Banbridge

File:Downshire Bridge and the Cut, Banbridge, Co. Down (32142553241).jpg

Banbridge, home to the "Star of the County Down", is a relatively young town, first entering recorded history around 1691 during the aftermath of the struggle between William III and James II. An Outlawry Court was set up in the town to deal with the followers of James.{{cite book|last=Young|first=Alex F.|title=Old Banbridge|year=2002|publisher=Stenlake Publishing|location=Catrine, Ayrshire|isbn=9781840332049|page=3|url=http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=259|access-date=28 June 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234841/http://stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=259|url-status=live}} The town grew up around the site where the main road from Belfast to Dublin crossed the River Bann over an Old Bridge which was situated where the present bridge now stands.

The town owes its success to flax and the linen industry, becoming the principal linen producing district in Ireland by 1772 with a total of 26 bleachgreens along the Bann. By 1820 the town was the centre of the 'Linen Homelands' and its prominence grew when it became a staging post on the mail coach route between Dublin and Belfast. A gift of £500 from the Marquis of Downshire around this time helped to alleviate some problems with the steepness of the road and paid for significant improvements.{{cite book|last=Young|first=Alex|title=Ibid|page=3|url=http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=259|access-date=28 June 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234841/http://stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=259|url-status=live}} This industry has now greatly diminished in prominence, but Banbridge still has three of the major producers in Ulster; Weavers, Thomas Ferguson & Co, and John England Irish Linen.

File:Looking West over Banbridge. - geograph.org.uk - 229179.jpg

In 1994, Banbridge was twinned with Ruelle-sur-Touvre in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

In 1920, Banbridge saw violence related to the ongoing Irish War of Independence and partition of Ireland. On 17 July, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated British colonel Gerald Smyth in Cork. He had ordered police officers to shoot civilians if they did not immediately obey orders. In a 17 June 1920 speech at the Listowel, County Kerry Royal Irish Constabulary station Smyth is quoted as saying: "The more you shoot, the better I will like you, and I assure you no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man."{{cite book |last=O'Brien |first=Jack |title=British Brutality in Ireland |year=1989 |publisher=Mercier Press Ltd |page=87 |isbn=0-85342-879-4}} Smyth was from a wealthy Banbridge family, and his large funeral was held there on 21 July. After Smyth's funeral, about 3,000 Protestant loyalists took to the streets of Banbridge and wreaked revenge on the Catholic community. Many Catholic homes and businesses were attacked, burned and looted, despite police being present. A large mob of loyalists, some of them armed, attacked and tried to break into the home of a republican family. The father fired on the mob, killing Protestant William Sterritt. A local Orange lodge was later named in his honour. Hundreds of Catholic factory workers were also forced from their jobs, and many Catholic families fled Banbridge. Calm was restored after the British Army were deployed in the town.Lawlor, Pearse. The Burnings, 1920. Mercier Press, 2009. pp.67–77 In the summer of 1920 sectarian rioting occurred in several other towns/cities in east Ulster: Belfast, Dromore and Newtownards.Magill, Christopher, Political Conflict in East Ulster, 1920-22, (2020), Boydell Press, Woodbridge, pg 39, ISBN 978-1-78327-511-3

Banbridge had three major bombings during the Troubles. On 15 March 1982, a Provisional IRA bomb on Bridge Street killed a schoolboy and injured 36 people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/16/An-IRA-bomb-blitz-killed-a-schoolboy-and-injured/2812385102800/|title=An IRA bomb blitz killed a schoolboy and injured...|website=UPI|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618152303/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/16/An-IRA-bomb-blitz-killed-a-schoolboy-and-injured/2812385102800/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch82.htm|title=CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1982|website=cain.ulst.ac.uk|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206165957/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch82.htm|url-status=live}} On 4 April 1991, another IRA bomb of 1,000 lb of explosives caused widespread damage and injured a police officer outside Banbridge Courthouse.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/9189213c377b88108543d0e97dc2e7f0|title=Large Bomb Explodes Outside Northern Ireland Courthouse|agency=Associated Press|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716111442/https://apnews.com/article/9189213c377b88108543d0e97dc2e7f0|url-status=live}} There was also a dissident republican bombing on 1 August 1998 after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (see 1998 Banbridge bombing) when a bomb detonated outside a shoe shop in Newry Street.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/143814.stm|title=BBC News – Latest News – Arson attacks follow bombing|publisher=BBC News|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907014033/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/143814.stm|url-status=live}}

Like the rest of Ireland, the Banbridge area is divided into townlands. Banbridge sprang up in a townland called Ballyvally. Over time, the surrounding townlands have been built upon and they have lent their names to many streets, roads and housing estates. The following townlands are in Banbridge:

