The Down Recorder is a weekly newspaper published in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland every Wednesday.[2] It was the first newspaper to be published in the town, and was owned by Conway Pilson, the son of a local historian.[1] At that time, news from London and abroad came by boat to Belfast in the evening.However, the boat rested for 12 hours at Newry, 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Downpatrick.Pilson organised a horse relay to bring the news from there so he could publish it before any rival papers.