Donard Park

Donard Park
Donard Park with Slieve Donard behind
Donard Park Location in Northern Ireland
Type	Public park
Location	Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
Nearest city	Belfast
OS grid	J375305
Coordinates	54°12′14″N5°54′11″W / 54.2040°N 5.9030°W / 54.2040; -5.9030
Elevation	Approx. 10 m
Founder	Annesley family
Owned by	Down District Council
Operated by	Down District Council
Open	All year
Status	Open
Camp sites	YMCA centre with camping
Paths	Woodland and riverside paths
Terrain	Forested foothills, riverside
Water	Glen River
Vegetation	Mixed woodland
Species	Holly Blue Butterfly, local fauna
Designation	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Parking	333 regular spaces, 25 accessible, 2 EV bays
Connecting transport	Coach parking available
Facilities	Toilets, picnic areas, sports pitches
Website	Visit Mourne Mountains – Donard Park

Donard Park, October 2007

Donard Park is a public park located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is next to the Glen River, which forms the boundary along one side and is at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, part of the Mourne Mountains. It is owned and run by Down District Council.

View of the Mourne Mountains as seen from the park

Features

The park features football and hockey pitches and picnic facilities. It is also used as a starting point for ramblers to climb the Mourne Mountains and has a YMCA centre including camping facilities. In 2006 the main entrance and car park were redeveloped and facilities upgraded. There are future plans for retail space and rentable accommodation beside the park. The local council have been petitioned to build a swimming pool in the park and had put in a request for a Northern Ireland National Cycling Velodrome Centre to be built there for the 2012 London Olympics. ^[1] In 2008 local planners indicated they would not back the construction of the scheme in an area of outstanding natural beauty at the foothills of the Mournes. The council is now seeking alternative sites. ^[2]

History

The park was previously owned by the Annesley family until given over to the people of Newcastle and the local council took responsibility for maintaining it. During World War I members of the 10th Battalion of Royal Irish Rifles were stationed at Donard lodge in the park for training, before being sent to the Somme in France. ^{[3] [4]}

During World War II members of the U.S. Army 5th infantry division were based in Donard Park in preparation for D-Day. ^[5] They arrived in late October 1943. ^[6]

References

1. "Donard Drome". WDR & RT Taggart. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
2. Telford, David (2 April 2008). "Planners block velodrome bid". Down Recorder . p. 1.
3. The Royal Irish Rifles Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
4. Philip Orr (2008). The Road to the Somme (Paperback). Blackstaff Press. p. 8. ISBN   9780856408243.
5. "Training camps in Northern Ireland during World War II". Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
6. "United States Army forces in Northern Ireland stations of units". Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.