| I would like to take this opportunity to | | | | offers some of the finest scenery in Northern |
| welcome you to Newry, one of Northern | | | | Ireland, with the Ring of Gullion to the |
| Ireland's oldest towns. Newry lies in the | | | | south-west and the Mourne Mountains to the |
| most south-eastern part of Northern Ireland, | | | | east. Both have been designated as areas of |
| in the north-south corridor between Belfast | | | | outstanding natural beauty. The river Clanrye |
| and Dublin. As such it has developed into one | | | | runs through the city and historically formed |
| of the most popular shopping towns in | | | | the border between Armagh and Down. The |
| Ireland. Cross border trade has increased, | | | | city's Town Hall was built on top of the |
| which has meant both the Quays and the | | | | river. Newry can boast some famous sons with |
| Buttercrane enjoying high footfall in their | | | | Pat Jennings, former goalkeeper and Northern |
| stores. Newry's recent past has seen it being | | | | Ireland's most capped player born in the |
| conferred with city status in 2002. One of | | | | city. Mountaineer Terence "Banjo" Bannon is |
| two cities in Northern Ireland bestowed with | | | | from the city, as is John Dunlop, prominent |
| this honour by the Queen, the other being | | | | Presbyterian churchman. John Mitchell, the |
| Lisburn. Newry history shows that it was | | | | driving force behind the Young Ireland |
| founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian | | | | Movement is buried in the Old Meeting House |
| Monastery. It was destroyed by fire in 1689 | | | | in the city. Newry has a population which has |
| by the forces of King James II during the | | | | grown steadily and in a census carried out in |
| Williamite war. The city was rebuilt | | | | 2001 its population numbered 27433 people. |
| afterwards and became a busy trading town. By | | | | Newry house prices have also increased |
| 1742 its port became the busiest in Ulster | | | | dramatically by 371% since 1996, topping a |
| and as result its canal opened making it the | | | | poll for the whole of the United Kingdom. |
| first major canal in Britain, it ran for 18 | | | | Sport plays a major part in the fabric of the |
| miles to Lough Neagh. Newry is also the home | | | | city with Pairc Esler being the home of Down |
| of Ireland's highest viaduct, Craighmore | | | | GAA. The city also boasts a soccer club which |
| Viaduct which lies to the North of the city | | | | play at the Showgrounds in the city. There |
| and consists of 18 arches; it was designed by | | | | are a wide range of activities available in |
| Sir John O Neill and opened in 1852. The city | | | | the city, with a museum, arts centre and a |
| has strong links to St Patrick, the English | | | | number of art galleries available. |
| interpretation of the name comes from the | | | | Accommodation in the city can be found in the |
| Irish (Lur Chinn Tra) which means the yew at | | | | magnificent surroundings of the Canal Court |
| the head of the strand, which St Patrick is | | | | Hotel. Centrally located, the hotel offers a |
| said to have planted in the 5th Century. | | | | superb base while staying in the city. As you |
| Ireland's first protestant church is also in | | | | can see Newry has a varied history and a lot |
| the city and bears St Patrick's name. It | | | | to offer for those tourists looking a short |
| first opened its doors in 1578. Newry's other | | | | break away from it all. So come and stay in |
| main Cathedral is St Patrick's and St | | | | Newry and experiences all the city has to |
| Colman's which was built in 1829, it was | | | | offer. |
| designed by architect Thomas Duff. Newry | | | | |