Dromore, County Down

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Dromore
Droim Mór

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
54.412° N 6.137° W

Statistics

Population (2001)

4,968

Dromore (in Irish: Droim Mór, ie large ridge) is a small market town in the Lagan Valley, in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is 20 miles south-west of Belfast, on the A1 Belfast to Dublin road. It had a population of 4,968 people in the 2001 Census. The town is in the Banbridge District Council area.

The town's centre is Market Square, which has a rare set of stocks. It is in the linen manufacturing district. Remains of a castle and earthworks are to be seen, together with a large ráth or encampment known as the Priest's Mount, on the Maypole Hill.

1 History
- 1.1 The Troubles
2 Places of interest
3 People
4 Education
5 2001 Census
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] History

The town is of high antiquity, and was the seat of a Diocese of Dromore, which grew out of an abbey of Canons Regular attributed to Saint Colman in the 6th century, and was united in 1842 to Down and Connor. The diocese was then divided in 1945, with Connor being independent, and Down and Dromore remaining united.
The town and cathedral were wholly destroyed during the rebellion of 1641, and the present church was built by Bishop Jeremy Taylor in 1661, who is buried there. Also buried in the cathedral is Thomas Percy, another famous bishop of the diocese, who laid out the fine grounds of the palace. A monument to Thomas Percy stands in the Town Park.
Jacobites under command of Richard Hamilton, and rival Williamites fought a battle here on the 14th March 1689. The battle took place about a mile out of the town on the Milebush Road and was known as the 'Break of Dromore'. The Jacobites routed the Williamites and they fled in disorder, but with few casualties. After this Break of Dromore the Jacobites did not met any resistance while advancing northwards and occupying Belfast.

[edit] The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Dromore (Down), which includes a list of incidents in Dromore during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

[edit] Places of interest

The Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer is situated on a monastic site founded by St Colman in 500 AD. A Celtic High cross stands in the Cathedral grounds. The cross is made of granite and survives from the early monastery.
Dromore contains the best preserved Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey castle in Ireland, which dates from the 13th century.

[edit] People

Famous residents included:

Harry Ferguson -(1884-1960)- inventor of tractor.
Jeffrey Donaldson - Northern Ireland politician
David Humphreys - Irish rugby international

[edit] Education

Primary Schools
- Dromore Central Primary School
- St. Colman's Primary School
- Tullymacarette Primary School
Secondary Schools
- Dromore High School

[edit] 2001 Census

Dromore is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 4,968 people living in Dromore. Of these:

23.9% were aged under 16 years and 17.5% were aged 60 and over
48.2% of the population were male and 51.8% were female
13.0% were from a Catholic background and 83.4% were from a Protestant background
2.5% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service