Newcastle An Caislean Nua
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54°12′36″N 5°52′55″W / 54.21, -5.882
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County:	County Down
District:	Down
UK Parliament:	South Down
European Parliament:	Northern Ireland
Dialling Code:	028, +437
Post Town:	Newcastle
Postal District(s):	BT33
Population (2001)	7,444

View from main street in Newcastle towards Slieve Donard, the highest peak of the Mourne Mountains.

Sandy beach and Dunes, 2 miles north from Newcastle.

Newcastle (in Irish: An Caisleán Nua, ie The New Castle) is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,444 people in the 2001 Census. The seaside resort lies on the Irish Sea coast at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains, and is known for its sandy beach and the Royal County Down Golf Club. The town lies within the Down District Council area. 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. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Newcastle_Donard. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Newcastle_Donard. ... Slieve Donard (Sliabh Domangard or Sliabh Dónairt in Irish) is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland at 849 m (2,786 ft). ... The granite Mountains of Mourne are located in the first proposed national park of Northern Ireland. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Newcastle_Dunes. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Newcastle_Dunes. ... 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). ... UK Census 2001 logo A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Relief map of the Irish Sea. ... Slieve Donard (Sliabh Domangard or Sliabh Dónairt in Irish) is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland at 849 m (2,786 ft). ... The granite Mountains of Mourne are located in the first proposed national park of Northern Ireland. ... Royal County Down Golf Club is a well known golf club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. ...

The town has all the usual seaside attractions — amusements, restaurants and takeaways, caravan parks, a boating lake, a bowling green and golf course, harbour, parkland and promenade. It also has many pubs. It is twinned with New Ross, County Wexford. The local Scouting Ireland scout troupe is 'St Donards, 15th Down'. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , , Irish Grid Reference S715278 Statistics Province: Leinster County: Elevation: 75 m (246 ft) Population (2002)  - Town:  - Rural:   4,810  1,727 New Ross (Irish: ) is a small town in southwest County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. ... Scouting Ireland (Irish: Gasóga na hÉireann) is the national Scouting association of Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). ...

The town's history is poorly recorded and is held mostly by local people and their stories of the past. Information on the town is available on signs throughout the forests and hills. The Mourne Mountains is the setting for many local myths and legends. There are stories of 'The Blue Lady', a woman abandoned by her husband who's ghost still haunts the mountains, and more recently the idea of a wild cat living in the Mournes. Many of the stories although have true origins are only folklore and give many of the towns attractions their names, such as Maggie's Leap being named after a local girl called Maggie, who leapt over the impressive chasm to her death while fleeing soldiers with a basket of eggs. Many other places in the Newcastle area get their names from other sources, 'The Brandy Pad', a popular spot in the mountains is named so because of the illegal brandy smuggling that took place through the area. Another example would be the Bogey Hill just above the harbour at the Southern end of the town, which is named after the carts that carried Mourne granite from the quarry on Thomas' Mountain down to the harbour. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

The name of the town derives from a castle (demolished in the 18th century) belonging to the Magennis family which stood at the mouth of the Shimna River. (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. ...

On 13th January 1843 boats from Newcastle and Lower Mourne set out for the usual fishing stations, and were caught in a gale. 76 men perished, 46 of whom were from Newcastle. They left twenty seven widows, one hundred and eighteen children, and twenty one dependents. A public Subscription was raised and the cottages known as Widows row were built for the widows and dependants. A local song about the disaster says "Newcastle town is one long street entirely stripped of men"

In 1910 one of Harry Ferguson flew a small plane across the beach of the town. This was one of the first engine powered flights by aircraft in Ireland. He completed the flight in an attempt to win a £100 prize offered by the town for the first powered flight along the strand. His first take off ended badly but according to a modern newspaper report 'He flew a distance of almost three miles along the foreshore at a low altitude varying between fifty and five hundred feet'. Henry George (Harry) Ferguson (1884-1960) was born at Growell, near Dromore, County Down in Northern Ireland, and was the son of an Irish farmer. ...

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Newcastle (Down), which includes a list of incidents in Newcastle during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.Newcastle was fortunate enough to escape the worst of the troubles and both its residents Catholic and Protestant lived in relative peace with each other.There were minor disputes regarding Orange Order marches in the town but no serious trouble emerged from these disputes. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Places of interest

