Warrenpoint

Template:Infobox Irish Place Warrenpoint (from Irish An Phointe 'the point' - alternatively Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua meaning "the promontory/point of the red-haired servant") is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying on Carlingford Lough. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 7,000. It is known for the Maiden of the Mournes festival and for the nearby Narrow Water Castle dating from the 1660s. Also nearby is the Burren Heritage Centre. The town docks are capable of handling large vessels.

History

Until around the late 17th century Warrenpoint was all but a series of huts used by fishermen. The development of the town didn't really begin until Victorian times when seaside holidays became popular.

Warrenpoint has seen violence during the course of the Troubles; for more information see The Troubles in Warrenpoint.

Places of interest

Old Narrow Water Castle just outside the town is a three-storey tower house built in 1560 to protect the entrance to the Newry river estuary. Across the road is the New Narrow Water Castle built in 1840. There is also a golf club in Warrenpoint which has held many competitions over the years, recently it held the Ulster boys and it also held the Ladies European Tour in 2003 which Sophie Gustasfen won.

The town was also used as a doppelganger for Bundoran in the film The Butcher Boy, especially the exterior of the Star of the Sea Convent and the Victorian Swimming Baths.

Education

• Carrick Primary School
• Clontifleece Primary School
• Dromore Road Primary School
• St. Dallan's Primary School
• St. Mark's High School

2001 Census

Warrenpoint is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 7,000 people living in Warrenpoint. Of these:

• 26.7% were aged under 16 years and 16.8% were aged 60 and over
• 48.3% of the population were male and 51.7% were female
• 90.0% were from a Catholic background and 8.5% were from a Protestant background
• 4.3% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

People

• Irish literary critic Denis Donoghue was brought up in Warrenpoint.
• Social Democratic and Labour Party politician Carmel Hanna is from the town.
• Actor Patch Connolly also lived in Warrenpoint.
• Golfer Ronan Rafferty was born here.[1]

References

• Culture Northern Ireland

External links

• Clonallon Church, Warrenpoint

• St. Peter's Gaelic Athletic Association, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua
• Warrenpoint area photos from the past and some from the present day
• Maiden of the Mourne's Festival Website

See also

• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• Wikipedia page on Warrenpoint GAA