Newry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newry Scots: Newrie Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá/An tIúr
Top: Newry skyline, Middle: Buttercrane, The Quays, Newry Town Hall, Bottom: Drumalane Mill, Newry Cathedral
Newry
Population	27,913 (2021 Census)
Irish grid reference	J085265
District	Newry, Mourne and Down
County	County Armagh and County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEWRY
Postcode district	BT34, BT35
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Newry and Armagh
Website	www.newrymournedown.org
List of places UK Northern Ireland 54°10′34″N 6°20′56″W / 54.176°N 6.349°W / 54.176; -6.349

Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. It sits on the Clanrye river and is split between two counties: County Down and County Armagh. It's close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. Newry is located on the main road between Belfast (about 55 km away) and Dublin (about 108 km away). In 2021, about 27,913 people lived there.

Newry started as a monastic settlement (a community built around a monastery) in 1157. It grew around a Cistercian abbey. In the 1500s, the English government closed the abbey. They built Bagenal's Castle where the abbey used to be. Newry became a busy market town and a place where soldiers were stationed (a garrison). It also became an important port in 1742 when the Newry Canal opened. This was the first "summit-level canal" in Ireland, meaning it crossed the highest point between two valleys. Newry is also a cathedral city, which means it has a main church for a Catholic bishop. In 2002, Newry was officially given "city status" as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

What Does the Name Newry Mean?

The name Newry comes from an old Irish phrase, An Iúraigh. This means "the grove of yew trees."

Today, the modern Irish name for Newry is An tIúr. This simply means "the yew tree." Sometimes, it's called Iúr Cinn Trá, which means "yew tree at the head of the strand." This longer name comes from an old story. It says that Saint Patrick planted a yew tree there in the 400s.

You might see "Cathair an Iúir" on some signs around the city. This means "City of Newry" in Irish.

Newry's Past: A Look Back

Merchants Quay, Newry, in the late 1800s

Hill Street in the early 1900s

Trevor Hill in the early 1900s

People have lived in the Newry area for a very long time. During the Bronze Age, which was thousands of years ago, people in Newry made beautiful jewelry. Three of these ancient Newry Clasps can be seen in the Ulster Museum.

Around AD 820, Vikings arrived in the Newry area. From there, they went to Armagh, attacking it and taking valuable items from the surrounding country.

Early Days of Newry

A Cistercian abbey was started in Newry in 1157. It was given official permission by Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, who was a powerful king in Ireland. This abbey might have been a different type of monastery before that. Newry Abbey was a large group of buildings and the main part of a religious community. It lasted for about 400 years.

The English government closed the abbey in 1548. Records show it had a church, a bell tower, a college, a sleeping area, a hall, a graveyard, and gardens. Archaeologists have found 33 burials from the old graveyard. They also found other bones in pits. These remains included men, women, and young people. Some of them had died violently. It's thought this was a graveyard for ordinary people who lived near the abbey.

In 1552, Nicholas Bagenal, an English army leader, was given the land where the abbey used to be. He built a strong, fortified house called Bagenal's Castle on the abbey's site. He even used some of the old abbey buildings. Bagenal also built an earthen wall around his castle and the small town of Newry.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Irish Catholic rebels took control of Newry. In 1642, a Scottish army arrived and took Newry from the rebels. There were reports of violence against Catholic rebels and civilians during this time.

In 1689, during the Raid on Newry, Williamite forces (supporters of King William) fought off an attack by Jacobites (supporters of King James). Around the time of the Battle of the Boyne, parts of Newry were set on fire to help defend the town.

Newry in Modern Times

By 1881, Newry's population had grown to 15,590 people.

During the Irish War of Independence, which was a fight for Ireland's freedom, there were some attacks in Newry. In 1920, Irish Republican Army (IRA) members attacked British soldiers near MacNeill's Egyptian Arch.

When Ireland was divided in 1921, Newry became part of Northern Ireland. For many years, the local council in Newry had a majority of Catholic/Irish nationalist councillors. This was unusual for Northern Ireland at the time. This was because a large majority of the town's population (around 80%) was Catholic.

Newry experienced several difficult events during a period called the Troubles. These included bombings and attacks. For example, there was a mortar attack in 1985. These events continued into the late 1990s and even into 2010, with things like bomb scares.

In 2003, the British Army's watchtowers that looked over Newry were taken down. The British Army left the area completely in 2007 when they closed their last base nearby.

Where is Newry Located?

Newry is in the very southeastern part of both Ulster and Northern Ireland. About half of the city is in County Armagh (the west side), and the other half is in County Down (the east side). The Clanrye River, which flows through the city, marks the old border between these two counties.

The city is in a valley. To the east are the Mourne Mountains, and to the southwest is the Ring of Gullion. Both of these areas are known for their amazing natural beauty. The Cooley Mountains are to the southeast. The Clanrye River runs through the middle of the town, right next to the Newry Canal. Newry is also at the northern end of Carlingford Lough, which is where the canal meets the sea.

