Mayobridge


Mayobridge is a village within County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the small river Clanrye, which divides the townlands of Mayo and Bavan, east of Newry. It had a population of 1,069 as at 2011. Administratively, it is within the Newry and Mourne District Council area, and falls within the parish of Clonallan, and historically within the barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half.

Demography

Mayobridge is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency. It had a usually resident population of 1,069 according to the 2011 census.

Facilities

On 15 August 1859, Dr. Leahy, the co-adjutor bishop of the diocese, blessed the foundation stone of a new Catholic church to replace the existing, more primitive Mass house put up in 1806 ; and a curate was appointed to live in Mayobridge. The new church, dedicated to St. Patrick, was erected on the site of a former Mass rock. A Gothic-style building, reputed to be the largest 'country' church in the diocese, it could hold up to 600 worshippers in comfort, and had views over the surrounding countryside and into County Armagh. It was completed on 12 October 1862, with a dedicatory sermon by the then Bishop of Kerry, Dr. David Moriarty.
A police barracks was moved in 1854 from the Mayo side of the village to the Bavan side, and returned in 1865.
The local primary school, St. Patrick's Primary School, is located on Chapel Hill.

Sport

is a Gaelic Athletic Association club affiliated with the Down County Board. The minutes of the Central Council of the GAA record that, on 30 April 1888, an application for affiliation was received from St Patrick's, Mayobridge. The acceptance of the application makes it the oldest registered GAA club in the county. Mayobridge won their tenth Down Senior Football Championship in 2008. The club's minor team won the Down Minor Football Championship in 2023.

Notable people