Annalong

Annalong is a seaside village in County Down, Northern Ireland at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. It is situated in the civil parish of Kilkeel and the historic barony of Mourne. It had a population of 1,778 people at the 2001 Census and lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. The village was once engaged in exporting dressed granite and is now a fishing and holiday resort. Annalong Primary School is in the village and Annalong Community Development Association was established in 1994.HistoryOn 13 January 1843, boats from Newcastle and Annalong set out for the usual fishing stations, and were caught in a gale. 14 boats were lost in the heavy seas including a boat which had gone to the rescue. Only two boats survived, the Victoria and the Brothers. 76 men perished, 30 of whom were from Annalong.FacilitiesAnnalong Main Street is where most of the shops are situated, such as the small local branch of supermarket chain 'Today's local' which is a smaller 'Nisa' store, a beauty salon and a hairdresser . There is also a pub at the very bottom of the main street named the 'Harbour Bar', as it is right beside the harbour; it was burnt down a number of years ago but has been rebuilt with a 'Western' theme. There are many old cottages and houses in the harbour area, but new estates have been built on the outskirts of the village. The Post Office is now at the back of the larger Nisa store which is on the main road to Kilkeel and Newcastle, there are several small cafés along this road such as Top Nosh and The Galley with another takeout called Pepper Jacks and a Chinese Restaurant & Takeaway called Johnny Pangs. The doctor's surgery and chemist shop are also on the main road and at the Newcastle end of the village there is another pub called the "Halfway House".