Newry: A pleasant town in Northern Ireland with a long history


Newry Town Hall
Newry, County Down

This evening, I am posting information on the Northern Irish town of Newry in County Down. Location is about forty miles S.W.of Belfast.

Summary facts and information as follows:
  • The name is derived from a corruption of the Gaelic term for a yew tree planted by St. Patrick.
  • A castle existed in medieval times. This was destroyed and re-built many times culminating in a 1578 re-build by Nicholas Bagenal who is accredited as the founder of the town from which modern Newry grew. Bagenal was also  responsible for building the (Protestant) Parish Church of St. Patrick.
  • Newry was severely damaged by fire caused by forces loyal to the Catholic King James II in 1689 but was subsequently re-built with a focus on port and trade facilities which in turn generated wealth to finance fine buildings which are evident today.
  • The (Catholic) Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Colman is built in the Perpendicular style and dates from 1829.
  • The Town Hall is built on a triple arch bridge over the River Clanrye.
  • A flax spinning industry was developed in the second half of the 19th century.
  • Today, Newry (with Bassbrook) has a population of about 30,000 and is known for its shopping, entertainment and dining facilities.
Hill Street, Newry

Newry, County Down

Cathedral Quarter, Newry

Newry, County Down

St Patrick and St Colman Cathedral

Newry Cathedral

Hill Street, Newry

Newry, County Down

Heron in River Clanrye, Newry

Heron

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more