Conlig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conlig
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| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWTOWNARDS |
| Postcode district | BT23 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
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Conlig (which means "the hound-flagstone" in Irish) is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's located near the larger town of Bangor.
Contents
Conlig's Mining History
Conlig is famous for its very old copper mines. These mines have been around for a long time!
Ancient Copper Mines
Long ago, during the Bronze Age, copper from Conlig was used to make weapons. These weapons have been found all over Europe. People traded Conlig's copper for tin from Cornwall, which is a county in England.
Lead Mining in the 1800s
Later, in the 1800s, the copper mining slowed down. But then, the area called Whitespots in Conlig became very important for finding other minerals. The mines here were the biggest in Ireland at that time. They produced about 13,500 tonnes (that's 13,500,000 kilograms!) of lead between the late 1600s and the end of the 1800s. This made it one of the biggest lead mines in the British Isles. Mining stopped in 1900.
Special Minerals and Nature
Conlig is also special because it's the only place in Northern Ireland where a mineral called harmotome has been found.
Much of the old mining area has been turned into a country park by the Department of Environment (DoE). You can visit this park through the car park at the Somme Heritage Centre.
The Whitespots area was named an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) by the DoE in 1998. This means it's a special place that needs to be protected because of its unique nature and history.
Fun Places to Visit in Conlig
If you're ever in Conlig, here are some interesting places nearby:
- Somme Heritage Centre: This centre teaches you about World War I and the Battle of the Somme.
- Clandeboye Golf Club: A great place for golf lovers.
- Assisi Animal Sanctuary: A sanctuary that helps animals in need.
- Ark Farm: A fun farm experience located close to Conlig.
Famous People from Conlig
Conlig has been home to some well-known people:
- Eddie Irvine: He was a famous Formula One racing driver. He grew up on Green Road, just outside Conlig.
- Viscount Pirrie: He was the chairman of Harland and Wolff, the company that built the Titanic. He also grew up in Conlig. He was supposed to be on the Titanic's first voyage but got sick, which saved his life!
- Cllr Ian Adamson: Born in 1944, he used to be the Lord Mayor of Belfast. His family owned the village shop in Conlig when he was growing up.
