Killough
| |
|---|---|
  Killough Location withinCounty Down | |
| Population | 845 (2001 Census) |
| District |
|
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DOWNPATRICK |
| Postcode district | BT30 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
| |
Killough (/kɪˈlɒx/ki-LOKH; fromIrishCill Locha, meaning 'church of theloch')[1][2] is a village andtownland inCounty Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on theIrish Sea shore nearArdglass, five miles southeast ofDownpatrick. It is aconservation area[3] known for itssycamore-lined main street. In the2001 census, it had a population of 845 people.[4]
The townland of Killough appears in theDown Survey as 'Kiltaghlins'. The owner in 1641 was given asThomas Cromwell Viscount ofLecale,[5] a direct descendant ofThomas Cromwell chief minister to Henry VIII.
Theharbour was built in the 18th century by the Wards ofCastle Ward house, just outsideStrangford. Michael Ward had the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) straight road from Castle Ward to Killough built in 1740.[6] Ward called the village 'Port St Anne', but that name did not stick.[7][8]: 47 The nameSt Anne's Port was also used.[7]
After the outbreak of war betweenGreat Britain andFrance in1793. the growing of cereals increased in Lecale and Killough, as one of the ports of export, expanded to deal with it, until its population was almost double what it is today.
A report in 1822 comments on the considerable corn and coal trade and the 22yawls which "afford the chief supply of white fish to the county of Down."[8]: 105
The existing harbour facilities were soon inadequate and between 1821 and 1824, Michael Ward's son, the first Lord Bangor, employed the engineerAlexander Nimmo, to build new quays[8]: 71 at a cost of £17,000. The piers, a long one of nearly 600 feet (180 m) on the Killough side and a short one of 100 feet (30 m) on theConey Island side, enclosed a fine harbour. The village prospered and the grain merchants built their imposing houses in Castle Street, and their stores on the narrow lane leading to the quays.[8]: 14
The distinctive sycamore avenue along Castle Street was planted in 1850.[8]: 29
Between 1892 and 1950, Killough had a railway station.
In September 1981 an off-duty police officer, Sandy Stewart, was shot dead by theIRA in the Ann Boal Inn. He was engaged to the pub's owner, Ann Boal. She died a few years later.[9][10]
Pender's Census of Ireland, in the 1650s, recorded 21 people in Killough. The Parliamentary Gazetteer of 1846 gave it a population of 1,148 people.[8]: 14–15
Killough is classified as a small village or hamlet by theNorthern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).[11] That is with a population between 500 and 1,000. On census day in 2001, 29 April 2001, there were 845 people living in Killough.[4] Of these:
St John's Point lighthouse and ancient church are close to Killough. The church dates to the 10th or 11th century. Near the entrance to the church is aholy well and abullaun stone.[12]
Alms houses on the Rossglass Road were the first endowed by philanthropist Charles Sheils who was born and buried in Killough.[13] They were designed byCharles Lanyon[8]: 80 [14]
Killough Playgroup and St. Joseph's Primary School are located on Killough's main street.[15]
Killough was used as one of 133 filming locations for the 2008Kari Skogland filmFifty Dead Men Walking. It was also used as the main Irish filming location forThe Shore, anAcademy Award winning[16] short film about a man who emigrated to America to escapeThe Troubles bringing his daughter back to Northern Ireland to meet his childhood friends. The 30-minute film was shot entirely on location in Killough.
Scenes from Terry George's 2011 filmWhole Lotta Sole,[17] starringBrendan Fraser andMartin McCann, were shot on location in the village, using Killough's harbour and beaches for many of the exterior shots.Pixie was also part shot in Killough.[18]
The village is the inspiration for the memoirSweet Killough, Let Go Your Anchor by Irish politicianMaurice Hayes, taken from the publication of the same name.[19]
%2c_October_2009.JPG)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
