Banbridge (district) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banbridge District
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| Area | 453 km2 (175 sq mi) Ranked 15th of 26 |
| District HQ | Banbridge |
| Catholic | 32% |
| Protestant | 62% |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
Banbridge was a local government area, or "district," in Northern Ireland. It was one of 26 council areas created on 1 October 1973. The main office for the council was in the town of Banbridge. In April 2015, most of the Banbridge district joined with other areas to form the new Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. Some smaller parts of the district, especially those with more Catholic residents, became part of the Newry, Mourne and Down District.
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Where Was Banbridge District?
The former Banbridge district was located in the western part of County Down. It covered about 453 square kilometers (175 square miles) of countryside. This area stretched from Slieve Croob (a mountain 1,775 feet high) in the east to the River Bann valley in the west. It was also a main entry point to the Mourne Mountains in the south. The important A1 road, which connects Belfast and Dublin, ran right through it.
The district was created by combining the Banbridge Urban District, Dromore Urban District, and Banbridge Rural District. In 1993, the Rathfriland area was added from the nearby Newry and Mourne district. Other important small towns in the area included Gilford, Loughbrickland, and Scarva. In 2001, the district had a population of just over 42,000 people. By 2011, this number had grown to 48,339.
What Was the Economy Like?
Historically, the Banbridge District's economy was based on manufacturing, farming, and shops. Manufacturing included making textiles (like linen) and shoes. Ferguson's, a very old Irish linen company, still operates in Banbridge. A shoe factory that opened in 1947 once employed 600 people, but it closed in the early 2000s.
According to the council, there were over 1,770 businesses in the district. Most of these were small, with fewer than 10 employees. A big change for the local economy was the opening of a discount fashion outlet on the edge of Banbridge. This outlet has 59 different stores and is part of the Bridgewater Park project. There were also plans for large supermarkets like Tesco and Asda to open stores, which would create many jobs.
Caring for the Environment
Since the late 1990s, the local council and people in Banbridge District have focused on improving the environment. The district has often had one of the highest recycling rates in Northern Ireland. For example, in 2009–2010, almost 52% of household waste was recycled or composted.
In 2009, a "bring-and-buy" reuse shop called Restore was opened by the council to help reduce waste. In 2012, the council won an award for the best Local Authority Recycling Initiative.
A study of local wildlife was done in 2007, and a plan to protect biodiversity was published. Like the rest of Northern Ireland, only a small part of the district was covered by woodlands. In recent years, money has been spent to improve outdoor places. These include Solitude Park in Banbridge, the Newry Canal Towpath, and Slieve Croob. The district did not have any wind turbines because of its hilly land. However, a biogas site was planned in 2010.
Schools and Learning
The Banbridge District was part of the former Southern Education and Library Board area. It had 31 publicly funded schools and learning centers. These included:
- Three pre-primary nurseries.
- Twenty-one primary schools (for younger children).
- Five post-primary schools (for older students).
There was also a special needs school in Banbridge for students aged five to nineteen. This school was next to one of the campuses of the Southern Regional College.
Sports and Community Life
The local council collected information showing that over 200 community groups and more than 80 sports clubs were active in the Banbridge District. These numbers are likely even higher, as many youth, sports, and other groups met through local churches. This shows how active and connected the people in the area were.
Arts and Culture
The local government in Banbridge District spent less money on arts compared to other areas in Northern Ireland. In 2003–2004, the council spent £1.23 per person on arts. This included developing arts, supporting artists, and funding theaters and public entertainment. The average spending in Northern Ireland was £7.70 per person. By 2006–2007, Banbridge's spending rose to £3.38 per person, but the Northern Ireland average was £8.44.
The two main arts places in the former district were the Iveagh Cinema and the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio. The cinema opened in 2004 and has a 300-seat screen that can also be used for live shows and plays. The F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio opened in 2008. It displays the work of F. E. McWilliam, a famous sculptor, and also has space for temporary art exhibitions.
The District Council
The Banbridge district was divided into three areas for elections: Banbridge, Knockiveagh, and Dromore. These areas elected 17 members to the council. Elections were usually held every four years using a system called proportional representation single transferable vote.
For a long time, the UUP controlled Banbridge District Council. They were the only party in charge from 1973 until 2000. In 2000, the DUP gained a seat. After the 2011 Northern Ireland local elections, the UUP became the largest party again, winning seven out of 17 seats. This was a rare win for the UUP that year. Six of the 17 councillors elected in 2011 were women. The turnout for the 2011 elections was 56%, which was the lowest since the council was formed.
In 2011–2012, UUP councillors Joan Baird and Carol Black were the head and deputy head of the council. This was the first time in the council's history that both top positions were held by women.
Local News and Media
The district had four local newspapers: the Banbridge Chronicle (started in 1870), the Dromore Leader, the Banbridge Leader, and the County Down Outlook (started in 1940). A community radio station, 102.4 Shine FM, broadcast from Banbridge all year. Since 2007, another community radio station called fUSe FM, based in Rathfriland, also operated for a few days each year.
Banbridge District and the Troubles
Like other parts of Northern Ireland, Banbridge District was affected by the Troubles. Between 1969 and 2001, twelve people lost their lives in the district because of the conflict. Two bombs also exploded in Banbridge town center during this time. The first was in 1982, which caused one death. The second bomb, planted by the Real IRA, exploded on August 1, 1998, just two weeks before the Omagh bombing. This second bomb caused a lot of damage to buildings, but thankfully no one was killed.
Railways
Scarva railway station is on the train line that connects Dublin and Belfast. The fast Enterprise train often passes through Scarva without stopping. It runs between Belfast Grand Central, Portadown, then quickly to Newry and on to Dublin Connolly. NI Railways also runs a service from Newry that stops at local stations like Poyntzpass and Scarva, continuing to Portadown and other stations to Belfast Grand Central.