• The Mourne Mountains lie south of the town and the local area includes the Tollymore Forest Park and Donard Park. The Shimna River flows through Tollymore Park and enters the sea at Newcastle.
• The Murlough nature reserve is situated between Dundrum and Newcastle. The rugged sand dunes and beach are National Trust property.
• Saint Patrick's Stream — Many historians believe that the Mourne Mountains was the site where Saint Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland,^{[citation needed]} and although this is not known to be true (or untrue) it is certain that in his first landings to Ireland he visited the Mournes and even converted the local hill folk to Christianity. The small stream is said to mark the boundary of the Kingdom of Mourne and legend has it that there is a rock in the stream with his hand print in it where he knelt down to drink the water.
• Newcastle Harbour — In the 1820 Lord Annesley created a pier as a loading point for the famous Mourne granite. Today the harbour still holds some fishing boats and pleasure crafts for water sports.
• Armours Hole — It is said that an isolated clef in the hills is the site of a murder centuries old. It is believed that a man called Armour murdered his father after a row over a young girl on the way to the fair at Downpatrick. When the man returned home he claimed he had left his father behind in Downpatrick, but the fathers body was washed up at nearby St.Johns Point and the son later admitted to killing him and flinging the body into the sea at the spot now known as Armours Hole after this grisly tale.
• The Bloody Bridge - Although the name evokes images of battles fought on this site, it is not known from where exactly this beautiful yet wild coastal area derived its poignant name, although the 1641 rebellion is often thought to be the impetus. What is certain is that it’s beauty is widely appreciated by tourists who flock to see the old ‘Brandy Pad’, called after the trade of illegal brandy which was smuggled down this route and from there onwards at the dead of night to Hilltown. The remains of an ancient church and the old bridge which once carried the coast road has made the bloody bridge a must-see area.
• Widows Row. A set of listed cottages just south of the harbour, built by public subscription after the Newcastle Fishing disaster of 1843.

The granite Mountains of Mourne are located in the first proposed national park of Northern Ireland. ... Tollymore Forest Park was the first state forest in Northern Ireland when it was established on the June 2, 1955. ... Donard Park is a public park located in Newcastle, County Down. ... Picture of Dundrum Castle Dundrum (in Irish: Dún Droma, ie fort of the ridge) is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying by Dundrum Bay. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ... For other uses, see Brandy (disambiguation). ... Hilltown is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. ...

2001 Census

Newcastle is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 7,444 people living in Newcastle. 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). ...

• 23.5% were aged under 16 years and 21.7% were aged 60 and over
• 47.4% of the population were male and 52.6% were female
• 69.3% were from a Catholic background and 28.4% were from a Protestant background
• 4.1% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ...

Tourism

Newcastle is a popular seaside town and attracts visitors from elsewhere in Northern Ireland and from abroad. This year the new promanade won a number of National awards including a Civic Trust Award for Excellence in the Public Realm. The Civic Trust of England and Wales is a charitable organisation founded in 1957. ...

Visitors come in order to hike in the Mourne Mountains, made famous by the song by Percy French, to play golf at Royal County Down (venue for the 2007 Walker Cup), or to just stroll up the prom and relax on the beach. The town is famous for: The granite Mountains of Mourne are located in the first proposed national park of Northern Ireland. ... William Percy French (May 1, 1854–January 24, 1920) was one of Irelands foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day. ... Royal County Down Golf Club is a well known golf club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland (in political terms the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ...

• Percy French - a songwriter
• Slieve Donard Hotel - a four star hotel in the area, which has held host to many famous people
• Royal County Down Golf Club - The golf course in the town is one of the ten best in the world, and is said to be one of Tiger Woods' favourite golf courses.
• Mourne Granite - which was quarried here for many years and shipped all round the world. It was used to make paving stones in many cities including London and New York. Mourne granite is also being used to make the base of the 9/11 memorial in New York.

William Percy French (May 1, 1854–January 24, 1920) was one of Irelands foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day. ... Royal County Down Golf Club is a well known golf club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. ... Personal Information Birth December 30, 1975 ) Cypress, California Height 6 ft 1 in (1. ... This article is about the sport. ...

Local Schools

• Shimna Integrated College
• St. Mary's Primary School (formerly St. Mary's Boys Primary School and St. Mary's Girls Primary School). The school is currently split over two sites, one for younger children and one for older children.
• Newcastle Primary School
• All Children's Integrated Primary
• Newcastle Technical College
• St. Joseph's Carnacaville

Media

Newcastle is unable to view some television channels, and listen to certain radio channels because they are blocked by the Mourne Mountains. In the town the television channel 'Five' is unavailable as well as all Irish television channels, although these can be viewed through Sky Digital with the exception of the Irish channel TV3. Certain Freeview services are also unavailable. Broadband is available in the town with speeds up to 8MB. Five, launched in 1997, is the fifth and final national terrestrial analogue television channel to launch in the United Kingdom. ... Sky Digital is the brand name for British Sky Broadcastings digital satellite television service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28. ... TV3 Ireland is the sole commercial terrestrial television channel in the Republic of Ireland. ... This article is about the United Kingdom digital terrestrial television service. ...

• The town has its own website, run by the 'Newcastle Chamber of Commerce'.
• The local newspaper is called The Mourne Observer.

References

• Culture Northern Ireland
• Town Website

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

• Town Official Website
• Newcastle Directory for 1910
• [1]