Warrenpoint: Difference between revisions
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Walter Harris in 1744 stated that “Warrings Point” is about a mile or so North West of Rose Trevor. Later maps show the town as Warrens Point and then according to Bishop Crawford, the first mention of the name “Warrenpoint” occurred in 1835. |
Walter Harris in 1744 stated that “Warrings Point” is about a mile or so North West of Rose Trevor. Later maps show the town as Warrens Point and then according to Bishop Crawford, the first mention of the name “Warrenpoint” occurred in 1835. |
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Its scenic beauty and coastal location instigated rapid development so that the population in 1824 was 500 |
Its scenic beauty and coastal location instigated rapid development so that the population in 1824 was 500, in 1831 was 1,000 and in 1884 2000 rising to 5000 in the summer with the influx of visitors. In 1836 there was a school, a court house, a savings bank and a farming society. |
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Fairs were held once a month and a market every Friday. In the mid-19th century, [[Newry]] merchants obtained a government grant to create a tidal dock at the village, as prior to 1850 ships of above 150 tonnes could not get further up the lough than Narrow Water. |
Fairs were held once a month and a market every Friday. In the mid-19th century, [[Newry]] merchants obtained a government grant to create a tidal dock at the village, as prior to 1850 ships of above 150 tonnes could not get further up the lough than Narrow Water. |
Revision as of 10:53, 12 June 2010
Warrenpoint
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Warrenpoint from the Cooley Mountains, across Carlingford Lough | |
Population | 6,981 |
Irish grid reference | J145180 |
• Belfast | 44 mi (71 km) |
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | NEWRY |
Postcode district | BT34 |
Dialling code | 028, +44 28 |
Police | Northern Ireland |
Fire | Northern Ireland |
Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Website | [1] |
Warrenpoint is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the northern shore of Carlingford Lough. The town sprang up within the townland of Ringmackilroy (from Irish Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua 'point of the red-haired servant'). It is commonly referred to locally as "The Point"
It is known for its scenic location, the Maiden of the Mournes festival, the Blues on the Bay music festival and the the nearby Narrow Water Castle dating from the 1660s.
In the 2001 Census it had a population of 7,000.
History
What is now Warrenpoint long consisted of a small number of basic dwellings inhabited by people reliant on fishing for their survival and sustenance.
The name "Warrenpoint" is now believed to have been taken from the name of a family that lived here around the latter half of the 18th century. Father Bernard Trainor (who had an interest in place names of the area) mentioned that a family called “Waring” lived here and had a house called “Warings Point”
Walter Harris in 1744 stated that “Warrings Point” is about a mile or so North West of Rose Trevor. Later maps show the town as Warrens Point and then according to Bishop Crawford, the first mention of the name “Warrenpoint” occurred in 1835.
Its scenic beauty and coastal location instigated rapid development so that the population in 1824 was 500, in 1831 was 1,000 and in 1884 2000 rising to 5000 in the summer with the influx of visitors. In 1836 there was a school, a court house, a savings bank and a farming society.
Fairs were held once a month and a market every Friday. In the mid-19th century, Newry merchants obtained a government grant to create a tidal dock at the village, as prior to 1850 ships of above 150 tonnes could not get further up the lough than Narrow Water.
A railway connection opened on 9 May 1849,[1] increasing Warrenpoint's popularity as a holiday destination. and Warrenpoint became popular as a resort town. Thousands flocked to the resort every year, where most took the passenger ferry to Omeath in County Louth. The Warrenpoint railway station closed in January 1965. The Ferry remains in operation but only in the summer months from May to September.
A bandstand in the town park provided concerts and a swimming pool was built in 1908. The baths were opened by Captain Roger Hall on Whit Monday, the 8th of June in that year, but they are now closed to the public.
On 6 February 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Republican Army ambushed an Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) patrol in Warrenpoint. The ambush took place on Seaview Road and one USC constable was killed.[2]
On 27 August 1979, during "the Troubles", the Provisional Irish Republican Army ambushed a British Army convoy at nearby Narrow Water Castle. Eighteen soldiers were killed – the British Army's greatest loss-of-life in a single incident during the conflict. This is often called the Warrenpoint ambush.
On 12th April 1989, "the Troubles" Joanne Reilly was killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in van bomb attack on Warrenpoint Royal Ulster Constabulary base. Inadequate warning given. [3]
Demographics
Warrenpoint is classified as a small town by the Northern Ireland 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
Places of interest
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.
Today a small passenger ferry service operates out of Warrenpoint to the village of Omeath in County Louth. The trip takes about fifteen minutes. Other cruises include trips to Narrow Water Castle and Bay & Harbour Cruises.
Two small inland lakes , the "Mill Dam" and the "Waterworks" offer a variety of fishing opportunities. A permit is needed to fish these lakes, which are located about 1km from the town centre.
Warrenpoint Promenade was used as a backdrop for Bundoran in the film The Butcher Boy, especially the exterior of the Star of the Sea Convent and the Edwardian swimming baths.
Education
- Carrick Primary School
- Clontifleece Primary School
- Dromore Road Primary School
- St Dallan's Primary School is a mixed school of about 700 pupils opened in September 2000 by the then Education Minister Martin McGuiness to merge Star of the Sea and St. Peters Primary Schools and is built on the site of the former St. Peters Primary School. The Architects where McLean & Forte Partnership Belfast.
- St Mark's High School
People
- British Judo Kata Champion and world competitor Martin Savage was born in Newry, but has lived in Warrenpoint for most of his life.
- 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.[2]
- Musician Vedran Smailović lives here.
- Northern Irish writer and literary critic, Forrest Reid, died in Warrenpoint in 1947.
See also
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- 1979 Warrenpoint Ambush
- Warrenpoint GAA
References
- ^ "Warrenpoint station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
- ^ http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/august_1920.htm
- ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/alpha/R.html