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Portrush is a seaside resort
Seaside resort

A seaside resort is a resort located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort....
 town
Town

A town is a type of human settlement ranging from a few to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition....
 in County Antrim
County Antrim

County Antrim is one of six Counties of Northern Ireland that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties that historically and geographically constitute the Province of Ulster....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
, on the County Londonderry
County Londonderry

County Londonderry or County Derry is one of the six Counties of Ireland of Northern Ireland in the Provinces of Ireland of Ulster in Ireland....
 border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station
Portrush railway station

Portrush railway station is the Train station#Terminus stations of the Northern Ireland Railways Coleraine-Portrush railway line serving the seaside town of Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland....
 as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula
Peninsula

A peninsula is a piece of Landform that is nearly surrounded by water but connected to mainland via an isthmus. Word origin: Latin paeninsula : paene, almost + insula, island....
, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest. It had a population of 6,372 people in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001

A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th Census in the United Kingdom....
. In the off-season, Portrush is a dormitory town for the nearby campus of the University of Ulster
University of Ulster

The University of Ulster is a multi-centre university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest single university on the island of Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland....
 at Coleraine
Coleraine

Coleraine is a large town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland near to the mouth of the River Bann. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Londonderry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections....
. It neighbours the resort of Portstewart
Portstewart

Portstewart is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and had a population of 7,803 people in the United Kingdom Census 2001. It is a seaside resort, seen by residents as a grander version of neighbouring Portrush....
.

It was the base for the Katie Hannan (this life boat was damaged in 2008, after running aground during a rescue at Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island is an island off the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland, and is the Extreme points of the United Kingdom of the region. from the mainland, Rathlin is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland, and is the most northerly inhabited island off the Ireland coast....
, Now based as a training boat for the RNLI), a Severn class lifeboat and Ken and Mary, a D–class inshore lifeboat of the RNLI
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the British Isles, as well as inshore. It was founded on 4 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, adopting the present name in 1854....
.






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Portrush is a seaside resort
Seaside resort

A seaside resort is a resort located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort....
 town
Town

A town is a type of human settlement ranging from a few to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition....
 in County Antrim
County Antrim

County Antrim is one of six Counties of Northern Ireland that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties that historically and geographically constitute the Province of Ulster....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
, on the County Londonderry
County Londonderry

County Londonderry or County Derry is one of the six Counties of Ireland of Northern Ireland in the Provinces of Ireland of Ulster in Ireland....
 border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station
Portrush railway station

Portrush railway station is the Train station#Terminus stations of the Northern Ireland Railways Coleraine-Portrush railway line serving the seaside town of Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland....
 as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula
Peninsula

A peninsula is a piece of Landform that is nearly surrounded by water but connected to mainland via an isthmus. Word origin: Latin paeninsula : paene, almost + insula, island....
, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest. It had a population of 6,372 people in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001

A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th Census in the United Kingdom....
. In the off-season, Portrush is a dormitory town for the nearby campus of the University of Ulster
University of Ulster

The University of Ulster is a multi-centre university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest single university on the island of Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland....
 at Coleraine
Coleraine

Coleraine is a large town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland near to the mouth of the River Bann. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Londonderry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections....
. It neighbours the resort of Portstewart
Portstewart

Portstewart is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and had a population of 7,803 people in the United Kingdom Census 2001. It is a seaside resort, seen by residents as a grander version of neighbouring Portrush....
.

It was the base for the Katie Hannan (this life boat was damaged in 2008, after running aground during a rescue at Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island is an island off the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland, and is the Extreme points of the United Kingdom of the region. from the mainland, Rathlin is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland, and is the most northerly inhabited island off the Ireland coast....
, Now based as a training boat for the RNLI), a Severn class lifeboat and Ken and Mary, a D–class inshore lifeboat of the RNLI
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the British Isles, as well as inshore. It was founded on 4 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, adopting the present name in 1854....
. Lifeboats have operated out of Portrush Harbour since 1860.

Portrush is in the East Londonderry
East Londonderry

East Londonderry or East Derry can refer to:*The eastern part of County Londonderry*The eastern part of the city of Derry*East Londonderry ...
 constituency for the UK Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolution legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly Reserved matters to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive....
.

History


The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Portrush, which includes a list of incidents in Portrush during the Troubles
The Troubles

The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland and Continental Europe....
 resulting in two or more fatalities.

