Downpatrick Dún Pádraig Dounpatrick
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54°19′19″N 5°42′11″W / 54.322, -5.703
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County:	County Down
District:	Down District
UK Parliament:	South Down
European Parliament:	Northern Ireland
Dialling Code:	028, +44 28
Post Town:	Downpatrick
Postal District(s):	BT30
Population (2001)	10,316

Downpatrick (from the Irish: Dún Pádraig meaning "Patrick's fort") is a town in County Down in Northern Ireland, about 33 km south of Belfast. It is the County town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to St. Patrick. It had 10,316 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. Downpatrick is where the local council, Down District Council has its headquarters. Bullet for locations in Ireland, displays location and not area. ... Image File history File links NorthernIrelandDownBorough. ... GPS redirects here. ... When under Gaelic rule, Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the túatha. ... This article is about the nine-county Irish province. ... For much of its history, the island of Ireland was divided into 32 counties (Irish language contae or condae, pronounced IPA: ). Two historical counties, County Desmond and County Coleraine, no longer exist, while several county names have changed. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County Town: Downpatrick Area: 2,448 km² Population (est. ... Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. ... Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... Northern Ireland is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Subscriber trunk dialling (STD) (also known as Subscriber toll dialling) is an obsolete term for the UK telephone system allowing subscribers to dial trunk calls without operator assistance. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... For information about the holiday, see: Saint Patricks Day Saint Patrick (Latin: [2], Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County Town: Downpatrick Area: 2,448 km² Population (est. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: ) is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... This article is about the city in Northern Ireland. ... A county town is the capital of a county in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. ... UK Census 2001 logo A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001. ... Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. ...

As the largest town in the Lecale area, Downpatrick is a commercial, recreational and administrative centre for the locality and serves as a hub for the nearby towns and villages. Within a half hour drive of Belfast, the location serves as a commuter town for a large number of people. The town has a number of primary and post-primary schools which educates students from all over the east Down area.

Geography

Downpatrick is characterised by the rolling drumlins that are a feature of the Lecale area. It also has the distinction of being the lowest place on the island of Ireland, with the marsh surrounding the north east of the town recorded as being 1.3 ft (0.4m) below sea level. Downpatrick is approximately 21 Miles from Belfast with a regular bus service.

History

Downpatrick is one of Ireland's most ancient and historic towns. It takes its name from a dún (fort), which once stood on the hill that dominates the town and on which the cathedral stands. Ptolemy about the year AD 130 includes it as Dunum in his list of towns of Ireland. The old name of the town was Rath Celtair. It was superseded by the name Dun-leth-glas which in turn gave way in the 13th century to the present name of Dún Phádraig (anglisied as Downpatrick) - from the town's connection with the patron saint of Ireland. This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ... For other uses, see number 130. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

Saint Patrick was reputedly buried here in 461 on Cathedral Hill, within the grounds of Down Cathedral. His grave is still a place of pilgrimage on St Patricks Day (17 March). The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre [1] in Downpatrick is purpose-built to tell the story of St Patrick. For information about the holiday, see: Saint Patricks Day Saint Patrick (Latin: [2], Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba. ... Events August 2 - Majorian resigns as Western Roman Emperor; shortly afterwards Libius Severus is declared western Roman emperor by Ricimer November 19 - Hilarius succeeds Leo as Pope Saint Patrick returns to Ireland as a Christian missionary. ... 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. ... St. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is located in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. ...

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Downpatrick, which includes a list of incidents in Downpatrick during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities. For other uses, see Troubles (disambiguation) and Trouble. ... The Troubles in Downpatrick recounts incidents during, and the effects of, The Troubles in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. ...

Demographics

Downpatrick is classified as a Medium Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 10,316 people living in Downpatrick. Of these: is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

• 26.6% were aged under 16 years and 16.0% were aged 60 and over
• 48.5% of the population were male and 51.5% were female
• 86.8% were from a Roman Catholic background and 11.9% were from a Protestant background
• 5.1% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ...

Education

Primary Schools

• St. Brigid's Primary school
• St. Colmcille's Primary school
• St. Patrick's Boys Primary school
• Bunscoil Naomh Pádraig
• Convent of Mercy Girls Primary school
• Downpatrick Primary School
• Down High School Prep Department

Post-primary Schools

• St.Patrick's Grammar School (known locally as "The Red High") - Boys grammar school (mixed in upper school)
• De la Salle High school - Boys high school
• St. Mary's High school - Girls high school
• Down High School (known locally as "The Green High") - Grammar school
• Down Academy - High school
• East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education

St. ... A grammar school is a school that may, depending on regional usage as exemplified below, provide either secondary education or, a much less common usage, primary education (also known as elementary). Grammar schools trace their origins back to medieval Europe, as schools in which university preparatory subjects, such as Latin... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A grammar school is a school that may, depending on regional usage as exemplified below, provide either secondary education or, a much less common usage, primary education (also known as elementary). Grammar schools trace their origins back to medieval Europe, as schools in which university preparatory subjects, such as Latin...

