| Donaghadee | |
|---|---|
 Aerial View of Donaghadee. | |
  Donaghadee Location withinCounty Down | |
| Population | 6,869 (2011 Census) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DONAGHADEE |
| Postcode district | BT21 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Donaghadee (/ˌdɒnəxəˈdiː/DON-ə-khə-DEE,[4] fromIrishDomhnach Daoi)[1] is a small town inCounty Down,Northern Ireland. It lies on the northeast coast of theArds Peninsula, about 18 miles (29 km) east ofBelfast and about six miles (10 km) south east ofBangor. It is in thecivil parish ofDonaghadee and the historicbarony ofArds Lower.[1] It had a population of 6,869 people in the 2011 Census.[5]
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The name 'Donaghadee' comes from IrishDomhnach Daoi, which has two possible meanings: "church of Daoi", after an unattested saint, or "church of themotte".[1] Originally the site of a Gaelicringfort, theAnglo-Normans built amotte-and-bailey castle on the site after they conquered the area in the late 12th century.[6]
In the early 17th century,Hugh Montgomery settled Scottish Protestants there as part of thePlantation of Ulster, and it began to grow into a small town.[1] The formerDonaghadee Town Hall is a converted merchant's house which was completed in around 1770.[7]
The town featured in theIrish Rebellion of 1798. On the morning of Pike Sunday, 10 June 1798 a force ofUnited Irishmen, mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee,Greyabbey andBallywalter attempted to occupy the town ofNewtownards. They met withmusket fire from themarket house and were defeated.[8]
Donaghadee was used in the 1759–1826 period by couples going toPortpatrick inScotland to marry, as there was a daily packet boat. During this period, Portpatrick was known as the "Gretna Green for Ireland".[9]
The lifeboat station at Donaghadee harbour, founded in 1910, is one of the most important on the Irish coast. TheSir Samuel Kelly is a noted lifeboat once based in Donaghadee and now on show and preserved at the harbour for her efforts over 50 years ago. On 31 January 1953, the lifeboat rescued many survivors in theIrish Sea from the strickenLarne–Stranraer car ferry,MVPrincess Victoria.[10]
Donaghadee railway station, which was open for passenger traffic from 1861 to 1950, was on theBelfast and County Down Railway.
On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 6,869 people living in Donaghadee (2,997 households), accounting for 0.38% of the NI total.[5] The Census 2011 population represented an increase of 6.1% on the Census 2001 figure of 6,470.[11] Of these:
Donaghadee is one of Northern Ireland's lifeboat stations.[10]
Donaghadee is known for itsharbour andlighthouse. The initial plans and surveys for the harbour were made byJohn Rennie Senior. He died within two months of work beginning, and was succeeded by his son, John, later SirJohn Rennie: the work was completed in 1825. The lighthouse, which was built inlimestone was completed in the late 1830s.[12] During theCOVID-19 Quarantine, people, usually younger people would place painted stones which would show support to theNational Health Service (NHS), major parts of Donaghadee, milestones or just fun drawings. They were removed in late-2020 but in mid-2022 a small bench in the motte was painted with smaller designs of the stones.
The Motte or Moat in Donaghadee was originally amotte-and-bailey castle built by theAnglo-Normans in the late 12th century. Thefolly or castle on top of the motte was built by Daniel Delacherois in the early 19th century. It was used for storing the gunpowder, used for blasting, when the new harbour was being built between 1821 and 1834. Today it is part of a park, giving views across the town and seawards towards theCopeland Islands.[6]
Scenic walks include the marine walk at The Commons, which comprises a 16-acre (6.5 ha) semi-cultivated open space withbowls, tennis, several exercise equipment,putting and anadventure playground.There are several restaurants and pubs in the town, includingGrace Neill's, opened in 1611 as the "King's Arms", and which claims to be the oldest bar in Ireland (a claim also made by other pubs, including bySean's Bar inAthlone).[13]
The Copeland Bird Observatory is situated on Lighthouse Island, one of the three islands not far, and to be seen, from Donaghadee. It collects data on the migrating birds and by ringing them records the movements of the migratory species.[14] The islands are an internationally important site for breedingManx Shearwater andArctic Tern.[15]
Among thealgae recorded from Donaghadee areGastroclonium ovatum,Callophyllis laciniata,Fucus ceranoides,Desmarestia ligulata,Hordaria flagelliformis,Codium fragile ssp.atlanticum andCladophora pygmaea.[16]Flowering plants have been recorded from Donaghadee and are listed with details by Hackney (1992).[17]
Donaghadee Male Choir was founded in 1932. It began as a small local chorus performing in churches and other local functions. The choir has performed internationally and has a membership of over 70 people.[18]
Donaghadee was the basis for the fictional town ofDonaghadoo in the children's television seriesLifeboat Luke, which was animated by the Donaghadee animation studioStraandlooper.[19] The town was also used as a set for some of the filmMickybo and Me.[20]
Donaghadee is seen in the filmsRobot Overlords starringGillian Anderson,[21]Divorcing Jack,[22]Killing Bono[23] andMo the Mo Mowlam story, starringJulie Walters.[24]
Donaghadee features as the fictional town of Port Devine in the BBC dramaHope Street which first aired in 2021.[25]
Donaghadee is mentioned several times in the songForty Shades of Green, written byJohnny Cash in 1959.[26]
Donaghadee Rugby Football Club, which was formed by the Rev. Coote, played its first match against Bangor on 7 November 1885.[27]
Donaghadee Football Club arejuniorfootball who play their home matches at Crommelin Park in the town. For the 2014–15 season they were members of Division 2C of theNorthern Amateur Football League.[28] An earlier club of the same name held membership of the same league from 1948 to 1953. Donaghadee FC and Donaghadee 11s were both promoted from their respective leagues in 2016/17.[29]
Donaghadee Ladies' Hockey Club have two teams which play in Ulster Hockey leagues: The 1XI play in Senior League 3, while the 2XI are in Junior 8.[30]
Donaghadee Sailing Club (which underwent redevelopment and in May 2009 with a new clubhouse opened).[31]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Grace Neill's bar in County Down, built in 1611, claims to be the oldest bar in Ireland. That claim is disputed [..by,.] Sean's Bar in Athlone
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