Rathfriland

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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. It had a population of 2,079 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Banbridge District Council area.

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.

1 People
2 Transport
3 Education
4 2001 Census
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] People

Patrick Brunty, the father of the Brontë sisters Charlotte, Emily and Ann were 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 Drumballyrone.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Education

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

[edit] 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