Holywood
Holywood is a town in the city region of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland encompassing 755 acres lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, in between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Urban Area is classified 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 percent are aged under 16 years of age and 21 per cent were aged 60 and over. 50.6 percent of the population is male and 49.4 per cent is female. The train line from Belfast to Holywood arrived in 1848, and this triggered swift development. This expansion, in combination with that of surrounding towns and villages along the seaside strip to Bangor, necessitated the construction of the Holywood Bypass in the early 1970s. The town is a popular residential area and is distinguished for its stylish shops, boutiques, arts and crafts. Holywood is most popular for its maypole at the crossroads in the centre of town. Its origin remains rather unclear, however, in accordance with local tradition, it originates from 1700, when a Dutch ship is said to have actually run aground on the coast close by, and the crew set up the damaged mast to demonstrate their gratitude of the support 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 many sporting possibilities in Holywood, being home to football clubs, golf clubs, cricket clubs and a sports association. For all your house upgrades, make sure to make use of trustworthy specialists in Holywood to make certain of quality.
