County Down Contae an Dúin Coontie Doun[1]
Location
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County seat:	Downpatrick
Area:	2,448 km²
Population (est. Poetic description This dinnseanchas poem named Ard Ruide (Ruide Headland poetically describes the kingdoms of Ireland Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster A county town is the 'capital' of a County in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. Downpatrick ( is a town in County Down in Northern Ireland, about 33 km south of Belfast. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology )	516,000

County Down, (Irish: Contae an Dúin, meaning County of the Fort. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Ulster Scots: Coontie Doun. ) is one of the nine counties that form the province of Ulster and one of six counties that form Northern Ireland. Since the late 16th century the Island of Ireland has been divided into 32 counties ( Irish language contae or condae Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The county forms an area of 2,448 km² (945 square miles). The estimated population in 1992 was 416,600, a more recent approximation puts it at about 516,000. The county town is Downpatrick, the largest town is Bangor and the only city is Newry. Downpatrick ( is a town in County Down in Northern Ireland, about 33 km south of Belfast. Bangor (Beannchor is a large Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, with a population of 76403 people in the 2001 Census, making it the Newry ( short form An tIúr, "The Yew" is the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland and eighth on the island of Ireland. Counties are not administrative units of government in Northern Ireland - see Local government in Northern Ireland for details of the 26 local government districts. Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes

Down contains both the southernmost point in Northern Ireland (Cranfield Point) and the easternmost point on the island of Ireland (Burr Point). Cranfield Point is the southernmost point of Northern Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Burr Point is the easternmost point of mainland Northern Ireland, and the easternmost point of mainland Ireland.

The county borders County Antrim to the north, the Irish Sea to the east and County Armagh to the west. County Antrim ( Contae Aontroma or simply Aontroim in Irish) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties The Irish Sea ( Irish: Muir Éireann or Muir Meann; Scottish Gaelic: Muir Eireann Welsh: Môr Iwerddon, County Armagh ( Contae Ard Mhacha in Irish - from the height of Macha) is a county in Ulster in the north east of Ireland It is one of only two historic counties of Northern Ireland to presently have a majority of the population from a Protestant community background, according to the 2001 census. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 The other is County Antrim.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Places of interest 3 Towns & Villages 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links

Geography

Down contains two significant peninsulas: Ards Peninsula and Lecale peninsula. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. The Ards Peninsula is a Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland which separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel on The Lecale peninsula lies in the east of Northern Ireland, on the south-eastern side of County Down, covering an area of some 78 square miles between Downpatrick

The county has a coastline along Belfast Lough to the north and Carlingford Lough to the south (both of which have access to the sea). Belfast Lough ( Loch Lao or Loch Laoigh in Irish) is a large natural intertidal sea lough situated at the mouth of the River Lagan on the Carlingford Lough ( Loch Cairlinn in Irish) (Cairlinn being shortened form of "Cathair Linn" literally translated as "City of the Pool" is a sea Strangford Lough lies between the Ards Peninsula and the mainland. Strangford Lough ( describing the fast-flowing Narrows; and Loch Cuan in Irish meaning the calm Lough describing the gentle Waters Down also contains part of the shore of Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh (ˌlɒx ˈneɪ, ɫ̪ɔx ˈn̠ʲahax is a freshwater Lake in Northern Ireland. Smaller loughs include Lough Island Reavy. Lough Island Reavy is a small man-made Lough in Kilcoo, County Down, Northern Ireland.

The River Lagan forms most of the border with County Antrim. The River Lagan ( is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles (60 km from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast The River Bann also flows through the southwestern areas of the county. The River Bann (An Bhanna is the longest River in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 Miles (129 km) Other rivers include the Clanrye and Quoile. Newry River and River Clanrye are names for one of the rivers of Northern Ireland; it passes through the city of Newry and empties into Carlingford The Quoile ( is a river in County Down, Northern Ireland. Route The river begins its life as the Ballynahinch River which flows from west of the town

There are several islands off the Down coast: Mew Island, Light House Island and the Copeland Islands, all of which lie to the north of the Ards Peninsula. The Copeland Islands (or Oileáin Chóplainn in Irish) is a group of islands in the north Irish Sea, north of Donaghadee, County Down Gunn Island lies off the Lecale coast. In addition there are a large number of small islands in Strangford Lough.

