Rathfriland

Rathfriland (in Irish: Ráth Fraoileann, ie Fraoile’s Fort) is a large market village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a hilltop Plantation of Ulster village between the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and Banbridge and is in the barony of Upper Iveagh. It had a population of 2,079 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Banbridge District Council area. The town was once owned by John Percy Meade, who was the lineal descendant of Alderman Hawkins of London, who received the site and a considerable tract of the country from Charles II for services provided during the Parliamentary Wars.

Rathfriland was originally spelt with a y instead of an i.

The town square is located on top of the hill, and a market house was erected around 1764 at its centre. A clock-faced war memorial stands in the square on the south eastern side.

People

Patrick Brunty, the father of the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) was born in a cottage close to Loughbrickland, where he lived until a local vicar paid his way to Cambridge in 1802. While studying at Cambridge, he changed his name to Brontë. He preached and taught at Drumballyroney Church and School House, between Rathfriland and Moneyslane. The Brontë Homeland Interpretative Centre is at Drumballyroney.

Transport

Rathfriland was served by Ballyroney Railway Station, three miles away. Goods and passengers were transported from the station to the village. The line closed in 1955.

Education

• Iveagh Primary School
• Rathfriland High School
• St. Mary's Primary School
• St. Patrick's Primary School

2001 Census

Rathfriland is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,079 people living in Rathfriland. Of these:

• 22.6% were aged under 16 years and 21.2% were aged 60 and over
• 48.2% of the population were male and 51.9% were female
• 33.5% were from a Catholic background and 63.6% were from a Protestant background
• 3.2% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

References

• Ballyroney Railway Station
• Culture Northern Ireland

See also

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of Irish Towns with a Market House

External links

• Rathfriland Market House
• Rathfriland Motor Club