Holywood, County Down

The English name Holywood comes {{etymology|la|Sanctus Boscus|holy wood}}. This was the name the Normans gave to the woodland surrounding the monastery of St Laiseran, son of Nasca. The monastery was founded by Laiseran before 640 and was on the site of the present Holywood Priory. The earliest Anglicised form appears as Haliwode in a 14th-century document.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7m5EAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA81|title=The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland|publisher= Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland |year=1882|page=81}}

The Irish name for Holywood is Ard Mhic Nasca meaning "high ground of Mac Nasca".{{cite web|url=http://www.logainm.ie/66065.aspx|title=Ard Mhic Nasca/Holywood|website=Logainm.ie|access-date=18 January 2011|archive-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911062504/http://www.logainm.ie/66065.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ulster Place Names, County Down|url=http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/ainm_index_down.htm|work=Ainm:Journal of the Ulster Place-name Society (1987, 1988)|access-date=22 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214225130/http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/ainm_index_down.htm|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status=dead}}

In the early 19th century, Holywood, like many other coastal villages throughout Ireland, became popular as a resort for sea-bathing. Many wealthy Belfast merchants chose the town and the surrounding area to build large homes for themselves. These included the Kennedys of Cultra and the Harrisons of Holywood. Dalchoolin House stood on the site of the present Ulster Transport Museum, while Cultra Manor was built between 1902–04 and now houses the Ulster Folk Museum.{{cite web |title=Ulster Folk & Transport Museum |url=http://www.uftm.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040919022920/http://www.uftm.org.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2004 |website=Ulster Folk & Transport Museum |access-date=7 November 2019}}

The railway line from Belfast to Holywood opened in 1848, and this led to rapid development. The population of Holywood was approximately 3,500 in 1900 and had grown to 12,000 by 2001. This growth, coupled with that of other towns and villages along the coastal strip to Bangor, necessitated the construction of the Holywood Bypass which was completed in 1972.{{cite web|url=http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a2sydenhamholywoodbypass.html|title=A2 Sydenham Bypass/Holywood Bypass|publisher=Northern Ireland Roads Site|access-date=2 December 2022}}

File:The Priory, Holywood - geograph.org.uk - 344064.jpg

The Old Priory ruins lie at the bottom of the High Street. The tower dates from 1800, but the oldest ruins date from the early 13th century. The Priory graveyard is the resting place for many distinguished citizens including the educational reformer, Robert Sullivan, and the Praeger family. Sullivan Upper Grammar School is named after Robert Sullivan.{{cite web|url=https://www.sullivanupper.co.uk/principals-welcome|title=Principal's Welcome|publisher=Sullivan Upper School|access-date=1 December 2022}} Robert Lloyd Praeger (1865–1953) was an internationally renowned botanist{{cite book|last=Praeger|first=Robert Lloyd|year=1969|title=The Way that I Went: An Irishman in Ireland|pages=10–12|location=Dublin|publisher= Allen Figgis|isbn= 0-900372-93-1}} and his sister, Rosamond Praeger (1867–1954), gained fame as a sculptor and writer.{{cite web|title=Praeger, Sophia Rosamond|url=http://www.nival.ie/collections/artists-database/view/artist/name/praeger-sophia-rosamond/|website=National Irish Visual Arts Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811185635/http://www.nival.ie/collections/artists-database/view/artist/name/praeger-sophia-rosamond/|archive-date=11 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

On 17 June 1994, Garnet Bell, a former pupil bearing a grudge, entered an assembly hall at Sullivan Upper School and used a flamethrower to attack students taking A-level examinations. Six pupils were injured; three of them seriously.{{cite news|title=Flame-thrower case man 'did not mean to hurt pupils'|work=The Independent|date=20 June 1995|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/flamethrower-case-man-did-not-mean-to-hurt-pupils-1587302.html|access-date=1 August 2009|location=London, UK|archive-date=9 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109214849/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/flamethrower-case-man-did-not-mean-to-hurt-pupils-1587302.html|url-status=live}}

On 12 April 2010, at around 12:24am, a car bombing occurred near Palace Barracks, a British Army barracks on the edge of Holywood's town centre. An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7095068.ece|work=The Times|location=London, UK|title=Car bomb explodes near MI5 base in Belfast|first=David|last=Sharrock|date=12 April 2010|access-date=4 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8614723.stm|work=BBC News|title=Real IRA admits NI MI5 base bomb|date=12 April 2010|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826161528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8614723.stm|url-status=live}}