• Ballydown ({{derive|Irish|Baile an Dúin|townland of the fort}}){{cite web |title=Ballydown |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22538 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Ballymoney (from Baile Muine meaning "townland of the thicket"){{cite web |title=Ballymoney |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A16895 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Ballyvally (from Baile an Bhealaigh meaning "townland of the routeway"){{cite web |title=Ballyvally |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22476 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Drumnagally (from Dromainn Ó gCeallaigh meaning "O'Kelly's ridge"){{cite web |title=Drumnagally |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22690 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Edenderry (from Éadan Doire meaning "hill-brow of the oak-wood"){{cite web |title=Edenderry |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22595 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Kilpike (historically Killpatrick, from Cill Phádraig meaning "St Patrick's church"){{cite web |title=Kilpike |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22589 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}
• Tullyear (from Tulaigh Eirre meaning "hillock of the boundary"){{cite web |title=Tullyear |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A18549 |website=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |access-date=20 May 2025}}

On census day (27 March 2011) there were 16,637 people living in Banbridge (6,693 households), accounting for 0.92% of the NI total,{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Banbridge@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Banbridge@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Banbridge Settlement | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 10 August 2019 | archive-date = 23 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210923155404/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Banbridge%40Exact+match+of+location+name%3A+%40Exact+Match+Of+Location+Name%3A++Banbridge%4023%3F | url-status = live }} 30px This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright. representing an increase of 12.8% on the census 2001 population of 14,744.{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=4840&lh=69&yn=2001&sk=135&sn=Census%202001&yearfilter=2001 | title = Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) – Table view | page = 2 | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 10 August 2019 | archive-date = 23 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210923152256/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/Home.aspx | url-status = live }} Of these:

• 21.92% were aged under 16 years and 13.69% were aged 65 and over.
• 51.21% of the usually resident population were female and 48.79% were male.
• 59.17% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion and 34.38% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.
• 61.59% indicated that they had a British national identity, 31.48% had a Northern Irish national identity and 15.39% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).
• 37 years was the average (median) age of the population;
• 6.83% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaelic) and 6.35% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots.

On census day (21 March 2021) there were 17,400 people living in Banbridge.{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000131 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} Of these:

• 52.90% (9,204) belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion and 35.24% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000131 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}
• 53.33% indicated that they had a British national identity,{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000131 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} 37.71% had a Northern Irish national identity{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish)|url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000131 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} and 20.81% had an Irish national identity{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish)|url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000131 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).

File:Tourist Information Centre, Banbridge (geograph 3816624).jpg]]

Near the town lie the ancient Lisnagade Fort, Legannany Dolmen, and the Loughbrickland Crannóg, constructed around the year 500 AD. The Old Town Hall in Banbridge was completed in 1834.{{cite web|url=https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=2049&js=false|title=Market Hall (HB 17/06/009)|publisher=Department for Communities|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101700/https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=2049&js=false|url-status=live}}

In the centre of the town of Banbridge, a large 10.5 acre park, Solitude Park, which exists as a community centre. It is an urban park consisting of skateparks, rivers and grassland.

File:Crozier monument, Banbridge - geograph.org.uk - 232446.jpg]]

• Captain Francis Crozier, British naval officer and Arctic explorer, was born in Banbridge in 1796.{{cite web|url=https://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/kerrcrozier.php|title=Crozier of Banbridge|publisher=Journal of Craigavon Historical Society|year=1984|volume=5|access-date=9 November 2022}}
• Robbie Dennison, former Wolverhampton Wanderers FC winger and Northern Ireland football international.{{Hugman|5021|Robbie Dennison|access-date=9 November 2022}}
• Samuel Fryar, politician from the 1930s.{{cite web|title=Northern Ireland House of Commons Election Results: Samual Fryar |year=2008|url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/biographies.html|access-date=28 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209163025/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/biographies.html |archive-date=9 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}
• Dame Anna Hassan, educator, school principal.{{cite news|url=https://www.ulstergazette.co.uk/news/2021/10/20/gallery/as-easy-as-abc-so-10-out-of-10-19211/|title=As easy as ABC – so 10 out of 10|date= 20 October 2021|newspaper=Ulster Gazette|access-date=10 November 2022}}
• Dermott Lennon world show jumping champion hails from Ballinaskeagh just outside Banbridge.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/lennon-thrilled-to-come-out-on-top-of-quality-field-for-big-tour-success-39008330.html|title=Lennon thrilled to come out on top of quality field for Big Tour success|date=3 March 2020|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=9 November 2022}}
• Samantha Lewthwaite, terrorism suspect.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/white-widow-samantha-lewthwaite-now-worlds-most-wanted-woman-29613292.html|title=White Widow Samantha Lewthwaite now world's most wanted woman|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073230/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/white-widow-samantha-lewthwaite-now-worlds-most-wanted-woman-29613292.html|url-status=live}}
• F. E. McWilliam, surrealist sculptor.{{cite news|url=https://www.newry.ie/arts-and-entertainment/colin-davidson-open-new-exhibition-at-f-e-mcwilliams-gallery|title=Colin Davidson open new Exhibition at F.E. McWilliams Gallery|date=23 June 2022|newspaper=Newry.ie|access-date=10 November 2022}}
• John Mitchel, Irish nationalist activist and political journalist.{{cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/biography/JohnMitchel.php|title=Mitchel, John|publisher=Library Ireland|access-date=10 November 2022}}
• Cyril Scott, actor{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBM7AQAAMAAJ|title=The Actors' Birthday Book: Third Series. An Authoritative Insight into the Lives of the Men and Women of the Stage Born Between January First and December Thirty-first|first= Johnson|last= Briscoe |year=1909|publisher=Moffatt, Yard |page=52}}
• Joseph M. Scriven, writer of the poem which became the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".{{cite web|title=Scriven, Joseph Medlicott|url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/scriven_joseph_medlicott_11E.html|first=Jay |last=Macpherson|publisher=Dictionary of Canadian Biography|access-date=10 November 2022}}
• Jonathan Tuffey, Former Northern Ireland international goalkeeper, currently playing with Crusaders in the NIFL Premiership.{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/27362/Jonathan_Tuffey.html|title=Jonathan Tuffey|publisher=National Football Teams| access-date=10 November 2022}}
• John Butler Yeats, artist and father of four artistic children. Among them were William Butler Yeats and Jack Butler Yeats.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/man-about-town-banbridge-honours-john-b-yeats-28209442.html|title=Man about town: Banbridge honours John B Yeats|date=4 July 2008|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| access-date=10 November 2022}}

