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Donaghadee
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Donaghadee, County
Down, is situated on the east coast of Northern Ireland, about 18
miles from Belfast. It is an important fishing port which lies on
the Ards Peninsula about eight miles north east of Newtownards. The
town boasts a long seagoing history and not surprisingly it still
maintains a special relationship with the sea, proving very popular
with water enthusiasts, anglers and those who simply like to be
beside the seaside. For many years this pleasant town was the
arrival port for ferries from Portpatrick in Scotland, the shortest
sea-crossing possible.
Donaghadee is prehaps best known for its lighthouse and harbour. The
town has been a haven for ships for centuries has had a harbour
since the 17th century. The foundation stone of the new harbour was
laid by the Marquis of Downshire on August 1, 1821. The initial
plans and surveys for this ambitious undertaking had been made by
John Rennie Senior, the celebrated engineer whose works included
Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridges over the Thames.
The lifeboat station at Donaghadee harbour, founded in 1910, is one
of the most important on the Irish coast covering the well travelled
southern approaches to Belfast Lough. Today Donaghadee is a growing
commuter town and seaside retreat. It is a popular tourist
destination with a great shops and award winning sea food
restaurants.
Behind the town rises a large prehistoric mound known as The Rath.
It is now a public park and crowned by a castle-like building, The
Moat, which was built to house explosives used in the construction
of the harbour. From this point, it's possible to see the hills of
Galloway in southern Scotland
Donaghadee Golf Club was founded in 1899 by Stephen McCausland and
is part links and part open parkland. The course features little in
the way of rough but several water hazards lurk to catch the stray
shot.
From the little harbour in Donaghadee there are regular ferries
during the season to the Copeland Islands, a couple of miles
offshore. Uninhabited since the 1940s, the islands provide some
pleasant picnic spots and good fishing
Visitors can also enjoy a number of scenic walks, including the
marine walk at The Commons, which comprises a 16 acre
semi-cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting and an
adventure playground. |
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Donaghadee Holiday Homes - County Down, Ireland