File:HolywoodFirstPres.jpg, Holywood]]

As of the 2011 United Kingdom census on 27 March, there were 11,257 people living in Holywood.{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Holywood@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Holywood@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Holywood Settlement | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 10 August 2019}} Of these:

• 18.29% were under 16 years of age and 18.79% were 65 or older
• 48.99% were male and 51.01% were female
• 62.25% were from a Protestant or other Christian background and 23.11% were from a Catholic Christian background.
• 3.39% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

File:HolywoodNeds.jpg

• Holywood is known for its maypole at the crossroads in the centre of town. Its origin is uncertain, but, according to local folklore, it dates from 1700, when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew erected the broken mast to show their appreciation of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk. It was the only surviving original maypole in Ireland,{{Cite web |title=Holywood Maypole |url=https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/holywood-maypole-p697201 |website=Visit North Down and Ards}} but was severely damaged in high winds in February 2021 and had to be replaced.{{Cite web|last=Beattie|first=Jilly|date=23 February 2021|title=Holywood's maypole severely damaged in high winds|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/holywoods-historic-maypole-severely-damaged-19895052|access-date=5 August 2021|website=BelfastLive|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805075750/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/holywoods-historic-maypole-severely-damaged-19895052|url-status=live}}
• The nearby Maypole Bar is known locally as Ned's.{{Cite web|url=http://www.music-finder.co.uk/hisrul.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624232147/http://www.music-finder.co.uk/hisrul.htm|url-status=dead|title=Maypole Bar|archive-date=24 June 2006}}
• There is a Norman motte in the town which may have been constructed on an earlier burial mound.{{cite web|url=https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/communityarchaeology/PDFFileStore/Filetoupload,181150,en.pdf|title=Holywood Motte, Co. Down|publisher= Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, School of Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast|access-date=2 December 2022}}
• The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum illustrating the way of life and traditions of the people of Ulster is nearby, at Cultra.

On 2 August 1848, the first leg of the Belfast and County Down Railway, or BCDR, was opened from Belfast to Holywood. The Holywood railway station opened simultaneously. The railway line was extended via the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (BHBR) to Bangor, and the extension opened on 1 May 1865. The BCDR acquired the BHBR in 1884.{{cite web|title=Belfast and County Down Railway|work=Irish Railwayana|url=http://www.irishrailwayana.com/pa005.htm|access-date=1 September 2007|archive-date=15 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815044710/http://irishrailwayana.com/pa005.htm|url-status=live}} Holywood station was closed for goods traffic on 24 April 1950.{{cite web|title=Holywood station|work=Railscot – Irish Railways|url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|access-date=28 August 2007|archive-date=26 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|url-status=live}}

Records of the marine algae include: Polysiphonia elongata, Laurencia obtusa, Chondria dasyphylla, Pterothamnion plumula, Rhodophyllis divaricate, and Coccotylus truncates.Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum. Belfast; {{ISBN|0-900761-28-8}}

The Crosslé Car Company, a manufacturer of racing cars is based in Holywood.{{Cite news|title=Dr Feargal Sharkey: It's going to happen|newspaper=Londonderry Sentinel|date=29 January 2010|url=http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/Dr-Feargal-Sharkey-Its-going.6024753.jp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804023152/http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/Dr-Feargal-Sharkey-Its-going.6024753.jp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2012|access-date=30 January 2010}}{{Cite web|title=The Crosslé Car Company Limited – Contact Information|publisher=Crosslé Car Company|url=http://www.crossle.co.uk/Contact_crossle.htm|access-date=30 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512192129/http://www.crossle.co.uk/Contact_crossle.htm|archive-date=12 May 2009}}

The town contains the following schools: Holywood Primary School, Holywood Nursery School, Holywood Rudolf Steiner School, Priory Integrated College, Rockport School, St. Patrick's Primary School, and Sullivan Preparatory School and Sullivan Upper School.

