Portstewart
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Template:Infobox Irish Place Portstewart (Port Stíobhaird in Irish) is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort, seen by residents as a grander version of neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. It is known for its sandy beach, popular with surfers.
Portstewart which was a popular holiday destination for Victorian middle-class families. Its long, crescent-shaped seafront promenade is sheltered by rocky headlands. It is a reasonably prosperous town. Most of the town is contained in the Strand electoral ward and this is one of the most affluent areas in Northern Ireland. In a deprivation index of the 582 electoral wards in Northern Ireland the Strand Ward in the town was ranked 570, where 1 (most deprived) and 582 (least deprived). According to NI Neighbourhood Information Service
House prices in Portstewart are among the highest in the province. The North Coast region (Coleraine/Limavady area) has the highest property prices in Northern Ireland, higher indeed than those of affluent south Belfast. (according to the University of Ulster Quarterly House Price Index report produced in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive - March 2006)
There has been concern in recent years about the amount of development in the town and the number of second homes/apartments being purchased, inflating house prices and pricing locals out of the market.
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Places of interest
Portstewart has a Dominican convent (an imposing Gothic mansion) with the attached school sitting on the edge of a cliff which dominates the western end of the promenade. The eastern end of the promenade has a small harbour which has recently undergone refurbishment.
Just west of the town stretches Portstewart Strand, a clean two mile long blue flag beach, protected by the National Trust. Portstewart Strand has been the most popular attraction of Portstewart to holiday-makers for generations. Saint Patrick's well is to be found at the head of the strand, which was used in the 19th century and early 20th century for horseracing. The beach finishes at the Barmouth of the River Bann overlooking Castlerock. Now owned by the National Trust.
Beneath the convent is a cliff path which stretches along the coast to Portstewart Strand. From here it is a pleasant walk to the Barmouth, where the Bann flows out into the Atlantic Ocean. The cliff path has panoramic views across the Strand and Downhill with Donegal in the background. The Barmouth is a sanctuary for waders, wildfowl and nesting birds. Beyond the Barmouth lies Castlerock, Mussenden Temple, Benone Strand and the Magilligan Strand. To the east of Portstewart is a popular walking/cycling path along the coast to Portrush, leading to the Giants Causeway (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Old Bushmills Distillery (the oldest licensed distillery in the world).
Previously an infamous student town - the students from the University of Ulster in nearby Coleraine - it has increasingly become an upmarket holiday town with new developments of apartment buildings along the seafront.
On Sunday nights it is a very popular place for modified cars. People from all over Northern Ireland and even the Republic of Ireland drive up to show off their modified machines, much to the annoyance of local residents.
Golf
The town is home to three golf courses (under one club - Portstewart Golf Club), made lively by the forceful Atlantic wind, which continually pushes over the whole town. The strand course is set amidst sand dunes with panoramic views across the Atlantic mouth of Lough Foyle to the Inishowen peninsula of County Donegal beyond.
People
The songwriter Jimmy Kennedy was inspired by one of the town's sunsets when he wrote "Red Sails in the Sunset".
Briana Corrigan was vocalist with The Beautiful South and the lead female vocalist on a number one single in 1990, "A Little Time". She grew up in Portstewart and attended the Dominican College.
Harry Gregg, the former Northern Ireland footballer used to own a hotel in the town.
The town now has an annual Red Sails Festival each July, which in 2004, as with most years, culminated with a firework display out over the bay. Over 70,000 people crammed the seafront to watch. In the summer of 2005 the Portstewart Community Association launched a website to help promote the festival. It gives detailed information on the week long festival and all of the activities available.
Sport
Every May the North West 200 motorcycle race passes through the town, with the starting grid and pit area located on the costal road between Portrush and Portstewart. The circuit between the towns Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine is considered among the fastest in the world, with speeds topping 200mph. Drawing crowds of up to 70,000, it is one of the last such classic races held in Europe. Portstewart also hosts matches in the Milk Cup.
2001 Census
Portstewart is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 7,803 peopleliving in Portstewart. Of these:
- 16.6% were aged under 16 years and 22.7% were aged 60 and over
- 44.9% of the population were male and 55.1% were female
- 38.7% were from a Catholic background and 57.5% were from a Protestant background
- 3.4% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service