Portavogie Culture and Heritage Society
THE CHANGING SCENES OF PORTAVOGIE
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Our 2nd World War themed tea dance
The recent Tea Dance was held in conjunction with a variety of Portavogie Groups who worked together to ensure a great celebration was enjoyed by many people. This included the organisers dressing up in 2nd World War outfits while serving a delicious cream tea. We had 1940s music ably performed by Kilmood with beautiful singing by Abigail Carson. We learned of experiences in Eastern Bloc countries during this time and were entertained by members of other cultures showing us a variety of their traditional crafts.
Our trip to Lochgall to present our project's progress to the National Lottery Heritage Fund
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Burns Night 2014
Booklet & DVD Launch
Burns Night 2015
Our very own Elaine McFeeters and Carole Gilmore appearing on BBC Radio Ulsters
A Kist o Words which began in 2002. It has been BBC Northern Ireland's longest-running Ulster-Scots radio programme. Each week they bring you a selection of music, poetry, news and crack from all over the country. Tune into BBC Radio Ulster and find out more about the language, culture, literary traditions and history of Ulster-Scots.
HAVE A LISTEN TO ELAINE AND CAROL BELOW AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
JUST CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM TO TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE BBC SITE
Oul Pumps In Portavogie
 from near Butterlump |  near Portaferry |  Before restoration |
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 During restoration |  Finished Restoration |  from the Orchard near the 'drome. |
Before and during the 50s and 60s there was a plethora of pumps in Portavogie. Previous to this, the locals relied on wells which often involved a long trek with heavy metal buckets to get water for washing, cooking, drinking etc.
The installation of pumps was a welcome development.
The village pump was once the focal point of rural life, providing the only water supply to communities and offering a place in village greens and local roads for people to come together.
Sadly, with the introduction of piped mains, the village pumps rapidly fell out of favour, often neglected or removed from where they once proudly stood.
There were many different designs and the one remaining pump in Portavogie was made in the neighbouring village of Portaferry by J Wilson. The site of an earlier pump can still be seen but the encroachment by the sea forced another pump to be erected slightly further inland.
The New Harbour Road alone boasted 4 pumps along its 1/4 mile stretch.
This last pump was refurbished by Portavogie Culture and Heritage Society with funds provided by the then Ards Borough Council. Sadly it still lacks its ' cow tail' but I hope you'll agree looks better than it did!!