Demographics

Portrush is classified as a Small Town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 6,372 people living in Portrush. Of these:
  • 20.8% were aged under 16 years and 23.1% were aged 60 and over
  • 46.2% of the population were male and 53.8% were female
  • 23.6% were from a Catholic
    Catholic

    Catholic is an adjective derived from the Greek language adjective , meaning "whole" or "complete". In the context of Christianity ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages....
     background and 70.6% were from a Protestant
    Protestantism

    Protestantism is a movement within Christianity that originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the three principal traditions of Christianity, together with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy....
     background.
  • 5.1% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.


For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service.

Places of interest

Dscf8047
*Attractions in the town include Portrush Countryside Centre "The coastal zone"; the Dunluce Centre and a swimming complex. Also on the edge of town are the links of the Royal Portrush Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club

Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland is the only golf club outside of Great Britain which has hosted The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's Men's major golf championships....
, which hosted the 1951 British Open
The Open Championship

The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four men's major golf championships in men's golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico....
 golf championship, and Ballyreagh Golf Course. At the 1951 British Open
The Open Championship

The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four men's major golf championships in men's golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico....
 golf championship young starlet Derek McLachlan
Derek McLachlan

Derek 'Mack' McLachlan is a Scotland professional golfer. His rise to local folklore in Portrush came due to his fantastic opening 3 rounds as an amateur in the 1951 British Open he turned professional shortly after but his professional career was largely unsuccessful....
 won the hearts of the local crowd, the young man led on the third day by 3 strokes, only to drive out of bounds twice on the last day and finish tied for 8th place.
  • There are two long sandy beaches in the town, known as the West and East Strand. White Rocks and Curran Strand stretch on from the East Strand and are backed by dunes. The coast continues past Dunluce Castle
    Dunluce Castle

    Dunluce Castle literally translated as the Hill fort of the fairy fort is one of the most extensive ruins of a medieval castle in Northern Ireland....
     to the Giant's Causeway
    Giant's Causeway

    The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcano eruption. It is located on the northeast coast of Ireland, about two miles north of the town of Bushmills....
     (it was once possible to travel to these attractions from Portrush on the Giant's Causeway Tramway
    Giant's Causeway Tramway

    File:Portrush Rly Station, 1890s.jpg The Giant's Causeway Tramway, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush and the Giant's Causeway on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland....
    ).
  • Portrush is home to one of Northern Ireland's best known nightclub
    Nightclub

    A nightclub is a Alcoholic beverage, Dance and entertainment Music venue which does its primary business after dark. People who frequent nightclubs are known as clubbers....
    s. The Kelly's complex consists of a multitude of bars and clubs and is Northern Ireland's largest nightclub complex. It includes the nightclub Lush!
    Lush!

    Lush! is a night club in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Located in the Kellys Golf Links Hotel, the club is the largest in the complex, which houses a number of bars....
     which attracts many of the world's top DJs and hosts BBC Radio 1
    BBC Radio 1

    BBC Radio 1 is a United Kingdom international radio station operated by the BBC, specialising in current popular music throughout the day, with a slight bias to Rock music & Independent music music....
     events.
  • Portrush is also home to Barry's Amusements
    Barry's Amusements

    Barry's Amusements is the largest amusement park in Ireland.It is situated in the centre of Portrush on the north coast. It is a popular family attraction for visitors to the area....
    , the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland. Actor James Nesbitt
    James Nesbitt

    James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in Broughshane and Coleraine, County Londonderry. Although he made acting appearances with the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine in his teenage years, he wanted to become a teacher, like his father....
     once worked in Barry's.
  • The Skerries
    The Skerries, Northern Ireland

    The Skerries are a small group of rocks just off Portrush on the north coast of Northern Ireland.The temperature of the Skerries during the summer months is warmer than other parts of Northern Ireland, and so the rocks are home to particularly interesting fauna; it is the only place many southern species such as the cotton spinner sea cucum...
    , a collection of rocks located just off the coast, are an important habitat for several species, some unique to Northern Ireland.