Holywood is home to Formula One driver, Eddie Irvine and Formula 3 Driver (2020), Christian Lester.{{cite web|url=http://www.christianlester.co.uk/|title=Christian Lester|access-date=9 December 2020|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121074106/https://www.christianlester.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}

Holywood Cricket Club was formed at Kinnegar in 1881. It moved to Belfast Road in 1885 and then to the present ground at Seapark Road in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/holywood-cricket-club-passing-down-the-skills.html|title=Holywood Cricket Club - Passing down the skills|date=29 July 2020|publisher=Pitchcare|access-date=2 December 2022}}

Holywood F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club playing in Division 1B of the Northern Amateur Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenafl.co.uk/teams/id/11|title=Holywood F. C. |publisher= Northern Amateur Football League |access-date=2 December 2022}}

St. Paul's Gaelic Football Club was founded in 1979 as an amalgamation of the Holywood, Bangor, and Newtownards clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.stpaulsgaa.com/stpauls-welcome|title=About us|publisher=St Paul's GAC|access-date=2 December 2022}}

Holywood Golf Club, founded in 1904 is where 2011 US Open, 2012 US PGA, The Open 2014, 2014 US PGA, and 2025 Masters champion Rory McIlroy learned his golf, and he still calls it his home course. Nearby Craigavad is the home of the Royal Belfast Golf Club, the oldest in Ireland, dating from 1881. The club's present course was designed by architect Harry Colt in 1926.{{Cite web|url=https://royalbelfast.com/|title=Royal Belfast Golf Club – RBGC The Oldest Golf Club in Ireland|access-date=11 December 2019|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211162620/https://royalbelfast.com/|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Category:People from Holywood, County Down}}