Banbridge is on the A1 main road between Belfast and Newry. The nearest railway station is {{rws|Scarva}} on Northern Ireland Railways' Belfast–Newry railway line, about {{convert|4|mi}} west of Banbridge.

Banbridge had its own railway station from 1859 until 1956. The Banbridge, Newry, Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway opened Banbridge (BJR) railway station on 23 March 1859.Hajducki, 1974, map 8Hajducki, 1974, map 9 In contrast with its very long name, this was a short branch line between Banbridge and Scarva. This was followed by the opening of the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Junction Railway between Knockmore Junction and Banbridge on 13 July 1863, which gave Banbridge a more direct link via {{rws|Lisburn}} with {{rws|Belfast Great Victoria Street}}. Banbridge (BJR) railway station was closed in favour of the new Banbridge (BLBR) railway station.

The Great Northern Railway took over both companies in 1877{{sfn|Hajducki|1974|p=xiii}} and opened a branch line from Banbridge to Ballyroney in 1880. In 1906 the GNR opened an extension from Ballyroney to Castlewellan, where it connected with a new Belfast and County Down Railway branch line to Newcastle, County Down.

In 1953 the governments of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic jointly nationalised the GNR as the GNR Board.{{sfn|Baker|1972|pp=146, 147}} On 1 May 1955 the GNRB closed Banbridge's lines to Scarva and Castlewellan.{{sfn|Baker|1972|p=207}} Banbridge (BLBR) railway station closed on 29 April 1956, when the GNRB closed the line from Knockmore Junction.{{sfn|Baker|1972|p=207}}

• Abercorn Primary School
• Ballydown Primary School
• Bridge Integrated Primary School
• Bronte Primary School
• Edenderry Primary School
• Milltown Cemetery Primary School
• St. Mary's Primary School (Catholic)

• Banbridge Academy
• Banbridge High School
• St Patrick's College, Banbridge
• New-Bridge Integrated College

The Banbridge Hockey Club plays at Havelock Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.banbridgeleader.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=2586&ArticleID=1443022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071011095933/http://www.banbridgeleader.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=2586&ArticleID=1443022|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|title=Banbridge Leader reports laying of new playing surface|accessdate=22 May 2007}}

[https://clannnabanna.down.gaa.ie/ Clann Na Banna] (Founded 1903) are the local Gaelic Football and Hurling club, with their ground located at Cottage Park, Scarva Road.

Other sports clubs include Banbridge Bowling Club, Banbridge Town F.C. and Banbridge Rangers as well as Banbridge Rugby Club.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/banns-official-apology-after-fans-abuse-42074348.html|title=Bann's official apology after fans abuse|date=18 October 2022|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=10 November 2022}}

• "The Star of the County Down" is a well known song associated with Banbridge.
• One of the Game of Thrones sets is in Linen Mill Studios, which was converted from a failed linen mill.{{Cite web|url=https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/banbridge-site-selected-for-game-of-thrones-formal-studio-tour/|title=Banbridge site selected for Game of Thrones formal studio tour|last=Harrison|first=Sharon|date=24 September 2018|website=Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301013352/https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/banbridge-site-selected-for-game-of-thrones-formal-studio-tour/|url-status=live}}

• List of towns and villages in Northern Ireland
• List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
• Market houses in Northern Ireland

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Baker |first=Michael H.C. |year=1972 |title=Irish Railways since 1916 |location=London |publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=978-0-7110-0282-1 }}
• {{cite book |last=Hajducki |first=S. Maxwell |year=1974 |title=A Railway Atlas of Ireland |location=Newton Abbott |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0-7153-5167-2 }}

{{Commons category|Banbridge}}

• {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Banbridge |volume=3 |short=x}}

{{NorthernIrishTowns}}

{{County Down}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in County Down

Category:Civil parish of Seapatrick