Portstewart

Portstewart is a small seaside town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 7,854 people.

The town is a popular seaside resort, close to both Coleraine in County Londonderry and Portrush in County Antrim.

Portstewart is known for its beautiful harbour and scenic coastal paths. These paths lead to a long, sandy beach called the Portstewart Strand. The beach is a favorite spot for visitors in summer and for surfers all year round. The town is part of the Barony of the North East Liberties of Coleraine.

Profile

Portstewart is a seaside town in Northern Ireland. It was a popular holiday spot for families in Victorian times. The town has a long, curved promenade by the sea, protected by rocky headlands. Portstewart is a well-off town, and most of it is in the Strand electoral ward, one of the richest areas in Northern Ireland.

House prices in Portstewart are often high. In 2010, property prices in the North Coast region, including places like Coleraine and Limavady, were higher than in wealthy parts of Belfast. The town has good community relations, and Dominican College, a Catholic school, is one of the main schools there.

History

Portstewart was founded in 1792 by John Cromie. He named it after his family, the Stewarts of Ballylesse. Before this, the area was called Port na Binne Uaine in Irish. This name comes from a nearby island called Benoney. Today, the town is still called Port na Binne Uaine in Irish.

In the mid-1800s, Portstewart became a small seaside resort. This growth happened because of a local landlord named John Cromie. The town's development was affected by the Cromie family’s beliefs. Because of these beliefs, it took longer to build a railway connection.

Places of interest

Portstewart has many interesting places to see. There is a Dominican convent, a big old mansion. Next to it is the Dominican College. This building sits on a cliff and looks out over the Promenade.

West of the town is Portstewart Strand, a beautiful beach that is two miles long. The National Trust helps protect this beach. You can walk along a cliff path from the Promenade to the beach. From there, you can see where the Bann River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The views show the beach and the area of Downhill, with Inishowen in County Donegal far away. The Portstewart Town Hall was finished being built in 1934.

Transport

Portstewart is near a train line that goes from Coleraine to Portrush. This line opened in 1856 and was part of a larger railway network. There was once a station called Portstewart, but it was far from the town and closed down. Today, the closest train stations are Coleraine, University, Dhu Varren, and Portrush, and buses connect to these stations.

Sport

Portstewart is a great place for sports, especially golf. The town has three golf courses managed by the Portstewart Golf Club. These courses are famous for their strong Atlantic winds and beautiful ocean views of Lough Foyle.

In 2017, the Strand Course hosted a big golf tournament called the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The town is also known for its football club, Portstewart F.C., which plays in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League. Every May, Portstewart becomes part of the exciting North West 200 motorcycle race. This race draws huge crowds and is one of the biggest outdoor sports events in Ireland. Nearby, CLG Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club, and Portstewart also hosts matches for the Super Cup NI.

People

• Field Marshal Sir George White, VC (1835–1912) – led soldiers in a war and was born at Low Rock Castle.
• Jimmy Kennedy (1902–1984) – a songwriter who got an idea from a sunset in the town when he wrote "Red Sails in the Sunset". He was born in Omagh but grew up in Portstewart.
• Harry Gregg (1932–2020) – a former Northern Ireland footballer, once owned a hotel in the town.
• Sean Farren (born 1939) – a Social Democratic and Labour Party politician and a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, lives in Portstewart.
• Robert Anthony Welch (1946–2013) – an author, teacher, and book expert.
• Henry McCullough (1943–2016) – a guitarist.
• Harry Mullan (1946–1999) – a writer about boxing.
• Billy Leonard (born 1955) – a Sinn Féin politician and former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; lives in Portstewart.
• Briana Corrigan (born 1965) – a singer who was part of The Beautiful South and sang a very popular song in 1990, "A Little Time". She grew up in Portstewart.
• Jimeoin (McKeown) (born 1966) – a comedian.
• Helen Mulholland – a whiskey maker and expert.

Demography

2011 Census

On Census day in 2011, 8,003 people lived in Portstewart, a small part of Northern Ireland. This number was a little higher than in 2001. Most people were female, and many followed Protestant or Catholic Christian faiths. People could choose more than one identity, and many felt British, Northern Irish, or Irish.

2021 Census

In 2021, 7,854 people lived in Portstewart. Most still followed Protestant or Catholic Christian faiths. Again, many felt British, Northern Irish, or Irish.

Education

Portstewart has a few schools where children can learn and grow. There is Dominican College, Portstewart for older students, St. Colum's Primary School for younger children, and Portstewart Primary School for local kids as well. These schools help the town’s children get a good education.