Annsborough

Annsborough ( _ga. Baile Anna) is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated on the A25 road between Downpatrick and Newry, approximately 0.8 kilometres to the east of Castlewellan and 17 kilometres to the south west of Downpatrick. It had a population of 593 people in the 2001 Census.

It originally developed as a mill village in the valley of the Clarkhill and Ballybannon rivers. Most people look beyond the village to neighbouring Castlewellan for the majority of their local services. The village contains a Post Office and shop and a playing field. Annsborough Controlled Integrated Primary School was opened in 1997. A variety of light industrial and commercial uses provide small scale local employment within former textile mill buildings in the centre of the village.

The village has a separate history and identity to Castlewellan and its distinctive character derives from its natural valley setting within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the well landscaped former mill complex in the centre of the village. In addition to a listed bridge, there are seven listed buildings within the village, a number of which are in need of restoration and repair.

The local village is known for having a competitive Pipeband. Currently competing in Grade 3A of the RSPBA the band has had numerous success within the last four years, including two World Championships. For more information see links.

2001 Census

Annsborough is classified as a Small Village or Hamlet by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 593 people living in Annsborough. Of these:
*29.4% were aged under 16 years and 13.6% were aged 60 and over
*48.7% of the population were male and 51.3% were female
*93.6% were from a Catholic background and 5.1% were from a Protestant background
*5.8% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]

References

*Draft Ards and Down Area Plan 2015

External links

* [http://www.annsboroughpipeband.com/ Annsborough Pipe Band]

See also

*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland