Warrenpoint

Template:Infobox Irish Place Warrenpoint 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. The name of the town is from the Irish An Phointe, meaning "the point"; another name originates from a local townland Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, "the promontory/point of the red-haired servant".

History

Until around the late 17th Century Warrenpoint was all but a series of mud-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.

Education

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.

SDLP politician Carmel Hanna is from the town.

References

Culture Northern Ireland

External links

Clonallon Church, Warrenpoint