Castlerock

Castlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies five miles west of Coleraine and is part of the Causeway Coast and Glens district. The village is well-loved by visitors during the summer, with many places to stay, including apartment buildings and two spots for caravans.

Castlerock is also home to a golf club that offers two different courses, one with nine holes and another with eighteen holes. These courses are right by the beach, close to the River Bann and the Belfast to Derry railway line. According to the 2021 census, Castlerock had a population of 1,155 people. Nearby, the team from Articlave F.C. plays its home games in the village.

History

Castlerock has many interesting old buildings and places. One famous spot is the ruined Downhill House, built by Bishop Frederick Hervey in the 1780s. Near there stands the Mussenden Temple, a beautiful building on a cliff that many people visit to take photos. Another old building is Hezlett House, a thatched cottage from the 1600s.

During a difficult time called the Troubles, Castlerock saw only one serious incident. In 1993, four men were sadly killed by a group known as the Ulster Freedom Fighters. This was part of the larger conflict in Northern Ireland.

Demography

Castlerock is a village in Northern Ireland with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people.

In the year 2001, there were 1,336 people living in Castlerock. About half were male, and half were female. Most people identified as Protestant, with some identifying as Catholic, other religions, or no religion at all.

By 2011, the population had dropped slightly to 1,256 people. The share of people identifying as Protestant had decreased a bit, while the share identifying with no religion had increased.

In 2021, the population was 1,155 people. The number of older people aged 65 or more had grown, while the number of younger people had decreased. The trend of more people identifying with no religion continued, while the share identifying as Protestant also continued to fall.

Transport

Castlerock railway station opened on 18 July 1853. Today, NI Railways runs trains about every hour, going west to Derry~Londonderry or east to Coleraine and then on to Belfast. On Sundays, there are only five trains in each direction. Ulsterbus services also run, matching the train times, and go either west towards Limavady or east to Coleraine.

Facilities

Castlerock has a summer camp called Guysmere Summer Camp, which is owned and run by the Presbyterian Church.

The Castlerock Golf Club features two courses: the Mussendan course with 18 holes and the Bann course with 9 holes.

Education

Castlerock has a primary school called Hezlett Primary School. Another school, Ballyhacket Primary School, closed in 2021 because there were not enough students.

People

The actor James Nesbitt lived in Castlerock when he was a teenager.

The famous author C. S. Lewis, who was born in Belfast, often visited Castlerock as a child. He used Downhill House as inspiration for parts of his book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.