Dundrum Village

Dundrum is located about five miles north of Newcastle and thirty five miles south of Belfast, the town is located on Dundrum inner bay.

The founding of the town is credited by many to John de Courcy a Norman adventurer who came to Ireland as part of the Norman invasion which began around 1169.

Dundrum is referred to in the Irish Annals and appears to have been a site of some importance at the time of the Red Branch Knights who flourished in the third century.

The strategic hill on which stands the present day Dundrum Castle, would almost certainly have been a fortified site from very early times.

Recently (Summer 2012) The Time Team spent their usual three days excavating in and around Dundrum Castle, It will be interesting to hear their conclusions when the program is broadcast.

In the nineteenth century Dundrum Harbour was modernised two Scottish brother named Dunlop were engaged to plan and oversee the work.

The harbour at Dundrum in the past saw much trade with the import of timber from the Baltic and coal mostly from England. The railway from Downpatrick to Newcastle passed through the village, there was a goods shed (Now converted into housing) A siding allowed goods trains to be taken right to the quay side where goods could be directly loaded into the train.

In the late 1960's an unusual business was carried on in Dundrum, Nicholas Kilmorney son of Lord Kilmorney of Mourne Park, Kilkeel imported Bubble Cars to Dundrum using an old fishing boat, I think it was called "The White Hill" or Hills. This modest start led to Nicholas running a shipping company based in Warrenpoint, he is now sadly deceased.

Dundrum had many characters worthy of mention one such was Teddy Conner, who in his time must have piloted hundreds of ships across the bar and up the narrow channel to the safety of the port.

Video of Dundrum castle and village.

Dundrum plays host to a very successful weekly Car Boot Sale.

Read about Dundrum in 1837 from Lewis' Topographical Survey of Ireland.