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 form an Atlantic promenade that leads to a long, sandy beach called the Portstewart Strand. The beach is a favorite spot for holidaymakers during the 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 that was a favorite holiday spot for families during the Victorian times. It has a long, curved promenade by the sea, protected by rocky headlands. The town is quite well-off, and most of it lies 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, who named it after his family, the Stewarts of Ballylesse. Before this, the area was known in Irish as Port na Binne Uaine, a name connected to a nearby island called Benoney. Today, the town is still called Port na Binne Uaine in Irish.

In the mid-1800s, Portstewart grew into a small seaside resort thanks to a local landlord named John Cromie. The town’s development was shaped by the Cromie family’s beliefs, which led to a delay in building a railway connection.

Places of interest

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

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

Transport

Portstewart is close to a train line that runs from Coleraine to Portrush. This line opened in 1856 and was later part of a bigger railway network. There used to be a station named Portstewart, but it was far from the town and closed down over time. Today, the nearest train stations are Coleraine, University, Dhu Varren, and Portrush, with buses connecting to these stations.

Sport

Portstewart is a great place for sports, especially golf. The town has three golf courses all managed by the Portstewart Golf Club. These courses are famous for being played in strong Atlantic winds and have beautiful views of the ocean and Lough Foyle. In 2017, the Strand Course hosted a big golf tournament called the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which was the largest event the town had ever seen.

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 fast 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 during a war and was born at Low Rock Castle.
• Jimmy Kennedy (1902–1984) – a songwriter who was inspired by 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 expert on books.
• 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, there were 8,003 people living in Portstewart, which is a small part of Northern Ireland. This number was a bit higher than in 2001. Most of the people were female, and many belonged to Protestant or Catholic Christian faiths. People could choose more than one identity, and many felt British, Northern Irish, or Irish.

2021 Census

In 2021, the number of people in Portstewart was 7,854. Still, most people belonged to 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.