Poyntzpass
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|---|---|
| Village | |
 The level-crossing at Poyntzpass | |
  Location withinNorthern Ireland | |
| Population | 552 (2011 census) |
| Irish grid reference | J057394 |
| • Belfast | 29.02 mi (46.70 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWRY |
| Postcode district | BT35 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
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Poyntzpass is a small village on the border between southernCounty Armagh andCounty Down inNorthern Ireland. It is situated in thecivil parish ofBallymore and the historicbarony ofOrior Lower[1] within theArmagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area. It had a population of 552 people (228 households) in the2011 census.[2] It was a part of theSouth Armagh constituency and is now part of theNewry and Armagh constituency.
The village covers thetownlands of Tullynacross, Brannock, Federnagh and Loughadian. It includes five places ofChristian worship; aRoman Catholic church, aChurch of Ireland church, aPresbyterian church,[3] aBaptist church, and an Independent church; 3public houses; and 2 primary schools.
The second half of the village's name reflects the fact that, historically, it was one of a few crossing points across a marsh stretching 25 miles (40 km) fromLough Neagh toCarlingford Lough, following the course of a prehistoricglacial overflow channel. It was named after Lieutenant Charles Poyntz who fought a battle there againstHugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone in 1598.
An entry inA Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published by Samuel Lewis in 1837, reads:
"POYNTZPASS, or FENWICK'S PASS, a small town, partly in the parish of AGHADERG, barony of UPPER IVEAGH, county of DOWN, but chiefly in the parish of BALLYMORE barony of LOWER ORIOR, county of ARMAGH and province of ULSTER , 2¾ miles (S.W.) fromLoughbrickland, to which it has a penny post; containing 660 inhabitants, of which number, 88 are in the county of Down. This place was an encumbered pass through bogs and woods, from the county of Down into that of Armagh, and from the O'Hanlons' to the Magennises' country: it derives its present name from this important military position having been forced, after a desperate action, by Lieut. Poyntz, of theEnglish army, with a few troops, against a numerous body of Tyrone's soldiers, for which service he was rewarded with a grant of 500 acres [2 km²] in this barony: there are some remains of the castle that commanded the pass. At Drumbanagher are vestiges of the entrenchment surrounding the principal strong hold of theEarl of Tyrone, during his wars withQueen Elizabeth, called Tyrone's Ditches. Poyntz-Pass is now one of the most fertile and beautiful spots in this part of the country. To the south isDrumbanagher Castle, the handsome residence of Lieut.-Col. Maxwell Close, built in the Italian style, with a large portico in front; on an eminence above the town is Acton House, the elegant residence of C. R. Dobbs, Esq.; not far from which is Union Lodge, that of W. Fivey, Esq., in a beautiful demesne, bounded by the extensive waters of Lough Shark. That portion of the town which is in the county of Armagh was built about 1790, by Mr. Stewart, then proprietor, who procured for it a grant of a market and fairs; the former was never established, but the latter, held on the first Saturday in every month, are large and well attended, great numbers of cattle and sheep being sold. The town comprises 116 houses in one principal street, intersected by a shorter one. It contains the church for the district ofActon, a small neat edifice in the early English style, with a tower at the east front, built in 1789, and considerably enlarged and improved in 1829; a R. C. chapel, a school, and a constabulary police station."
A castle was once situated in Poyntzpass. Its remnants were visible until the middle of the 19th century, but there is now no trace of it other than in the name 'Castle Corner' by which a corner of William Street is sometimes known.
On 3 March 1998, 26-year oldCatholic Damian Trainor and 34-year oldPresbyterian Philip Allen, were shot dead during aLoyalist Volunteer Force gun attack on the Railway Bar in Poyntzpass.[4][5]
On census day in 2011 (27 March 2011), there were 552 people living in Poyntzpass.[2] Of these:
The localGaelic football club, named inhonour of the rapparee, is Redmond O'Hanlon's (Cumann Réamainn Uí Anluain). Created around 1960, it became inactive in 1970 but was revived in 1977. As of 2012, it was competing at Junior level in competitions organised byArmagh GAA.[6]
Poyntzpass straddles the mainBelfast-Dublinrailway line, and has aNorthern Ireland Railways railway station.Poyntzpass railway station opened on 6 January 1862.[7]
TheNewry Canal which flows through Poyntzpass follows the Armagh/Down border and was one of the first major canals to be constructed in Britain or Ireland. However, it never really fulfilled its promise to bring industry and prosperity and has been derelict since the 1940s. Its summit level is one mile (1.6 km) from the village at Acton Lake (Lough Shark).
Primary schools in the area include Poyntzpass Primary School and Joseph and St. James's Primary School.[citation needed]
