Killyleagh Harbour.

Sir Hans Sloan | The Famine | Killyleagh up to 1937 | Images of Old Killyleagh

Killyleagh harbour has existed in some form since medieval times, it may have been used as a base for some of the boats of the Ulaid fleet which were active in the fifth century. It has been used for the import of timber coal and slate etc. and exported local produce of the area, including produce from the linen mill at the village of Shrigley close to Killyleagh. The harbour underwent major renovations in 1833 at a cost of £1,000 supplied by Lord Dufferin.

The quay was purchased in the early years of the twentieth century by the Morrow family who carried on a coal importing business until the late ninety's, when it was sold for housing development, which unfortunately has been the fate of many of Ireland's historic quay sides.

Where once lay picturesque schooners and ketches from around the British Isles, waiting to discharge or load their cargoes, now are to be seen rows of monotonous two and three storey houses and flats.

The design brief to the architect would appear to have been, stack as many units as possible into a given area, don’t worry about historical or aesthetic considerations, it really doesn't’t matter what the locals think, they won’t be able to afford them anyway. A look at many coastal developments around the coast of Ireland, would lead one to wonder if the rumors that with a fat brown envelope anything is possible.

Generations of young people growing up in Killyleagh have, over the centuries acquired a love and respect for the sea and seafaring, families names such as the Bennett and the Morrows have been closely associated with the sea, the former were owners of trading schooners. Andrew Morrow ran away to sea on a coal boat at the age of twelve, he subsequently rose to command Ocean Liners, his brother James Morrow joined the Royal Navy tragically losing his life along with six thousand other British sailors in 'The Battle of Jutland' 31st May 1916 the greatest British naval disaster of the First World War.

Similar stories to the one related above must be replicated thousand of times over across all of Ireland, if a member of your family lost their life in similar circumstances you could send us an account of their story for inclusion in the site.