Events

  • Portrush hosts an annual air show.
  • The RNLI
    Royal National Lifeboat Institution

    The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the British Isles, as well as inshore. It was founded on 4 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, adopting the present name in 1854....
     raft race is a popular annual event. This is a popular competition where contestants must build a raft that can travel from the West Strand beach into Portrush Harbour. The contest has been featured on Northern Ireland
    Northern Ireland

    conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
     news broadcasts on several years. The event is a great credit to the RNLI's popularity in the area.
  • The annual "Beach Party" attracts headline acts; the first, held in 2006 was headlined by Fatboy Slim
    Fatboy Slim

    Norman Quentin Cook , better known by his stage name Fatboy Slim is a British disk jockey, big beat musician and Record producer. Cook has achieved considerable success in UK single and album charts, first as a member of the Housemartins and then most notably as Beats International, Freak Power, Fatboy Slim and The BPA....
    . 2007 saw Basement Jaxx
    Basement Jaxx

    Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed United Kingdom House music duo, comprising Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, that rose to popularity in the late 1990s....
     and The Happy Mondays. 2008 was headlined by The Chemical Brothers
    The Chemical Brothers

    The Chemical Brothers are the English electronic music duo Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons . Initially they called themselves "The Dust Brothers", after the noted United States Dust Brothers, but the threat of legal action from the originals led them to change their name in 1995....
    .
  • The North West 200
    North West 200

    The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland, using public roads. The circuit between the towns Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine is considered among the fastest in the world, with speeds topping 200mph on occasion, and enters the outskirts of those towns, passing many private houses....
     is a motorcycle race which runs through Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush every May, a long-running tourist attraction which has attracted crowds in excess of 150,000 in past years. The late brothers Joey Dunlop
    Joey Dunlop

    William Joseph "Joey" Dunlop, OBE was a world champion motorcyclist, best known for road racing. In 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon in history by Motorcycle News....
     and Robert Dunlop
    Robert Dunlop

    Robert Dunlop , was a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, the younger brother of fellow road racer, the late Joey Dunlop, and like Joey he died after a crash while racing....
     have been regular winners at the races: they hold the record for most wins, with thirteen and fifteen respectively.

People

  • Rev. James Law, father of Canadian born Andrew Bonar Law
    Andrew Bonar Law

    Andrew Bonar Law was a Canada-born United Kingdom Conservative Party statesman and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been born outside the British Isles....
    , Prime Minister
    Prime minister

    A prime minister is the most senior minister of Cabinet in the Executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician....
     of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name and the state form of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927....
    , (1922-1923) was born here.
  • Actor James Nesbitt
    James Nesbitt

    James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in Broughshane and Coleraine, County Londonderry. Although he made acting appearances with the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine in his teenage years, he wanted to become a teacher, like his father....
    , although born in Broughshane
    Broughshane

    Broughshane is a village within the Ballymena Borough Council, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is situated northeast of Ballymena and north of Antrim, County Antrim, on the A42 road....
     and raised in neighbouring Coleraine
    Coleraine

    Coleraine is a large town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland near to the mouth of the River Bann. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Londonderry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections....
    , has many times described his fondness of and experiences in Portrush in his youth (The Friday Night Project
    The Friday Night Project

    The Sunday Night Project is a United Kingdom comedy-variety show by Princess Productions that first aired on Channel 4 in February 2005 under the title The Friday Night Project....
    ). Nesbitt was instrumental in the decision to film an episode of Cold Feet
    Cold Feet

    Cold Feet is a United Kingdom comedy drama television series produced by Granada Television for ITV. It was created by Mike Bullen, who also wrote most of the episodes, and produced by Christine Langan, Spencer Campbell and Emma Benson....
     around Portrush and the surrounding coastline.
  • Marie-Therese Emma Caraher-Gilbert, Mrs New Zealand 2006, lived in Portrush with her family from 1977 until 1990. Emma's family history in Portrush is long, dating back over 100 years. Emma was Miss Portrush in 1988.


Sport

  • Portrush Hockey Club
    Portrush Hockey Club

    Portrush Hockey Club is a Field hockey club affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of the Irish Hockey Association based in Portrush, County Antrim....


Transport

  • Portrush railway station
    Portrush railway station

    Portrush railway station is the Train station#Terminus stations of the Northern Ireland Railways Coleraine-Portrush railway line serving the seaside town of Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland....
     was opened on 4 December 1855 and closed for goods traffic on 20 September 1954.


See also

  • List of towns in Northern Ireland
    List of towns in Northern Ireland

    This is a list page for towns in Northern Ireland. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch....
  • List of villages in Northern Ireland
    List of villages in Northern Ireland

    This is a list page for villages in Northern Ireland.The defines a town as having a population of 4,500 or more. Settlements of 2,250 to 4,500 people are defined as intermediate settlements, villages are defined as having populations of 1,000 to 2,250 people and small villages and hamlets are defined as having fewer than 1,000 people ...
  • List of RNLI stations
    List of RNLI stations

    List of Royal National Lifeboat Institution stations by county....


External links

  • - Aerial footage from the BBC Sky High series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Northern Ireland.