Population 1,872 (2011 Census) Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district BT30 Local time Saturday 11:43 PM Province Ulster Dialling code 028 Postcode district BT30 Local time Saturday 11:43 PM Dialling code 028 Post town Downpatrick | Sovereign state United Kingdom Province Ulster UK parliament constituency South Down | |
Weather 4°C, Wind SW at 11 km/h, 97% Humidity |
Crossgar (from Irish an Chrois Ghearr, meaning 'the short cross') is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about 15 miles (24 km) south of Belfast – between Saintfield and Downpatrick. Crossgar had a population of 1,539 people in the 2001 Census, increasing to an estimated 1,872 people in the 2008 Estimate Census.
Contents
- Map of Crossgar Downpatrick UK
- History
- Places of interest
- Transport
- Demography
- Population Change
- People
- Sport
- Surrounding areas
- References
Map of Crossgar, Downpatrick, UK
History
Crossgar has had an interesting and varied past, from the settlement of Anglo-Norman invaders, to Scots settlers, to the St. Patrick's Day riots in the 1800s. According to a history of Down and Connor by a Fr. O'Laverty, the parish of Kilmore, in which Crossgar lies, was likely to have been established around 800 AD and was the ecclesiastical centre of this part of County Down. It was thought that the area had seven chapels and these can be reasonably evident by the remains of burial grounds. But the seventh cannot be traced to a burial ground and is referred to as the "lost chapel of Cill Glaise". O'Laverty says that by tradition this chapel was built by Saint Patrick and left in the care of his disciples Glasicus and Liberius.
The name Crossgar comes from the Irish An Chrois Ghearr meaning "the short cross". There is a holy well known as St. Mary’s Well (Tobar Mhuire) which suggests that in this case crois (cross) is likely to refer to an ecclesiastical cross, no trace of which now remains. The adjective gearr (short) may suggest that the cross was damaged or in some way defective. The parish of Kilmore comes from the Irish Cill Mhór meaning "big church" or another possible meaning is An Choill Mhór meaning "the big forest", which suggests that the area was covered by a large forest. Another location of one of the seven chapels is the townland of Killinchy (Cill Duinsí) meaning "Duinseach's Church".
In June 1920, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks at Crossgar was attacked by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), who were beaten off.
Places of interest
Transport
Crossgar is on the main A7 road, 5 miles (8 km) north of Downpatrick and 16 miles (26 km) south of Belfast, and on the B7 minor road between Ballynahinch and Killyleagh.
The village is served by Ulsterbus route 15 and 215 Downpatrick to Belfast.
Crossgar railway station opened on 23 March 1859, but finally closed on 16 January 1950.
Parts of it from Downpatrick to Inch abbey then opened as a tourist attraction in late 2009 to celebrate the closing of the line 60 years ago.
Demography
Crossgar is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (25 March 2011) there were 1,872 people living in Crossgar, making it the 2643rd UK largest town. Of these:
In 2001 there were 1,539 people living in Crossgar. Of these:
Population Change
1971 Census = 10981981 Census- 12251991 Census= 12462001 Census= 15422008 Estimate = 18602011 Census = 1,872For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
People
The James Martin Memorial Stone is located in the Square in Crossgar and is maintained by Down District Council. Sir James Martin, who hailed from the nearby townland of "Killinchy-in-the-Woods", was born on 11 September 1893, and died on 5 January 1981, was awarded for services to Engineering an OBE in 1950 and a CBE in 1957. He is famous as the inventor of the ejector seat for aircraft. He was also co-founder of the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company. A 3-foot-high (0.91 m) stone has been erected in his memory.
Andrew Waterworth grandson of former Glentoran defender and captain Noel McCarthy played for Hamilton Academical Football Club in the SPL but now plays for Linfield Football Club is from Crossgar.
Leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party and former senior barrister, Jim Allister was born in Crossgar in 1953.
Sport
Crossgar is home of Kilmore Rec. Football Club, which plays at Robert Adams Park. It is the club at which Andrew Waterworth started his career.
Crossgar hosts the badminton team and club, 'Lisara Badminton Club'. Their place of play is in Lisara Presbyterian Church Hall.
Crossgar also has its own 9 hole Par 64 Golf Course, Crossgar Golf Club, located on the Derryboy Road. [2]