County Down is where, in the words of the famous song by Percy French, "The mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea", and the granite Mourne Mountains continue to be renowned for their beauty. (William Percy French (1 May 1854 &ndash 24 January 1920 was one of Ireland 's foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day The Mourne Mountains or Mournes (Na Beanna Boirche a granite mountain range located in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland, are among the Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. Slieve Donard, at 848 metres (2,796 feet), is the highest peak in the Mournes and in Northern Ireland. Slieve Donard ( Sliabh Domangard or Sliabh Dónairt in Irish) is the highest Mountain in Northern Ireland, and in the province Another important peak is Slieve Croob, at 532 metres (1,775 ft), the source of the River Lagan. Slieve Croob (in Irish Sliabh Crúib) is the largest of a small group of peaks in the centre of County Down, north of the Mourne Mountains

Places of interest

• An area of County Down is known as the Brontë Homeland (situated between Rathfriland and Banbridge, where Patrick Brontë had his church), after Patrick Brontë (originally Prunty), father of Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë, who was born in this region. Rathfriland (in Irish: Ráth Fraoileann, ie Fraoile’s Fort is a large market Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. Banbridge ( is a rapidly growing Town in County Down, Northern Ireland. Reverend Patrick Brontë (born in Drumballyroney County Down, Ireland, 17 March 1777, died in Haworth, Anne Brontë (ˈbrɒnti (17 January 1820 &ndash 28 May 1849 was a British Novelist and Poet, the youngest member of the Brontë literary family Charlotte Brontë (ˈbrɒnti (21 April 1816 &ndash 31 March 1855 was a British Novelist, the eldest of the three famous Brontë sisters whose Novels Emily Jane Brontë (ˈbrɒnti ( July 30, 1818 – December 19, 1848) was a British Novelist and Poet, now best
• The city of Newry in the south of the county contains St Patrick's (Church of Ireland, 1578), overlooking the city centre from Church street, on the east side of the city, which is considered to be Ireland's first ever Protestant church. Newry ( short form An tIúr, "The Yew" is the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland and eighth on the island of Ireland. The Church of Ireland (Eaglais na hÉireann is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Newry is also the home of the first summit-level canal ever to be built in the British Isles. The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan
• Down is also home to Exploris, the Northern Ireland Aquarium, located in Portaferry, on the shores of Strangford Lough, on the Ards Peninsula. Exploris is a large Public aquarium situated in Portaferry, Northern Ireland. Portaferry ( is a large Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, at the southern end of the Ards Peninsula, near the Narrows at the entrance
• The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn is one of Ireland's oldest hostelries, with records dating back to 1614. Crawfordsburn ( is a small picturesque Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The inn claims that people who have stayed there include Jonathan Swift, Dick Turpin, Peter the Great, Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, former US president George Bush, and C. S. Lewis, who honeymooned there. Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 For other meanings see Dick Turpin (disambiguation. Richard (Dick Turpin ( September 21, 1705 in Hempstead Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets Anthony Trollope (April 24 1815 – December 6 1882 became one of the most successful prolific and respected English Novelists of the Victorian era. George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963 ^[2]
• Scrabo Tower, in Newtownards, was built as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. Scrabo Tower is located to the west of Newtownards in County Down, Northern Ireland. Newtownards (Baile Nua na hArda is a large Town in County Down, Northern Ireland.
• Saint Patrick is is reputed to be buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, reputedly alongside St. Saint Patrick (Patricius Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Roman Britain -born Christian Missionary and is the Patron saint Down Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is a Church of Ireland cathedral located in the town of Downpatrick in Northern Ireland Brigid and St. Columba.

Towns & Villages

• Annalong,
• Ardglass,
• Ballykinler,
• Ballyhalbert,
• Ballywalter,
• Banbridge,
• Bangor,
• Carryduff,
• Castlewellan,
• Cloughey,
• Coagh,
• Comber,
• Craigavad,
• Crawfordsburn,
• Crossgar,
• Donaghadee,
• Down,
• Downpatrick,
• Dromore,
• Dundonald,
• Dundrum,
• Gilford,
• Greyabbey,
• Groomsport
• Helen's Bay,
• Hillborough,
• Hilltown,
• Holywood,
• Kilkeel,
• Killinchy,
• Killough,
• Killyleagh,
• Kircubbin,
• Loughinisland,
• Maghera,
• Millisle,
• Moira,
• Newcastle,
• Newtownards,
• Newry,
• Portaferry,
• Portavogie,
• Rathfriland,
• Saintfield,
• Scarva,
• Seaforde,
• Strangford,
• Waringstown,
• Warrenpoint

See also

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Down)
• List of places in County Down
• List of townlands in County Down

References

Further reading

• Harris, Walter (attributed). Annalong (in Irish: Áth na Long, ie ford of the ships is a picturesque seaside Village in County Down, Northern Ireland situated Ardglass ( is a coastal Village in County Down, Northern Ireland and still a relatively important fishing harbour. Ballykinlar (sometimes known as Ballykinler is a Village in the Parish of Drumaroad County Down, Northern Ireland, 12 kilometres south west Ballyhalbert ( also Talsbotstoun in Ulster Scots) is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. Ballywalter ( also Whitkirk meaning "White Church" in Ulster Scots) is a Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, Banbridge ( is a rapidly growing Town in County Down, Northern Ireland. Bangor is a place-name found in a number of countries Australia Bangor New South Wales Bangor South Australia Carryduff ( is a small Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, about 10 kilometres (6 miles south of Belfast city centre Castlewellan (in Irish: Caisleán Uidhilín, ie Uidhilín’s Castle is a large Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated Cloughey (wrongly known as Cloghey, Cloghy and Cloughy) (in Irish: Clochaigh, ie stony place is a small Village in Coagh (ˈkoʊk) is a small Village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, situated five miles (8 km east of Cookstown. Comber ( is a small Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, 5 miles south of Newtownards, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. Crawfordsburn ( is a small picturesque Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. Crossgar (in Irish: An Chrois Ghearr, ie the short cross is a small Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, approximately 15 Donaghadee ( is a small Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated on the east coast about from Belfast and about eight miles (13 km Downpatrick ( is a town in County Down in Northern Ireland, about 33 km south of Belfast. Dundonald ( is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies in the outer suburbs of east Belfast. Dundrum is the name of several places in Ireland: Dundrum Dublin, a suburb of Dublin city Gilford ( Irish: Áth Mhic Giolla) is a Village situated in County Down, Northern Ireland. Greyabbey ( Mainistir Liath)is a small Village located on the eastern shores of Strangford Lough, on the Ards Peninsula, County Down Groomsport (in Irish: Port an Ghiolla Ghruama, Port of the gloomy fellow or gloomy servant is a Village two miles north east of Bangor Helen's Bay is a Village on the North Down coastline at Grey Point between Crawfordsburn and Seahill, four miles west of Bangor Hillborough is an area of eastern Herne Bay in Kent, England. Hilltown can refer to Hill town, a fortified town built upon a hill for defensive purposes common in Medieval Europe but also found in pre-Columbian South America Holywood ( the Irish name is Ard Mhic Nasca, meaning "the height of the son of Nasca" is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland Kilkeel ( is a small Town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast and the town’s harbour houses one of the largest Killinchy (in Irish: Cill Dhuinsí, ie (St Duinseach’s Church is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, two miles inland Killough (in Irish: Cill Locha, ie Church of the Lough is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, five miles south Killyleagh (kɪliˈleɪ ( Cill Uí Laoigh in Irish, meaning "Church of the descendants of the hero" is a large Village Loughinisland ( Irish: Loch an Oileáin) is a Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. Maghera ( is a large Village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Millisle ( Irish: Oileán an Mhuilinn) is a Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying on the Ards Peninsula, about Newcastle (in Irish: An Caisleán Nua, ie The New Castle is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. Newtownards (Baile Nua na hArda is a large Town in County Down, Northern Ireland. Newry ( short form An tIúr, "The Yew" is the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland and eighth on the island of Ireland. Portaferry ( is a large Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, at the southern end of the Ards Peninsula, near the Narrows at the entrance Portavogie ( is a Village and Fishing port in County Down, Northern Ireland. Rathfriland (in Irish: Ráth Fraoileann, ie Fraoile’s Fort is a large market Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. See also Saintfield Ontario County Ontario Canada Saintfield (in Irish: Tamhnach Naomh, ie Field of Saints is a market Scarva ( is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, on the main road west of Banbridge. Seaforde is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, one mile (1 Strangford ( Irish Baile Loch Cuan) is a small Village in County Down, Northern Ireland. Waringstown is a Village in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated two miles south-east of Lurgan. Warrenpoint (commonly transcribed into Irish as An Phointe ('The Point' or alternatively known by the name of the Townland where Warrenpoint is located Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland is a link page for any Abbey, Priory, Friary or other religious house in Northern Ireland. This is a list of cities, Towns Villages and Hamlets in County Down, Northern Ireland. The following is a list of Townlands located in County Down, Northern Ireland. 1744. The Ancient and Present Stare of the County of Down. . . 'Dublin.
• The Memoirs of John M. Regan, a Catholic Officer in the RIC and RUC, 1909–48, Joost Augusteijn, editor, District Inspector, Co. Down 1930s, 1919, ISBN 978-1-84682-069-4.

External links

• County Down website
• Armagh and Down Tourism
• Culture Northern Ireland - Industrial Heritage of County Down
• Down Gaelic Athletic Association/Cummann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste An Dún
• Genealogy indexes for County Down
• Ardglass Fishing port on East Down coast

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