Newcastle, County Down

Newcastle (

The town aims to promote itself as the "activity resort" for Northern Ireland. It has benefited from a multi-million pound upgrade to the

The name of the town is thought to derive from the castle built by Felix Magennis of the Magennis clan in 1588, which stood at the mouth of the Shimna River. This castle was demolished in 1830.^[4][5] The town is referred to as New Castle in the Annals of the Four Masters in 1433, so it is likely that he built on the site of an existing structure.^[6][7][8]

The Montgomery Manuscripts record that Newcastle was besieged and later captured by Sir James Montgomery of the Ards in April 1642 in the aftermath of the 1641 Rebellion (pp. 128–134). Prior to 1641 the Castle belonged to the Magennis', but after the rebellion the property was confiscated and granted to Robert Hawkins, great grandfather to Robert Hawkins who assumed the surname of Magill. The date 1588 was inscribed on a stone placed over the front entrance of the Castle, built by Felix Magenis. Newcastle passed from the Magills to the Mathews, and subsequently to the Annesleys. In the late 1700s the Castle was modernised by the Matthews and then the Annesleys, and rented by the Board of Customs for the accommodation of revenue officers. Around 1830 the castle was demolished and the 'Annesley Arms Hotel' was constructed within the original castle compound. The 3rd Earl Annesley built a new 'marine residence', called 'Donard Lodge' on the lower mountain slope above the town (it was demolished in 1966). St. John's Church was also opened on 'The Rock' in 1832 to accommodate the visitors and growing population in Earl Annesley's developing seaside resort.

The Newcastle fishing disaster occurred on 13 January 1843 when boats from Newcastle and Annalong set out for the usual fishing stations, and were caught in a gale. 14 boats were lost in the heavy seas including a boat which had gone to the rescue. Only two boats survived, the Victoria and the Brothers.^[9] 73 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 dependents.^[10][11] A local song about the disaster says "Newcastle town is one long street entirely stripped of men"^[12]

In 1910 Harry Ferguson flew a small plane across Newcastle beach in 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'. This event is recorded by a plaque on the promenade.

Information on the town's history 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 whose 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

Newcastle was fortunate enough to escape the worst of the Troubles and its residents both Catholic and Protestant lived in relative peace with each other though there has been considerable objection to loyalist band parades in the town.^[13]

Demography

2021 Census

As of the 2021 census there were 8,298 people living in Newcastle.^[3] Of these:

• 69.1% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic faith and 21.7% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' faiths.^[14]
• 43.9% indicated that they had an Irish national identity,^[15] 37.4% had a Northern Irish national identity^[16] and an additional 25.7% had a British national identity^[17] (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).

2011 Census

Newcastle is classified as a small town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). As of the 2011 census there were 7,672 people living in Newcastle.^[18] Of these:

• 98% were white
• 70.3% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic faith and 24.4% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' faiths.
• 36% indicated that they had an Irish national identity, 36% had a Northern Irish national identity and an additional 33% had a British national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)^[18]

Climate

Tourism

Newcastle is a popular seaside resort and attracts visitors from elsewhere in Ireland and from overseas. In 2006, the new promenade won a number of National awards including a

Newcastle is close to Northern Ireland's highest mountain, Slieve Donard, which is nearby in the Mourne mountain range. Visitors come to walk in the Mourne Mountains, made famous by the song by Percy French. Another popular attraction in the town is Royal County Down Golf Club (venue for the 2007 Walker Cup and 2015 Irish Open), now recognised as the no.1 golf course in the world, and is said to be one of Tiger Woods' favourite golf courses.^[22] The town is also known for 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 was used to make the base of the 9/11 memorial in New York.^[23]

Since 2010, Newcastle has held an annual 'Festival of Flight' airshow which attracts upwards of 100,000 people to the event. The RAF Red Arrows are usually the star attraction of the show which is heavily supported by both the RAF and Irish Air Corps as well as the Irish Coast Guard. Many of the UK's top civilian air displays have also visited Newcastle on a regular basis.

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
  National Trust
  property.
• Slidderyford Dolmen is a neolithic portal tomb located near the entrance to Murlough Nature Reserve. It is composed of four stones, two granite and two slate.^[24][25][26]
• Saint Patrick's Stream – in popular mythology, the Mourne Mountains was the site where
  'snakes' from Ireland, and that in his first landings to Ireland he visited the Mournes and even converted the local hill folk to Christianity.^{[citation needed}
  ] 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 1820, Lord Annesley created a pier as a loading point for the famous Mourne granite.
• The Bloody Bridge – The bridge and the Bloody Bridge River, were so named because of an incident during the
  Protestants took place.^[27] The bridge is sometimes visited by tourists who go to see the '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 can still be seen.
• Widows Row. A set of listed cottages just south of the harbour, built by public subscription after the Newcastle Fishing disaster of 1843.

Newcastle F.C. plays in the Northern Amateur Football League.

Tollymore United F.C plays in the Mid Ulster Football League.

Newcastle Harbour is home to Newcastle Yacht Club who regularly sail and race in Dundrum Bay.

Bryansford GAC are the local GAA team.

Newcastle and District A.C.- running club

Transport

• Poet and writer, Richard Rowley (1877–1947), lived in Newcastle in later life. During World War II he founded, and ran from his Newcastle home, the short-lived Mourne Press, which failed in 1942.^[32] The poet's Newcastle home, Brook Cottage, has been demolished.^[33] In Newcastle his name is remembered through the Rowley Meadows housing development and the Rowley Path, which runs along the southern boundary of the Islands Park.^[34]
• Florence Balcombe, wife of writer Bram Stoker.^[35]
• Peter O'Sullevan: Broadcaster and Horse racing Sports commentator.
• European Tour events.^[36]
• Broadcaster Sean Rafferty spent his childhood in Newcastle.^[37]
• Rigsy, broadcaster and popular DJ, was born in Newry but brought up in Newcastle, where his parents still live.^{[citation needed]}
• Simon Thornton, professional golfer.^[38]
• Award-winning children's author Martin Waddell, although born in Belfast has lived most of life in the town.^[39]

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of localities in Northern Ireland by population

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newcastle, County Down.