• Mark Adair, former cricketer for Warwickshire County Cricket Club; former Sullivan Upper School pupil{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/holywood-man-mark-adair-is-turning-his-ireland-dreams-to-reality-with-stellar-show-against-england-38344345.html|title=Holywood man Mark Adair is turning his Ireland dreams to reality with stellar show against England|date=25 July 2019|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Desmond Boal, QC, leading Northern Ireland barrister and former Stormont MP, resided in Holywood{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/07/desmond-boal|title=Desmond Boal obituary|date=7 May 2015|newspaper=The Guardian| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Charles Brett, architectural historian, born in Holywood{{cite news|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/brett-sir-charles-edward-bainbridge-a9379|title=Brett, (Sir) Charles Edward Bainbridge|publisher=Dictionary of Irish Biography|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Fr. Stephen Brown, SJ, writer, librarian, founder of the Central Catholic Library (in Dublin), was born in Holywood{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/brown-stephen-james-meredith-a1017|title=Brown, Stephen James Meredith| publisher=Dictionary of Irish Biography|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Barbara Callcott, Australian television personality, born in Holywood{{cite news|title=Where Are They Now? Brush With Fame|url=https://issuu.com/styleliving/docs/noosastylesep11|work=Noosa Style Living|issue=46|date=Spring 2011|pages=40–41|language=en}} {{registration required}}
• Darren Cave, played rugby for Ulster Rugby and helped Ireland Under-20 win the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2007{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/27640.html|title=Darren Cave|publisher=ESPN|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203152357/http://en.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/27640.html|url-status=dead}}
• Robert Cunningham (died 1637) first Presbyterian minister{{cite book |last=Reid |first=James Seaton |title=A history of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, comprising the civil history of the province of Ulster from the accession of James the First ... |date=1853 |publisher=Whittaker; [etc] |location=London |edition=3 |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofpresbyt01reid |author-link=James Seaton Reid}}
• Jamie Dornan, actor, model{{cite news|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/be/jamie-dornan-reveals-favourite-spots-22734557|title=Jamie Dornan reveals his favourite spots in Belfast and the best places for a pint of Guinness|date=13 January 2022|newspaper=Belfast Live|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Hubert Dunn, judge and author of a book on Francis Ledwidge{{cite web|url=http://hopeforyouthni.com/news/2020/3/10/his-honour-judge-hubert-dunn-qc|title=His Honour Hubert Dunn QC|date=10 March 2020|publisher=Hope for Youth Northern Ireland|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Garth Ennis, comic writer{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/preacher-to-the-converted-1.608709|title=Preacher to the converted|date=27 August 2011|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Henry Harrison, MP, secretary to Charles Stewart Parnell, is buried in the Priory graveyard in the centre of Holywood{{cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/2014/03/24/news/calls-for-memorial-to-holywood-s-forgotten-man-87073/|title=Calls for memorial to Holywood's forgotten man|date=24 March 2014|newspaper=The Irish News|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Maurice Jay, U105 radio station presenter{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/drive-times-maurice-ties-the-knot-in-style-28241427.html|title=Drive Time's Maurice ties the knot in style|date=4 July 2008|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Bap Kennedy, singer-songwriter and record producer{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews/arts/2017/10/21/news/brenda-kennedy-keeping-the-magic-of-late-husband-bap-s-music-alive-1164885/content.html|title=Brenda Kennedy keeping the magic of late husband Bap's music alive|date=21 October 2017|newspaper=The Irish News| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Tom Kerr, comic strip artist{{cite news|url=http://www.globaldistrict.com/holywood/news_and_articles.asp?ArticleID=360|title=Launch of re-imaging project for Holywood|newspaper=Redburn Loughview Community Forum News | access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Stephen Martin, Great Britain and Ireland field hockey international{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/northern-ireland-olympic-legend-stephen-martin-takes-on-half-marathon-in-memory-of-mum-37331267.html|title=Northern Ireland Olympic legend Stephen Martin takes on Half Marathon in memory of mum|date=19 September 2018|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Robert McCartney, QC, leading barrister and ex-UK Unionist Westminster MP for North Down (1995–2001); resides in Holywood.{{cite web|url=https://www.ngsa.org.uk/contact.php|title=NGSA Contacts|publisher=National Grammar Schools Association| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Alban Maginness, lawyer and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician; born in Holywood.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/if-i-wasnt-a-catholic-i-would-not-be-the-politician-i-am/|title='If I wasn't a Catholic, I would not be the politician I am'|date=26 June 2014|newspaper=The Irish Catholic| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Rory McIlroy, professional golfer. Winner of the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, 2014 PGA Championship, and 2025 Masters Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2007/jul/21/aswoodsslipsthesteelofeu |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |title=As Woods slips, the steel of Europe is revealed |first=Bill |last=Elliott |date=22 July 2007 |access-date=22 May 2010}}
• Margaret Mountford, lawyer, businesswoman and advisor to Alan Sugar.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6683187.stm |title=Apprentice star fires up NI women|newspaper=BBC News|date=23 May 2007| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Dermot Murnaghan is a television news anchorman whose family moved to Holywood where he lived just off Church View and attended Sullivan Upper School.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/ulsters-new-face-on-breakfast-tv-28132314.html|title=Ulster's new face on Breakfast TV|date=4 July 2008|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Rachel O'Reilly, chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry; born and educated in Holywood.{{cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2018/professor-rachel-oreilly-appointed-next-head-of-school-of-chemistry|title=Professor Rachel O'Reilly appointed next Head of School of Chemistry|date=8 June 2018|publisher=University of Birmingham| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Rosamond Praeger, artist, sculptor and writer; younger sister of the naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger
• Davy Sims broadcaster and writer, former head of BBC Northern Ireland New Media; born and raised in Holywood{{cite web|url=https://www.mixcloud.com/davysims/stream/|title=Davy Sims World Music Radio|publisher=Mix Cloud|access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Michael Smiley, comedian, writer and actor{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/michael-smiley-im-an-overnight-success-after-20-years-30202335.html|title=Michael Smiley: 'I'm an overnight success after 20 years!'|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=21 April 2014|access-date=9 June 2015}}
• Clive Standen, an actor, born in Holywood{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/holywood-born-star-tipped-for-neeson-action-hero-role-34480108.html|title=Holywood-born star tipped for Neeson action hero role|date=24 February 2016|newspaper= The Belfast Telegraph| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• John St. Clair Boyd, born in Holywood{{Cite web|title=John St Clair Boyd|url=http://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/printPerson/131|publisher=Dictionary of Ulster Biography|access-date=5 May 2020}}
• Shane Todd, comedian, writer and actor.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/shane-todd-sectarian-comments-on-my-online-clips-are-big-downside-42190785.html|title=Shane Todd: 'Sectarian comments on my online clips are big downside'|date=2 December 2022| newspaper= The Belfast Telegraph| access-date=3 December 2022}}
• Peter Woodman, archaeologist, brought up in Holywood{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/obituary-prof-peter-woodman-1.2962379?campaign_id=A100|title=Obituary: Prof Peter Woodman|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=4 February 2017}}

{{Commons category|Holywood, County Down|Holywood}}

• List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
• List of civil parishes of County Down

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Category:Towns in County Down

Category:Seaside resorts in Northern Ireland

Category:Civil parish of Holywood

Category:Townlands of County Down

Category:World War II prisoner-of-war camps in the United Kingdom

Category:World War II sites in Northern Ireland