Holywood
Holywood is a town in the city of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland consisting of 755 acres lying on the bank of Belfast Lough, in between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Urban Area is identified as a medium town within the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA) by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, with the 2001 Census recording a permanent population of 12037. Within this population, around 20 per cent are aged under 16 years of age and 21 percent were aged 60 and over. 50.6 per cent of the population is male and 49.4 per cent is female. The railway line from Belfast to Holywood arrived in 1848, and this led to fast progression. This growth, in conjunction with that of nearby towns and villages along the seaside strip to Bangor, demanded the building and construction of the Holywood Bypass in the early 1970s. The town is a popular suburb and is noted for its fashionable shops, boutiques, arts and crafts. Holywood is most popular for its maypole at the crossroads in the centre of town. Its origin continues to be rather uncertain, yet, according to regional folklore, it derives from 1700, when a Dutch ship is alleged to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew set up the broken mast to show their gratitude of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk. The maypole continues to be in regular use for dancing at the yearly May Day fair. The town also holds an annual jazz and blues gala. There are plenty of sporting possibilities in Holywood, being home to football clubs, golf clubs, cricket clubs and an athletics association. For all your home upgrades, make certain to make use of credible professionals in Holywood to make certain of quality.