Places of interest

• Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is located beside St Patrick's Grave at the medieval heart of the town and provides the only permanent exhibition in the World about the Patron Saint of Ireland. Apart form the major multimedia and Imax presentation the Centre provides a tourist information centre, craft shop, cafe and art gallery.
• Down County Museum is located in the restored 18th century County Gaol of Down, the museum's exhibitions tell the story of the people of County Down from earliest times to today.
• Close to the museum is Down Cathedral which began as a Benedictine monastery built in 1183. Major restoration was carried out in the 18th century and it still contains many of the original features. The Cathedral is built on the Hill of Down, one of the holiest Christian sites in Ireland. Its graveyard reputidly contains the traditional burial place of the three greatest Irish saints: Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget and Saint Colmcille.
• Nearby is the Down Civic Arts Centre which is also run by Down District Council.
• Downpatrick is also the home of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, which is the only Irish Standard Gauge heritage railway (i.e., it possesses its own line) in Ireland, and continues to run steam trains on restored tracks.
• Close to Downpatrick is Ballynoe Stone circle, a Megalithic monument where a 100 ft stone circle encloses an ellipse of stones and a prehistoric burial mound. Dated to around 2000 BC. It is thought Ballynoe was begun in the Stone Age.

Struell Wells

• Struell Wells near Downpatrick is strongly associated with St Patrick but with no documented history until 1306. It consists of a group of healing wells and bath houses in a secluded rocky valley.
• Inch Abbey was a substantial Cistercian Abbey and is now in ruins, but the east end of the church, with its early English lancet windows, chapter house and refrectory remains. It is situated near Downpatrick, off the A7 road to Crossgar.
• Downpatrick is the reputed gravesite of the Viking King Magnus III of Norway, also known as Magnus Barefoot or Magnus Barelegs.

The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is located in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... 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. ... ... Events Three-year old Emperor Go-Toba ascends to the throne of Japan after the forced abdication of his brother Antoku during the Genpei War William of Tyre excommunicated by the newly appointed Heraclius of Jerusalem, firmly ending their struggle for power Andronicus I Comnenus becomes the Byzantine emperor Births... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... In traditional Christian iconography, Saints are often depicted as having halos. ... For information about the holiday, see: Saint Patricks Day Saint Patrick (Latin: [2], Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba. ... Saint Bridget is the name of two saints: Bridget of Ireland (451-525); Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373). ... Saint Columba or Saint Colm Cille sometimes known as (7 December 521 - 9 June 597), the Latinized version of the Irish name Colmcille (Old Irish Columb Cille) meaning Dove of the church, was the outstanding figure among the Irish missionary monks who reintroduced Christianity to Scotland and the north of... The Downpatrick & County Down Railway is a heritage railway in County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Great Western Railway No. ... Ballynoe is a small hamlet close to Downpatrick. ... Swinside stone circle, in the Lake District, England. ... Megalithic tomb, Mane Braz, Brittany Bronze age wedge tomb in the Burren area of Ireland For the record label, see Megalith Records. ... Stonehenge, England, erected by Neolithic peoples ca. ... A tumulus (plural tumuli, from the Latin word for mound or small hill, from the root to bulge, swell also found in ) is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 548 pixelsFull resolution (1482 × 1015 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 548 pixelsFull resolution (1482 × 1015 pixel, file size: 1. ... Events March 25 - Robert the Bruce becomes King of Scotland June 19 - Forces of Earl of Pembroke defeat Bruces Scottish rebels at the Battle of Methven Philip IV of France exiles all the Jews from France and confiscates their property In London, a city ordinance degrees that heating with... Cistercians coat of arms The Order of Cistercians (OCist) (Latin: ), otherwise White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which a black scapular or apron is sometimes worn) is a Roman Catholic order of enclosed monks. ... Lancet windows light the altar trubune in the Basilica of Mary Magdalene, Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top [1] It acquired the lancet name from it resemblence to a lance [2]. Instances of this architectural motif... Crossgar (in Irish: An Chrois Ghearr, ie the short cross) is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland, approximately 15 miles south of Belfast in Northern Ireland on the main A7 road between Saintfield and Downpatrick. ... Magnus Barefoot (1073-1103), son of Olaf Kyrre, was king of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of the Isle of Man from 1095-1102. ...

Transport

• Downpatrick is situated at the junction of the A7 (Downpatrick to Saintfield) road, the A25 (Downpatrick to Newry) road and the A2 coast road. Whilst there are no rail services in Downpatrick, Ulsterbus provides bus services to and from the Downpatrick Bus Station.
• Downpatrick railway station opened on 23 March 1859 and Downpatrick Loop Platform opened on 24 September 1892. Both closed on 16 January 1950. Downpatrick Racecourse Platform had opened on 8 March 1893, but closed in September 1949.^[1]

Saintfield (in Irish: Tamhnach Naomh, ie Field of Saints) is a large village located in mid-County Down, Northern Ireland, situated roughly halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. ... , Newry (from the Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá meaning The Yew Tree at the Head of the Strand, short form An tIúr, The Yew) is the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland and eighth on the island of Ireland. ... The A2 is a major road in Northern Ireland. ... Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside of Belfast. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1859 (MDCCCLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Media

The area is served by two weekly newspapers:

• Down Democrat
• Down Recorder - established 1836

Down FM is a community based radio station broadcasting on 105.0 MHz from the East Down Institute The Down Democrat is a newspaper based in Downpatrick, Co Down, Northern Ireland. ... The Down Recorder is a weekly newspaper published in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland Down Recorder official site Categories: | ... Year 1836 (MDCCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A radio station is an audio (sound) broadcasting service, traditionally broadcast through the air as radio waves (a form of electromagnetic radiation) from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. ...

