Annalong (from Irish: Áth na Long, meaning 'ford of the ships')[1][2] is a seaside village in County Down, Northern Ireland at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. It is situated in the civil parish of Kilkeel and the historic barony of Mourne.[3] It had a population of 1,805 people at the 2001 Census and lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area.[4] The village was once engaged in exporting dressed granite and is now a fishing and holiday resort. Annalong Primary School is in the village and Annalong Community Development Association was established in 1994.[5]
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Annalong | |
---|---|
Annalong Cornmill | |
Location within County Down | |
Population | 1,805 (2011 Census) |
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | NEWRY |
Postcode district | BT34 |
Dialling code | 028 |
Police | Northern Ireland |
Fire | Northern Ireland |
Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
|
On 13 January 1843, fishing boats from Newcastle and Annalong set out for the usual fishing stations, but were caught in a gale. Fourteen boats were lost in the heavy seas, including a boat which had come to the rescue. Only two boats survived, the Victoria and the Brothers.[6] In all 76 men perished, 30 of them from Annalong.
It is estimated that around 250 men from Annalong served in the Great War (1914-1918). These men were all volunteers as conscription was only introduced in Great Britain, not Ireland.[7]
Annalong Main Street is where most of the shops are situated, such as the small local branch of supermarket chain 'Today's local' which is a smaller 'Nisa' store (formerly known as 'Holmes', but it has the local name of 'Sydney's'), a beauty salon ("Country Beauty") and a hairdresser ("GM Hair"). There is also a pub at the very bottom of the main street named the 'Harbour Bar', as it is right beside the harbour; it was burnt down a number of years ago but has been rebuilt with a 'Western' theme. There are many old cottages and houses in the harbour area, but new estates have been built on the outskirts of the village. The Post Office is now at the back of the larger Nisa (formerly Centra) store which is on the main road to Kilkeel and Newcastle, there are several small cafés along this road such as Top Nosh and The Galley with another takeout called Pepper Jacks and a Chinese Restaurant & Takeaway called Johnny Pangs. The doctor's surgery and chemist shop are also on the main road, and at the Newcastle end of the village there is another pub called the "Halfway House".
A new Irish language and cultural centre Páirc na Mara was opened in 2012 by Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtar, the Lower Mourne branch of The Gaelic League, and was extended in 2014. The Gaelic League host a range of classes, activities and events and hire out function rooms for other community groups. The centre is situated beside the public toilets in the Marine Park facilities.
Main Street also has an Orange Hall, which provides an environment for young people to learn new instruments and join a band. These bands include Brunswick Accordion Band, Annalong Single Star Flute Band and Annalong Pipe Band. This Orange Hall has events throughout the year such as old fashion Gospel Services and different speakers coming in to talk about different subjects. Members of the orange lodge in Annalong all work together collecting for local charities such as Northern Ireland Hospice and other charities further afield such as the New Beginnings Project which aims at helping young children in Uganda to have a better standard of living.
On census day (27 March 2011) there were 1,805 people living in Annalong. Of those:[4]
Annalong is classified by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) as a village (i.e. it has a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,778 people living in Annalong. Of these:[10]
Annalong Presbyterian Church is situated on the main Newcastle to Kilkeel road.[11] It was established in 1840 and the Meeting House was ready for use by 1842. Kilhorne Church of Ireland is located on the Kilkeel road.[12] It is approached by a short driveway with the tower visible from the road. There is also a Gospel Hall along the Glasdrumman Road and a Free Presbyterian Worship Temple on the Moneydarragh Road. Roman Catholics in the village usually attend St Mary's Glasdrumman, as there are no Catholic churches in the village.
Annalong is represented by two football clubs. These were formerly based upon Protestant and Catholic origin; however, both teams are now more religiously mixed due to decreasing religious tensions in Northern Ireland. One is Annalong Football Club, who field two teams in the S.K Holmes league whilst the other is Mourne Rovers who also participate in the S.K Holmes league. Andy McCormick was manager for many years and contributed greatly to the soccer scene in Annalong. Most players for the Mourne Rovers also play for local Gaelic teams.
While the village has no hockey team, it does have great tradition in the sport. Most hockey players from Annalong play for the neighbouring Kilkeel Hockey Club.
The village has no Gaelic Football team, so most players from Annalong play for neighbouring clubs, mostly Glasdrumman GAC and Longstone GAC.
Annalong also has a canoe and kayak club named Annalong Canoe and Kayak Club (ACKC) which uses Kilkeel Leisure Centre each Tuesday night for canoe polo and learning vital boating skills. This club also has camping trips, which members of the club and their families attend. These trips include paddling in Canadian canoes, surfing, or kayaking.
Annalong Outdoor Bowling Club is the town's local bowling club.
Places in County Down | ||
---|---|---|
List of places in County Down | ||
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Villages and townlands |
| |
Landforms |
| |
Baronies |
| |
|
General |
|
---|---|
National libraries |