KILKEEL

'Kilkeel' () is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast, and the town’s harbour houses one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland. It had a population of 6,338 people in the 2001 Census. The town contains the ruins of a 14th century church in the centre, winding streets, terraced shops and a fort also dating from the 14th century. A much newer attraction is the Nautilus Centre.

Contents

Geography

History

Economy

People

Tullaghmurray Lass

2001 Census

The Religious Divide

Education

References

See also

Geography

Kilkeel is located on the south east most point of County Down, east of the city of Newry and south of the capital Belfast. It is situated on the sea and is surrounded by the Mourne Mountains. It is about four miles away from the important Silent Valley Reservoir which supplies most of the water to Northern Ireland.
Four miles from kilkeel is Cranfield beach, which is a European blue flag beach. Facilities here include: shop, tourist information, life guard station, toilets, children's play area and accommodations in the surrounding caravan parks.

History

Kilkeel takes its name from the old church overlooking the town, it being the anglicised version of the Gaelic 'Cill Choal'. For many years it was thought to translate to 'Narrow Church' however nowadays it is thought to mean 'The Church of/in the Narrow Place' and because of its location, on an elevated narrow site this seems to have been confirmed.
It is believed that this old church was financed by a Spanish noble family after their son had been drowned and washed ashore and given a Christian burial by the locals. However there are references to Kilkeel as a Christian settlement as far back as the 11th century. Kilkeel is the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Mourne and even today the surrounding area is referred to as the Kingdom of Mourne.
The old church, dating back to the 13th century was dedicated to St. Colman and was known in 1388 as 'St Colman Del Morne'. It was thought to be the principal Church in a group which included Kilmegan and Kilcoo despite the fact that Kilkeel was very sparsely populated in the Middle Ages. The cemetery attached to the church was used for burials until the early years of last century. Some of the victims of the collision between two steamers in Carlingford Lough in 1916 were the last people to be buried there.

Economy

The harbour at Kilkeel bustles with the province's largest fleet, and is busiest during landings and at auction time when fish, including herring, are sold on the quay. There are fish-processing factories around the port, pleasure angling off the piers and miles of lobster pots along the coast.

People

★ The town is also known as the location where William Hare died.

★ Robert Hill Hanna (1887 - 1967), was an immigrant Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was a Company Sergeant-Major in the 29th (Vancouver) Bn., Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I when on 21 August 1917, he led a courageous action at Hill 70 Lens, France. He was born near Hanna's Close in Kilkeel and still has many members of family remaining in the area. His personal sword is on the wall of Kilkeel British Legion

Tullaghmurray Lass

On 14 February 2002 The Tullaghmurray Lass left Kilkeel Harbour to fish for prawns. When the boat failed to return when expected a huge search mission was organised involving local fishing boats, the RNLI, HM Coastguard, the Royal Navy and the Irish Navy.
Two months later the main body of the wreckage and the bodies of the three crew were recovered. Tragically, the three victims were from the same family. Michael Green (54), his son (32) and grandson (8), both of whom were also called Michael, died in the accident. An inquest found that a gas explosion on the boat causing huge damage caused it to sink.

2001 Census

Kilkeel is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 6,338 people living in Kilkeel. Of these:

★ 26.2% were aged under 16 years and 18.2% were aged 60 and over

★ 48.4% of the population were male and 51.6% were female

★ 3.5% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

The Religious Divide

The town of Kilkeel has a strong Unionist heritage. But while, in 2001, the ward of Kilkeel Central was recorded as 69% Protestant (21% Catholic, 10% other), the ward of Kilkeel South was only 37% Protestant (55% Catholic, 7% other). Although this division has led to remarkably little serious violence, it is made clear in the way in which different regions of the town are still marked up in the colours and slogans of the locally dominant grouping, and in the frequent marching of the various bands.
For many years the locals adhered to an unofficial demarcation of the main shopping street (Greencastle Street) such that there was a Protestant and a Catholic side. These divisions are breaking down to some extent, and the advent of a non-denominational American-owned supermarket which actually opens on a Sunday, has done a lot to normalise the situation .

Kilkeel now sits within the administrative area of Newry and Mourne, which is recorded in the 2001 census as being 80.6% Catholic.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Education

★ Brackenagh West Primary School

★ Grange Primary School

★ Holy Cross Primary School

★ Kilkeel High School

★ Kilkeel Primary School

★ Mourne Independent Christian School

★ St. Colman's Primary School

★ St. Columban's College

★ St. Louis Grammar School

References

★ Culture Northern Ireland

See also

★ List of towns in Northern Ireland

★ List of villages in Northern Ireland
Kilmorey Arms Hotel