1920-1939

This period of time saw great change in Kilkeel and Mourne with lots of improvements to the town, transport and employment but 1939 saw the beginning of World War 2 and big changes would be felt throughout the entire area. In 1924 David McAtee and Sons pioneered a bus call service from Kilkeel to Belfast for the select few who could afford to travel in this luxury. Mourne District Hospital opened in 1927 in the building which was previously the fever hosptial during the Great Famine. Another fishing tragedy took place in this era with the loss of the SS Alder in 1937. The captain was Kilkeel man Robert Campbell who was lost to the sea near Greencastle along with his wife Kate and four other crewmen when it was struck by the SS Cavan.