Cregagh (from the Irish: An Chreagaigh meaning "the rocky place") is the name of a district in south east Belfast, Northern Ireland. The area is centred on the Cregagh Road. The Woodstock/Cregagh Road is a continuous arterial route in the city, with the Woodstock making up the lower half of the route and the Cregagh the upper half. It runs from the Albertbridge Road, close to the Short Strand, to the A55 Outer Ring road.
Some of its avenues are named after avenues in England. (e.g. Mayfair, Piccadilly) while a significant number are named after World War One battlefields. This connection with the war reflects the numbers of people who died from the area and that this was the location for a large number of ex-servicemen's homes. The Cregagh Estate is located off the Cregagh Road and was created as a public housing project. Tenants were subsequently offered the opportunity to purchase their homes. The late footballer George Best grew up in the Cregagh Estate and as a boy played football on the open playing fields at the centre of the estate. Best's funeral originated from Burren Way where his father still lived up until his death in April 2008. The Streets in the Cregagh Estate were named after rivers and streams of Ireland. Just off the Cregagh Road are two well known sporting venues, Cregagh Cricket Club and Malone Rugby Club, while having separate facilities, they share the same road, namely Gibson Park Avenue (also known as 'Daddy Winkers Lane'). Cregagh Cricket Club recently celebrated its centenary.Ravenhill Stadium the home of Ulster Rugby lies a short distance between the Cregagh Road and the Ravenhill Road.
Churches
It has been said locally that the Cregagh area has the most churches per head of population anywhere in the world. This is probably not true, but there are a large number of places of worship in the area. Starting at the Albertbridge Road end, the first church (on the Woodstock Road) is Albertbridge Congregational Church, which has a distinctive high, curved wall and is a circular building in red brick, with traditional stained-glass windows. Further up is Willowfield Parish Church, which has recently been modernised. Close to Willowfield is St Anthony's Catholic Church, which is set off the road in its own grounds. Just off the Woodstock Road (on Redcar Street) is Cregagh CFC.
With a heart for the community the Church of The Pentecost, Mount Merrion Ave, are currently developing worship to suit the whole family. With all ages catered for with everything from Toddlers Groups to Homework Clubs and Senior Moments to Life Groups, Mount Merrion Parish is a centre of activities in the community.
On the Cregagh Road, Cregagh Gospel Hall is situated behind the building formerly used by Cregagh Reformed Presbyterian Church. Further up, on the left-hand side, is Cregagh Methodist Church, which was extensively refurbished in 2005. Also on the left-hand side are Cregagh Presbyterian Church, set in its own grounds, and the nearby Salvation Army Temple. Just before the roundabout is Cregagh Congregational Church which has celebrated over 70 years of activity
About half a mile beyond the roundabout is Greenway Community Centre, which houses a number of (mainly smaller) churches. Cregagh Baptist Church is on Everton Drive, and immediately before the Dual Carriageway is St Finnian's Parish Church.
Most of these churches have activities for all the community.
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