Newry's Townlands

Newry is made up of smaller areas called townlands. Their names mostly come from the Irish language. Here are some of the townlands in Newry's city area and what their names likely mean:

Who Lives in Newry?

Here's a look at the people living in Newry, based on information from the 2011 and 2021 Census.

2011 Census Information

On March 27, 2011, there were 26,967 people living in Newry.

• About 21.5% were under 16 years old.
• About 12.7% were 65 years or older.
• Slightly more than half (51%) of the people were female.
• Most people (88.3%) were Catholic or grew up Catholic.
• Many people identified as Irish (56.1%), Northern Irish (27.3%), or British (12.7%). People could choose more than one identity.
• The average age was 35 years old.
• Almost 20% of people knew some Irish (Gaeilge).

2021 Census Information

On March 21, 2021, there were 28,530 people living in Newry.

• About 21.3% were under 16.
• About 14.5% were 66 or older.
• Most people (86.5%) were Catholic or grew up Catholic.
• Many people identified as Irish (61.3%), Northern Irish (22.8%), or British (9.1%). People could choose more than one identity.
• About 20.5% of people knew some Irish (Gaeilge).

Newry's Weather

Like the rest of Northern Ireland, Newry has a mild climate. This means temperatures don't change too much, it's often windy, and it rains throughout the year.

Newry's Economy

Newry has always been known as a town for merchants and traders. It's still famous for being one of the best shopping towns in Northern Ireland. Big shopping centers like the Buttercrane Centre and The Quays Newry bring in many shoppers, even from places like Cork.

In 2006, house prices in Newry grew more than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. They had increased by 371% since 1996! The city has become much richer in recent years. The number of people without jobs has dropped a lot, from over 26% in 1991 to only about 2% in 2008.

After the worldwide financial crisis in 2008, many people from the Republic of Ireland started coming to Newry to shop. They could buy things cheaper because of the difference in money value (the euro was strong against the pound sterling). This huge increase in shopping across the border became so well-known that it was called the Newry effect. In 2008, The New York Times newspaper even called Newry "the hottest shopping spot" in Europe.

However, all this extra shopping caused big traffic jams, sometimes miles long, on the roads leading into Newry. This created huge traffic and parking problems. It even became a political issue, with some politicians saying that shopping across the border was "unpatriotic."

Newry is also home to the main office (headquarters) of First Derivatives Plc, a big company.

How Newry is Governed

Northern Ireland Assembly

Newry is part of the Newry and Armagh area for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Assembly is where laws are made for Northern Ireland. In the 2017 elections, five people were chosen to represent Newry and Armagh.

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

Westminster Parliament

Newry is also part of the Newry and Armagh area for elections to the Westminster Parliament in London. The current Member of Parliament (MP) is Mickey Brady from Sinn Féin. He won his seat in the 2015 general election.

Getting Around Newry: Transport

• The Newry Canal opened in 1742. It's the oldest canal in Ireland or Britain! When it was used for transport, it stretched for about 29 km to Lough Neagh. In 1777, Newry was the fourth largest port in Ireland. Some old warehouses from the 1700s and 1800s still stand along the canal. Many of them are now homes, shops, and restaurants.
• In 1885, an electric tramway was built between Newry and Bessbrook.
• MacNeill's Egyptian Arch is a railway bridge near Newry. It was so important that it was chosen to be on the British one pound coin in 2006, representing Northern Ireland.
• Newry has an Ulsterbus bus station in the city center. It's located along The Mall, right over the Clanrye River. Buses from Newry go to local areas, other regions, and even across the border. There's also a free shuttle bus to the train station.
• Newry railway station is just off the Camlough road. You can catch trains here that go between Dublin and Belfast. There are also some local services. If you want to go to other places, you usually need to change trains in Belfast or Dublin. A new train station opened in 2009.
• Newry is on the main M1/A1 road route that connects Dublin to Belfast. This road used to go right through the town center. Now, a new high-quality dual carriageway (a road with two lanes in each direction) connects Dublin and Belfast. This means you can travel a long distance by motorway or dual carriageway. Newry can get very busy with traffic, especially from shoppers coming from across the border. Newry is also connected to Warrenpoint by a dual carriageway about 11 km to the south.
• Newry is linked to Belfast by National Cycle Route 9. This cycling path goes through Portadown, Lisburn, and Craigavon. The plan is for this route to eventually reach Dublin.

Important Buildings in Newry

Catholic Cathedral of SS. Patrick and Colman, Newry

Saint Patrick's Church was built in 1578. It was ordered by Nicholas Bagenal, who received the monastery lands. This church is thought to be the very first Protestant church built in Ireland.

The Cathedral of SS Patrick and Colman on Hill Street was built in 1829. It cost £8,000. The building is made of local granite. It was designed and built by Thomas Duff, who is considered one of Newry's best architects. Interestingly, Thomas Duff also designed the Cathedral in Dundalk, a town just over the border. People say he accidentally swapped the plans for the two cathedrals!