People

• Ann Breen, a country singer, is from Downpatrick. She is often referred to as "The Star Of The County Down".
• Lynn Doyle the pseudonym of the humorist & playwright Leslie Alexander Montgomery was born in Downpatrick on 5th October 1873 (d.18 August 1961). He was part of the Ulster Literary Theatre movement and is most famous for his Ballygullion series of 20 books which fondly caricatured Northern village life. Interestingly he chose his pseudonym after seeing a large tin of linseed oil in a paint shop, initially signing "Lynn C. Doyle" but later dropping the "C.".
• Dr. Maurice Hayes, the former Northern Ireland Ombudsman, Chairman of the Ireland Funds and Taoiseach-appointed Senator in Seanad Éireann, was born and still lives in Downpatrick. He has written a memoir about growing up in the town titled Black Puddings with Slim. He served as town clerk of Downpatrick in the 1960s, succeeding his father in the role.
• The rock band Ash are from Downpatrick.
• Paul Mahon, guitarist of rock band The Answer is from Downpatrick.
• Ian Mitchell from the band Bay City Rollers was born in Downpatrick.
• David Healy, the Northern Ireland and Fulham striker was born in Downpatrick.
• The comedian Colin Murphy hails from Downpatrick.
• Patrick Kielty attended (St. Patrick's Grammar) school in Downpatrick.
• Thomas Russell the United Irishman co-founder who contributed to the United Irishmen's Rebellion of 1798 and Robert Emmet's failed rebellion of 1803 was gaoled & executed at Down County Gaol by hanging on October 21st 1803. His memory is honoured by the local GAA club being named after his legacy.

Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. ... Paul Mahon is the gutiarist of rock band The Answer. ... The Answer are a hard rock and blues rock band hailing from Newcastle and Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Ian Kevin David Mitchell (born August 22, 1958, at home, 27 Ardmeen Green, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland) is an Irish-born guitarist who is best known as a former member of the Scottish pop group Bay City Rollers. ... The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish Pop/rock band of the 1970s. ... David Healy (born August 5, 1979 in Killyleagh) is a professional footballer who has scored a record 32 international goals for Northern Ireland. ... For the Irish FAs all-Ireland international team, see Ireland national football team (IFA). ... Fulham Football Club are an English football team based in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. ... Colin Murphy presenting The Blizzard of Odd Colin Murphy is a Northern Irish comedian born in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Patrick Kielty (born 31 January 1971) is an Irish television personality. ... Thomas Russell (1762-1788) was an English poet born at Beaminster early in 1762. ... This article is about the newspaper. ... Robert Emmet Robert Emmet (4 March 1778 – 20 September 1803) was an Irish nationalist rebel leader. ...

Sport

Downpatrick is home to the Russell Gaelic Union (Gaelic Athletic Association club), Downpatrick Cricket Club and Downpatrick Golf Club, which have their own club grounds. Downpatrick has several other clubs that use the facilities of the Down Leisure Centre such as the Lecale Amateur Swimming Club and the East Down Athletics Club. For other uses, see GAA (disambiguation). ...

Downpatrick's senior amateur football team is Downpatrick F.C. who compete in the Amateur Section A of the Northern Irish football league. However, there are numerous other clubs associated with the town, and other created from surrounding areas. These include Rossglass County Football Club, and Ballyvange F.C. Downpatrick F.C. are a Northern Irish football club playing in the NAFL Premier Division of the Northern Amateur Football league. ... The Amateur Section A is a Northern Irish football league, it comes under the first 3 Irish league Divisions. ...

There are also many youth football teams such as the Celtic Bhoys, the Shamrocks, Rossglass and Patrician, who, along with many other teams in the area, participate in the Downpatrick Youth League.

 Visit the Rossglass County Football Club website: rossglasscountyfc.co.uk  

 Visit the Downpatrick Football Club website: downpatrickfc.co.uk  

Downpatrick is also home to one of the biggest irish branches of the Manchester United's supporters club Downpatrick Manchester United Supporters Club which was was founded in 1993.

References

1. ^ Downpatrick station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.

• Culture Northern Ireland

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of villages in Northern Ireland

This is a list page for towns in Northern Ireland. ... This is a list page for villages in Northern Ireland. ...

External links

• Kingdoms of Down Tourism
• Ballydugan Flour Mill
• Saint Patrick Centre
• Downpatrick & County Down Railway
• Down County Museum
• Down Arts Centre
• Struell Wells
• Inchabbey
• Watersports Community Site dedicated to County Down