Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km (21 mi) south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. The town is among Ireland's most ancient and historic towns. It takes its name from a dún (fort), which previously stood on the hill that looms over the town and on which Down Cathedral was ultimately developed. Its cathedral is thought to be the burial place of Saint Patrick. Today, it is the county town of Down and the joint headquarters of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Downpatrick is characterised by the rolling drumlins that are a feature of the Lecale area and a legacy of glaciation in the course of the Pleistocene, the Down drumlins are underlaid by Ordovician and Silurian shales and grits. Its floor lies within the marshland surrounding the north east of the town, registered as being 1.3 foot below sea level. In accordance with the 2001 Census, the town has a permanent population of around 10316 people. Within this population, 48.5 per cent were male and 51.5 per cent were female. As the largest town in the Lecale region, Downpatrick is an industrial, recreational and administrative centre for the locality and acts as a centre for the neighboring towns and villages. In just an hour drive of Belfast, the location acts as a commuter town for a a great deal of people. It is also served by a routine bus service to the city and a railway station. The town has a range of primary and post-primary schools educating pupils from throughout the east Down region. Residents have many opportunities for involvement in leisure and sports activities. Together with a youth club, the town is the home of rugby, football, cricket and swimming clubs. For all your home enhancements, make sure to identify dependable professionals in Downpatrick to make certain of quality.