Newry Town Hall is special because it was built right over the River Clanrye. This river is the old border between County Armagh and County Down.

The impressive Craigmore Viaduct is a railway bridge just north of the city. It's on the main train line between Belfast and Dublin. The bridge was designed by Sir John MacNeill. Building started in 1849, and it officially opened in 1852. The viaduct has eighteen arches, with the highest one being 38 meters tall. This makes it the highest viaduct in Ireland. It's about 400 meters long and was built from local granite. The Enterprise train that goes from Belfast to Dublin crosses this bridge.

The Newry Reporter newspaper often features a historic building in Newry and the surrounding area, sharing a short history of it.

Hospitals

• Daisy Hill Hospital

Churches

Roman Catholic

• Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Colman, Hill Street (1825–29)
• Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine, Dominic Street (1875)
• St Brigid's, Derrybeg (1970)
• St Mary's, Chapel Street (1789; formerly Newry Cathedral)
• Church of the Sacred Heart, Cloghogue (1916)
• Church of the Assumption, Drumalane (1954)
• Church of the Immaculate Conception (Parochial House), 44 Barrack Street

Protestant

• St Patrick's Church of Ireland (1578) -- possibly the first Protestant church ever built in Ireland. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
• St Mary's Church of Ireland (1819)
• Methodist Church, Sandy's Street
• Newry Baptist Church, Downshire Place
• First Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing), John Mitchel Place
• Downshire Road Presbyterian Church, Downshire Road (1843)
• Sandy's Street Presbyterian Church, Sandy's Street
• Riverside Reformed Presbyterian Church, Basin Walk
• The Salvation Army, Trevor Hill
• Metropolitan Church, Edward Street

Other

• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Belfast Road

Famous People from Newry

Arts and Media

• Christine Bleakley, television host
• Margaret Clarke (1884–1961), portrait painter
• Thomas Duff (1792–1848), architect
• Julia Glover, 18th and 19th century actress
• Frank Hall (1921–1995), broadcaster and satirist
• Seán Hillen, photographer and artist
• Valene Kane, actress
• Michael Legge, actor
• John and Susan Lynch, actor siblings
• Tomm Moore, filmmaker
• Gerard Murphy, actor

Music Groups

• The 4 of Us, rock band
• Luv Bug, pop group
• Crubeen, 1970s folk band

Religion

• John Dunlop, Presbyterian churchman
• John Magee, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cloyne

Science and Learning

• Leonard Abrahamson (1896–1961), heart doctor
• Joseph Barcroft (1872–1947), expert on breathing
• W. J. Barre (1830–1867), architect
• Elizabeth Gould Bell (1862–1934), doctor

Sports Stars

• Terence Bannon, mountaineer
• Michael Cusack (1847–1906), started the Gaelic Athletic Association
• Pat Jennings, football goalkeeper
• Willie Maley (1868–1958), football manager
• Danny McAlinden, heavyweight boxer
• Shay McCartan, footballer
• Ryan McGivern, footballer
• Peter McParland, footballer
• Seán O'Neill, Gaelic footballer
• Ronan Rafferty, golfer
• Charlie Smyth, NFL kicker and former Gaelic footballer
• Kane Tucker, Irish international boxer

Other Notable People

• James Heather (1867–1958), 19th century firefighter
• Jackie McClelland (1923–1981), 20th century firefighter
• John McClelland (1951–2022), former Chief Fire Officer of Northern Ireland.

Sports in Newry

Football

Until 2012, Newry City F.C. played at The Showgrounds. A new club, Newry City AFC, was formed in 2013 and has since moved up to the NIFL Premiership, which is a top league.

Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)

The Down GAA team has its home ground, Páirc Esler, in Newry.

Local GAA clubs in Newry include: In Down GAA:

• Newry Bosco GFC
• Newry Shamrocks GAC
• John Mitchel GFC

In Armagh GAA:

• Thomas Davis GFC, Corrinshego
• Killeavy St Moninna's GAC

Rugby Union

Newry RFC (also known as Newry Rugby Club) is an amateur rugby union club that started in 1925. They are part of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club has three senior teams and several junior teams for younger players (from under-12 to under-18). They also started a women's team in 2010–2011. The club's home ground is called Telford Park. It has two playing fields and a clubhouse on the edge of Newry.

Learning in Newry: Education

Primary Schools

• Cloughoge Primary School
• Killean Primary School
• St Clare's Convent Primary School
• St. Colman's Abbey Christian Brothers' Primary School
• St Joseph's Convent Primary School
• St Malachy's Primary School
• St. Patrick's Primary School, Newry|St Patrick's Primary School
• Windsor Hill Primary School
• St Ronan's Primary School

Post-Primary Schools

• Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School
• Newry High School
• Our Lady's Grammar School
• Sacred Heart Grammar School
• St Colman's College
• St Joseph's Boys' High School
• St. Mary's High School
• St. Paul's High School, Bessbrook

Further Education

• Southern Regional College

See also

In Spanish: Newry (Irlanda del Norte) para niños