Annalong

Annalong () 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. It had a population of 1,805 people at the 2001 Census and lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. 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.

History

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''. 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.

Facilities

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 hosts a range of classes, activities, and events and hires 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 to collect 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.

Places of interest

*Annalong Cornmill was built in the 19th century and operated until the 1960s, and was one of the last working watermills in Northern Ireland. It contains a grain drying kiln and three pairs of millstones. It is powered by a 15 ft water wheel and a 1920s Marshall "hot-bulb" 20hp engine. Restoration began in 1983, after it was acquired by Newry and Mourne District Council, and it reopened in 1985.
*In Annalong, there is a family farm that sells goods everyday of the week. The farm is named Moneydarragh Farm. It is mainly run by the Purdy family. They are known for their potatoes. The potatoes are known as "Purdy's Pink Potatoes".
*Annalong harbour was enlarged in the 1880s to cope with the increased granite exports. A purpose-built standard gauge railway was built from Annalong to transport almost all of the material for the construction of the reservoir.
*The Rocket Tower, situated at Cowden's yard on the Kilkeel side of Annalong, is a listed building. Despite being derelict, it is believed to be the only rocket station remaining in Ireland. The tower housed the pigeons, which were used as couriers between the Coastguard stations, and the garage housed a rocket launcher which fired ropes to boats which ran aground during the smuggling in the 18th–19th centuries.
*Annalong Mural Project is a mural painted by pupils from Annalong Primary School and St. Mary's Glasdrumman depicting the area of the Mournes on Main Street. It was created in a cross-community effort between the two schools.

Notable People

* Francis Rawdon Chesney (1789–1872), Army general; Chesney was born in Annalong. At age 25, he was honoured for his heroism in saving the lives of several local fishermen who were caught in a storm. He was a British soldier and explorer in Asia and was able to demonstrate that the Suez Canal was a feasible project, bringing about its eventual construction. He also proved that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were navigable, advocating the adoption of a route to India via the Euphrates.
*Elizabeth Shane (1877–1951), poet, lived her last years at Glassdrummond House near Annalong.

Demography

2011 Census

On census day (27 March 2011) there were 1,805 people living in Annalong. Of those:

* 20.8% were aged under 16 years and 15.8% were aged 5 and over;
* The average age was 38 years (Northern Ireland average 37.6);
* 50.1% of the population were male and 49.9% were female;
* 29.8% were from a Catholic background, and 64% were from a Protestant background;
* 5.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed;
* 21.4% of the population had no access to a car or van.

2001 Census

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:
*23.8% were aged under 16 and 19.1% were aged 60 and over;
*the average age was 36.2 years (Northern Ireland average age 35.8 years);
*50.1% of the population were male and 49.9% were female;
*25.9% were from a Catholic background, and 71.8% were from a Protestant background;
*3.1% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
*7.5% of the local population had access to a car or van.

Religion

Annalong Presbyterian Church is situated on the main Newcastle to Kilkeel road. 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. 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.

Sport

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 a 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.

Schools

*Annalong Primary School
* St. Mary's Primary School

See also

* List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland

References

External links

Annalong.com website

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Villages in County Down
Civil parish of Kilkeel