OK back to “Coney Island” the Lyrics mention stopping at Shrigley to take pictures. Shrigley is named after Pott Shrigley in Cheshire. It grew up around the large six-storey cotton mill built in 1824 by John Martin. In 1836, Shrigley mill had more power looms than any other factory in Ireland. It became a flax mill and eventually a tannery which closed in 1989. (I spent some time as a student in the early 80's sampling shellfish in Strangford Lough for heavy metals particularly chromates used in the tanning process)
The only thing worth taking pictures of in Shrigley is the Martin Memorial Monument which dates back to the 1870’s and was a clock tower. It was originally at the crossroads in the centre of the village. Unfortunately in an astonishing act of architectural vandalism the original village was demolished in the late 60’s. The road through the village was re-profiled and the monument sits on its own off to one side. The original stone built 19th century housing was replaced by 1970’s social housing. Still, it is sufficiently generic that it was used as a location (standing in for social housing in Dublin) in the “Dublin Murders”.
The monument when it still had a village round it!
The next geographical stop in the song is Killyleagh. The Castle came into the ownership of James Hamilton in the Early 17th Century when the land was taken from Conn O’Neill (remember him?) by James 1st and given to the Scottish noblemen James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, whose House at Mount Stewart lies on the Ards Peninsula on the other side of Strangford Lough. Killyleagh castle was besieged by Cromwell in 1649.
The Castle now (to me) looks somewhat incongruous in its surroundings. It was re-modelled as a Loire Valley Chateau by Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid 19th century. I think it looks out of place now. Van Morrison has played on at least two occasions in the Castle grounds.
The next photo is of Strangford itself which may be referred to in the song (not clear if its the town or the Lough) which is the ferry point between the main part of Co. Down and the Ards Peninsula and cuts out a 45 mile detour.
Next is Kilclief Castle which you have to pass on the road from Strangford to Ardglass its the oldest complete surviving tower house in Ulster having been built in 1413 for the newly appointed Bishop of Down, John Sely.
Finally we are at the fishing village of Ardglass. In the song Van stopped “off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of Mussels and some potted herrings in case we get famished before dinner” I made do with a cheese and ham panini with some salad and coleslaw for lunch, at “Sea Gems” on the pier.
Someone must be a Van fan.
We reach Coney Island just outside Ardglass....which is not an Island but a spit of land forming one side of Killough bay and Coney Island beach. The sign is fresh looking as according to Newry and Mourne and Down Council its nicked on a regular basis.
Coney Island beach.
Remember St Donards Church......the tallest mountain in the middle is Slieve Donard. Photo taken on the
road to St John’s point.
St. John's Point Lighthouse (site of a bit of birdwatching in the song), was built in 1844 and, at 40 m (130ft), is the tallest lighthouse in Ireland (the Fastnet Lighthouse, though taller, is offshore). It is listed as one of twelve the "Great Lighthouses of Ireland" by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, who operate it as one of the 65 active lighthouses on the Irish coast. Its been automated since 1981.
During the late 1950’s Irish playwright, Brendan Behan, was employed as a painter at the lighthouse station. Seemingly unsuited to the task, the lightkeeper, Mr. Blakely complained to the Commissioners of Irish Lights that Behan was "the worst specimen" he had met in 30 years' service and someone "not amenable to any law and order". Reportedly wasteful, poorly skilled, and indigent, Blakely requested Behan be dismissed "before the place is ruined", however, reportedly he was rehired for similar work the following year.
This was just a work of personal curiosity I thought I'd share......hope it hasn’t bored you to tears
Refs for some of the information
Wikipedia
NI Environment and heritage service
Discover NI
Old Shrigley Facebook pages.
Mystic of the east “Van Morrison trail and Interactive map”
The only thing worth taking pictures of in Shrigley is the Martin Memorial Monument which dates back to the 1870’s and was a clock tower. It was originally at the crossroads in the centre of the village. Unfortunately in an astonishing act of architectural vandalism the original village was demolished in the late 60’s. The road through the village was re-profiled and the monument sits on its own off to one side. The original stone built 19th century housing was replaced by 1970’s social housing. Still, it is sufficiently generic that it was used as a location (standing in for social housing in Dublin) in the “Dublin Murders”.
The monument when it still had a village round it!
The next geographical stop in the song is Killyleagh. The Castle came into the ownership of James Hamilton in the Early 17th Century when the land was taken from Conn O’Neill (remember him?) by James 1st and given to the Scottish noblemen James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, whose House at Mount Stewart lies on the Ards Peninsula on the other side of Strangford Lough. Killyleagh castle was besieged by Cromwell in 1649.
The Castle now (to me) looks somewhat incongruous in its surroundings. It was re-modelled as a Loire Valley Chateau by Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid 19th century. I think it looks out of place now. Van Morrison has played on at least two occasions in the Castle grounds.
The next photo is of Strangford itself which may be referred to in the song (not clear if its the town or the Lough) which is the ferry point between the main part of Co. Down and the Ards Peninsula and cuts out a 45 mile detour.
Next is Kilclief Castle which you have to pass on the road from Strangford to Ardglass its the oldest complete surviving tower house in Ulster having been built in 1413 for the newly appointed Bishop of Down, John Sely.
Finally we are at the fishing village of Ardglass. In the song Van stopped “off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of Mussels and some potted herrings in case we get famished before dinner” I made do with a cheese and ham panini with some salad and coleslaw for lunch, at “Sea Gems” on the pier.
Someone must be a Van fan.
We reach Coney Island just outside Ardglass....which is not an Island but a spit of land forming one side of Killough bay and Coney Island beach. The sign is fresh looking as according to Newry and Mourne and Down Council its nicked on a regular basis.
Coney Island beach.
Remember St Donards Church......the tallest mountain in the middle is Slieve Donard. Photo taken on the
road to St John’s point.
St. John's Point Lighthouse (site of a bit of birdwatching in the song), was built in 1844 and, at 40 m (130ft), is the tallest lighthouse in Ireland (the Fastnet Lighthouse, though taller, is offshore). It is listed as one of twelve the "Great Lighthouses of Ireland" by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, who operate it as one of the 65 active lighthouses on the Irish coast. Its been automated since 1981.
During the late 1950’s Irish playwright, Brendan Behan, was employed as a painter at the lighthouse station. Seemingly unsuited to the task, the lightkeeper, Mr. Blakely complained to the Commissioners of Irish Lights that Behan was "the worst specimen" he had met in 30 years' service and someone "not amenable to any law and order". Reportedly wasteful, poorly skilled, and indigent, Blakely requested Behan be dismissed "before the place is ruined", however, reportedly he was rehired for similar work the following year.
This was just a work of personal curiosity I thought I'd share......hope it hasn’t bored you to tears
Refs for some of the information
Wikipedia
NI Environment and heritage service
Discover NI
Old Shrigley Facebook pages.
Mystic of the east “Van Morrison trail and Interactive map”
