History of Warrenpoint

History of Warrenpoint

The name Warrenpoint originates from a family who lived in the area by the name Waring or Warren.

This information was recorded by Father Bernard Trainor who kept records of the people living in the area. 

Local historians in the past have connected the origins of Warrenpoint and it’s name to General Warren who fought in the American War of Independence. 

The Warren family may well have lived on a point at the sea and that’s how we got our name!

According to local folklore, the area was a rabbit warren – the rabbit was featured on the Town crest and in more recent times on the crest of Warrenpoint Town Football Club (2022 saw the club adopt a new crest)- and thus how Warrenpoint got it’s name.

Warrenpoint developed as a centre of local commerce for farming produce and trade via the local port.

The Windmill in Warrenpoint could be seen for miles around from land and sea – read more about the Windmill HERE

Warrenpoint was one of Ireland’s most popular tourist spots in late 1800’s .

Warrenpoint’s railway train line opened in 1849.

The railway company built the Great Northern Hotel in Warrenpoint (now St Joseph’s Nursing Home).

A horse drawn tram linked Warrenpoint to Rostrevor.

At the the start of the 1900’s, Warrenpoint had seven hotels and up to 30 guesthouses to service the visitor coming to the seaside town.

Warrenpoint and World War II

In July of 1945, two RAF planes collided while taking part in a demonstration. 

All of the airmen were killed in the collision.

Debris of the plane fell on the main streets in Warrenpoint.

Details of the crash – planes and crew.

Oxford I – LX598 of 290 Sqn Long Kesh/Co.Down collided during a Civil Defence Demonstration with Martinet TT.1 – MS626 due to bad misty conditions.

The Oxford crashed 1 mile off the Warrenpoint pier killing three pilots:

W/O Lucien A.W.J. ECCLES 
F/Sgt Dennis MYERS
Sgt Peter STURDY

The Martinet crashed on public bath houses Oxford-Duke Street, killing:

W/O (Pilot) Albert G. GIBB 

Sgt (Airgunner) George W. MOSEY 

The Battle of Normandy was taking place in France at time this air accident occurred in Warrenpoint.

Warrenpoint and Irish Politics

Every part of Ireland / Northern Ireland has a tragic story related to the conflict and troubled times in Ireland.

Warrenpoint and County Down is no different!

We list some of those below to document our town’s history in conflict and painful times. 

War of Independence in Ireland

Two RIC officers were killed in Warrenpoint in February 1921 during the War of Independence.

This is the account of the incident given by Peadar Barry, an IRA officer:

“In or about February 1921, orders were issued to ambush a police patrol In the town of Warrenpoint. About twenty members of the Corrogs Company were mobilised for this operation and went into the town of Warrenpoint to carry it out.

It was customary for the police in Warrenpoint to go out each night on a patrol of the town. The movements of the patrol had been watched for some time previous to our going in to carry out the ambush. We found by careful observation that the police had no settled routine route for their patrol. They changed their routes through the town almost each night. This fact forced us on the night planned for the operation to post men at various points to ensure that no matter what particular streets they traversed some of us would have an opportunity at some point to engage them.

One particular fact we knew from observation was that every night they traversed a street known as Summerhill which had three cross streets leading off. Parties of our men were placed at two of these intersections in such position as to ensure that the police would come under fire if they traversed Summerhill area.

I was not myself a member of either ambushing parties on this night. My orders were to scout and to ensure that the ambushers would get timely warning of the approach of the police. As far as I can remember a patrol of five men came along into the Summerhill area and were attacked by bomb and revolver fire. Some of the attackers had rifles. I cannot say at the moment if the rifles were used or not.

In the exchange of fire the police suffered the following casualties: One policeman killed, two wounded, one of whom subsequently died. Intensive police activities followed this ambush in Corrogs area. All the houses were raided by police, Special Constabulary and Auxiliaries.

