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Coordinates: 54°19′19″N 5°42′11″W / 54.322°N 5.703°W
| Downpatrick | |
| Scots: Dounpatrick | |
| Irish: Dún Pádraig | |
|
Downpatrick shown within Northern Ireland |
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| Population | 10,316 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| District | Down District |
| County | County Down |
| Constituent country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DOWNPATRICK |
| Postcode district | BT30 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| European Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| NI Assembly | South Down |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Down | |
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 Saint Patrick. It had 10,316 inhabitants recorded in the 2001 Census. Downpatrick is where the local council, Down District Council has its headquarters.
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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 an 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 educating students from all over the east Down area.
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 22 miles (35 km) from Belfast with a regular bus service.
An early Bronze Age site was excavated in Downpatrick on the Meadowlands housing estate, revealing two round houses. One measured over four metres in diameter and contained a hearth in the centre, while the other round house was over seven metres across.[1]
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 Down 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 (anglicised as Downpatrick) - from the town's connection with the patron saint of Ireland.
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 each year). The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre in Downpatrick is purpose-built to tell the story of St Patrick.
In 1183, John de Courcy brought in some Benedictines from Chester in England and built a cathedral friary for them at Downpatrick. This building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1245.[2]
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.
Downpatrick is classified as a medium town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (i.e. with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people)[7]. On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 10,316 people living in Downpatrick. Of these:
Primary schools
Post-primary schools
Further and higher education
The area is served by two weekly newspapers:
Down FM is the local community radio station broadcasting on 105.0 MHz. The station's RDS programme identification (PI) tag is "Down FM". The station's parent organisation is South Eastern Regional College.
Downpatrick is home to RGU Dún Phádraig GAC. The Russell Gaelic Union was formed by an Englishman a Scottsman and an Irishman- Willie King, Willie McDowell and Willie Byrne respectively, in the county town in the early 20th century. The team traditionally wears green and white hoops and is the only GAA team in Ireland registered under these colours.[citation needed] Downpatrick has had mixed fortunes over the years but has still managed to produce excellent county footballers such as Ray McConville,William Walsh, Conor Deegan, Barry Breen and Ben Collins, all of whom played for Down in All-Ireland semi-finals.
Downpatrick's most prominent team is Downpatrick F.C., which competes in the Northern Amateur Football League. There are, however, numerous other clubs associated with the town, and others from surrounding areas. These include Rossglass County and Ballyvange. 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. Downpatrick has a large following of Glasgow Celtic Football Club. Its main supporters' club "Joe Miller Celtic Supporters Club" was founded in 1984 and was named after a striker of the team at that time. Downpatrick is home to one of the biggest Irish branches of the Manchester United Supporters' Club, Downpatrick Manchester United Supporters' Club, which was founded in 1993.
Downpatrick is also the home of the Downpatrick and District Snooker and Billiards League. Many of the local towns compete in the highly successful leagues. Teams from Downpatrick, Newcastle, Ballynahinch, Crossgar, Drumaness and Ballyalton strive to be the best in the local district.
Downpatrick Cricket Club and Downpatrick Golf Club have their own club grounds. Downpatrick has several other clubs that use the facilities of the Down Leisure Centre (run by Down District Council) such as the Lecale Amateur Swimming Club and the East Down Athletics Club.
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