Leitrim
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Leitrim from the view of Mccartans road, July 2022 | |
Location within
County Down | |
Population | 150 (only includes Leitrim townland.) (2011 Census) |
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CASTLEWELLAN |
Postcode district | BT31 |
Dialling code | 028 |
Police | Northern Ireland |
Fire | Northern Ireland |
Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Leitrim (from Irish Liatroim 'grey ridge'), is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland, approximately 3 miles from Castlewellan, near Dromara, in the parish of Drumgooland. It is set between the Dromara Hills ( Slieve Croob) and the Mourne Mountains. It is claimed to be home to the MacCartan clan of Kinelarty. [1]
Within the centre of Leitrim village there is a Catholic church, [2] a shop and a bar. Along the Backaderry road there is also a pre-school, [3] an animal feed factory and the local Gaelic club.
Leitrim's Gaelic club ( Liatroim Fontenoys GAC) is reputed to be the oldest in Down – being founded in 1888.[ citation needed] Leitrim has developed friendly rivalries with Kilcoo GAC and Castlewellan GAC. Most years Leitrim will hold a festival in and around the club grounds.
Although there is only one village named Leitrim in south down, near Hilltown there is a small forest area and camping site named Leitrim lodge. [4]
Legananny Dolmen, a megalithic dolmen or cromlech, is located nearby on the slopes of Slieve Croob. [5]
Leitrim railway station, which opened on 24 March 1906, was closed on 2 May 1955. [6]