On the morning after the ambush I was taking a horse and cart up the road to a neighbouring house when I met two lorryloads of Specials. On one of the lorries I recognised an R.I.C. man named Constable Michael Enright. Much to my surprise I found that the lorries passed me without interfering with me and proceeded to my father’s house. There they found a picture of Terence MacSwiney which they destroyed.

They then arrested my father and took him into Newry, a prisoner. I found out quite recently from a friend who met this ex-Constable Enright in Newry about a year ago that Enright told him that he recognised me that morning and that if he had identified me his comrades would have shot me. My father, after his release from Newry, told me that this same Constable Enright had saved his life after his arrest when other policemen wanted to shoot him. Enright resigned from the Police Force shortly after these incidents.”

Warrenpoint and The Troubles

Warrenpoint Ambush at Narrow Water

On 27 August 1979 , an IRA bomb killed 18 British soldiers at Narrow Water in Warrenpoint. 

The British soldiers were members of the British Parachute Regiment. 

General Sir Mike Jackson called the attack a “clever plan and they succeeded”

On the same day, Lord Louis Mountbatten, a close relative of the British Royal family, was killed by an IRA bomb planted on his boat at Mullaghmore, Co. Donegal.

In April 1976, loyalist paramilitaries attacked the Ulster Bar, The Square, Warrenpoint throwing a bomb into the pub.

The explosion killed local man Matthew Campbell who died as a result of his injuries.

In June 1976, Warrenpoint teacher Liam Prince was mistakenly shot dead by the British Army close to the border.

In 1981, Ivan Toombs, customs officer and Major in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) was shot dead by IRA gunmen in the Custom and Excise offices where he worked based in Warrenpoint Docks.

In 1983, The Crown Hotel which was situated on The Square in Warrenpoint was blown up and destroyed by the IRA. 

The Seven Steps Hotel along the front shore was also firebombed and destroyed..

In February 1983, RUC reserve constable Edward Magill was shot dead by the IRA while on duty in Warrenpoint Town centre while walking to the shop.

In April 1989, an IRA bomb planted in Heatley and Morgan’s building supplies yard adjacent to the police station exploded killing local Warrenpoint girl, Joanne Reilly.

The police station was the intended target of the bomb attack.

Joanne was 20 years old.

The blast also injured 30 people and caused extensive damage properties in the area.

Further reading on the Troubles HERE

Population of Warrenpoint

The 2021 census of Newry, Mourne and Down recorded a population of 182,074 with 68,397 households.

The nationality or nationalities that the person identifies with was as follows:

British only 17%
Irish only 47%
Northern Irish only 21%
British & Irish only <1%
British & Northern Irish only 4%
Irish & Northern Irish only 3%
British, Irish & Northern Irish only 1%
Other national identities 6%

2011 Census Warrenpoint and Burren

The UK census of 2011 listed a population in Warrenpoint and Burren of 8732 people.

The breakdown of the local Warrenpoint population by gender according to the 2011 census was 48.9% Female and 51.1 male.

The 2011 census recorded the religious breakdown of the population of Warrenpoint and Burren as follows:

• Catholic 87.7%
• Protestant 9.6%
• Other 0.2%
• None 2.5%

The total amount of people born outside the UK and Ireland was 548.

The amount of lone person households in the Warrenpoint and Burren area was 3300.

The percentage of the Warrenpoint and Burren population that have no car or van per household was 20.6%

Your Questions Answered

Where to find Warrenpoint Weather?

If you want to know what weather Warrenpoint will have on the day of your visit be sure to visit Louth Weather on Facebook for an accurate forecast of the weather in the Carlingford Lough and Warrenpoint area. Louth Weather on Facebook HERE

Does Warrenpoint have a beach?

Warrenpoint has a beach on the shores of Carlingford Lough.

It is a stony beach perfect for skimming stones in the water of Carlingford Lough. Sandy Bottom on Warrenpoint beach is a popular spot for open sea swimmers all year around.

What's on in Warrenpoint?

Check out What’s on in County Down on Facebook to see what’s on in the locality.