Newcastle, County Down

Newcastle ( Irish: An Caisleán Nua ) is a city on the northeast coast of Ireland in County Down in Northern Ireland.

The place

Newcastle is a seaside town on the Irish Sea at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland and the easternmost peak of the Mourne Mountains, and is on the A2 (major road) connected to the situated and close to the A1/M1 Newry. The distance to the located west of Newcastle Newry on regional roads is a good 30 kilometers from the A2 it amounts to 48 kilometers.

The name of the place goes back to a ruined 19th century castle from the late 16th century, which stood at the mouth of the coming of the Mourne Mountains River Shimna.

At the Census 2001 population was determined by 7444 people for Newcastle. Of these, 69.3 % were Roman Catholic, while 28.4 % had a Protestant background. Administratively part of the Newcastle District Down, parliamentary to Southdown. During the conflict in Northern Ireland showed no serious incidents in Newcastle.

On the rail Newcastle was connected from 1869 to 1955; in the former station building a Lidl supermarket is housed.

Newcastle is twinned with New Ross in County Wexford (Republic of Ireland).

Personalities

Sons and daughters

• Paul Carson ( born 1949 ), a pediatrician and author

Resident

• Martin Waddell ( born 1941 ), children's book author

Musician

• The Answer, hard rock band from Newcastle