, and on July 2nd. was returning on his cycle from a country visit when he collided with a vehicle when turning a corner, and was thrown on his head and rendered unconcious. He received at once every aid possible, both from his fellow-townsmen and fellow-practitioners, and also from Belfast, but it was seen that he was suffering from fracture of the base of the skull. He never regained conciousness and died on July 6th. The funeral took place on July 8th. and the deepest respect was shown to the deceased by the very large attendance of all classes and creeds from the little town of Newtownards and surrounding County. Dr.McIlroy who had been 29 years in Newtownards, was distinguished by many high qualities; quiet and reserved, yet he was shrewd and had much humour. He was untiting in his professional duties, and although self-sacrificing, could administer a gentle rebuke which soon stopped imposition. He had been a student of Queens College Belfast, and received the M.D. of the Royal University in 1880. He was civil surgeon of the troops of the 5th. Battalion Royal irish Rifles  and Medical Attendant to the Royal irish Constabulary and Post Office officials. Dr.McIlroy leaved a widow and one son, with whom very sincere sympathy is felt. The son is a medical student.

6th. November 1909 Chronicle - McAlpine the Newtownards Hercules
The "South African News" Capetown 11th. October 1909 - in announcing the advent of Madame Fillis Circus refers in the following glowing terms to exhibit of a Newtownards man: - There were two items on the programme which appeared to appeal to the audience with more than usual interest. They were McAlpines feats of strength and Mons. Virets contortions. McAlpine a fine figure of a man posed for several minutes to exhibit his points after which he got to work on dumb-bells and bar-bells and weights running from 50lbs. to 120lbs. each. By invitation a number of the audience attempted to lift eith one hand the 225lb. bar-bell above the head. There was a £10 note as the prize. Most were able to lift the weight by both hands to the level of the knee, one got it up to his chest but none could raise it a foot with only one hand. The £10 note is therefore still on offer.McAlpines display was marked by an easiness which was in keeping with the unostentatious way in which a man does his work when he knows he is the master of it.

13th. November 1909 Chronicle - The Newtownards Hercules
The "Cape Argus" dated 16th. October contained the following regarding a Newtownards man born and bred, but who is referred to as a Belfast man: - Strongest man in Ireland. - Hercules up to date at Madame Fillis Circus is personified by the McAlpine, a pleasant spoken Irishman from County Belfast, who first lifted himself into fame by winning Herr Pagels £100 gage. The McAlpine comes from of range of a race of farmers and sailors. He walks bareheaded, rides a bicycle a good deal and says to aspiring youth who would be strong "Use will power and no apparatus". There are six brothers McAlpine, all of them big strong men and they have wisely chosen all of them a seperate country.
One of them by the way has just been acclaimed heavyweight boxing champion of the 21st. Lancers while other two of them have been the best "turn" in England. Our McAlpine likes the Cape and has put on weight, at least 30lbs. during a 4 year sojourn. He has a standing challenge out in England for the championship at 11 stone weight lifting, and 5 years ago was the strongest man in Ireland at an open competition at the Belfast Palace. McAlpine is the only one in the world to issue a challenge for weight lifting to the knee. He offers £10 at every performance and no-one has ever won it. Nor has a volunteer ever raided the 225lb. bar-bell to arms length above the head and won £100. Will it ever be done by any other than the McAlpine. The lift to the knee is sheer strength "he says" but from there the skill begins. His jumping is marvellous - standing long jump 11 feet and he can take a standing jump of 8 foot and still clear a 2 foot bar.  McAlpine is not a boxer and in private he has that inate gentleness that is always allied to great strength.