IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, HOLYWOOD, BT18 9HT

A town boundary post on the Belfast Road. For a closer look and a bit more information see Image

A closer look at the boundary post seen in Image It is marked “Hollywood Commissioners” 185(8?). Town Commissioners were the predecessors of urban district Councils (now replaced by district councils) and were mainly abolished at the end of the 19th century. The other interesting point is use of the spelling “Hollywood” rather than the present “Holywood”. The latter reflects the town’s origin in the 7th century and the establishment of a church by St Laisren (Wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laisr%C3%A9n_mac_Nad_Fro%C3%ADch ) – remembered in an older name for the locality - “Sanctus Boscus”. The Irish version is Ard Mhic Nasca.

The 120 foot high spire of St Comcille's (see Image) is a prominent feature on the southern side of Holywood. This is a view from several hundred yards away.

The churchyard of St Comcille's contains memorial stones to many of the departed parish priests. The most elaborate is this celtic cross in memory of the Rt Reverend Monsignor O'Laverty who died on the 18th April 1906, aged 78 years. Monsignor O'Laverty was pastor of St Comcille's (written as St Columb-kills on the memorial) for 40 years.

A third picture of the spire of St Comcille's in Holywood (see Image), this time from directly underneath. The spire had the following inscription dating from the original church, dedicated in 1874: "Have mercy O Lord on the soul of Patrick Read, at whose bequest this tower was completed AD1890. The Church of St. Columba dedicated June 14th 1874" When the spire was repaired following the fire of 1989 the following inscription was added: "New church built and tower restored 1993 AD" The spire still contains the original bell. However, to prevent further damage to the structure, this is now struck electronically rather than rung by hand.

A large and free car park, at High Street, close to the town centre and here http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=44666144.

Another view of the spire of St Comcille's in Holywood (see Image) showing the gap left between the spire and modern rebuilt church just seen to the left.

St Colmcille's RC church in Holywood, County Down. It is located at the corner of High Street and My Lady's Mile. The original church, built of local white Scrabo and imported red Dumfries stone with a pitch pine roof, was first dedicated on Sunday 14th June 1874. The later addition of a bell tower was not completed until 1891. However, what we see today is a different structure. The original 1874 construction was destroyed by a malicious fire (probably sectarian) in the early hours of 24th August 1989. After the fire, the 120-foot tower remained but was deemed to be structurally unsafe. It was decided, however, to restore it using some of the stone salvaged from the old church. The main church structure was beyond repair and this was replaced with a new circular structure, seen to the left of the tower. The reconstructed St Colmcille's seen here was rededicated by Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr. Patrick Walsh, on Sunday 28th May 1995. See the parish website at http://www.parishofholywood.org/ for more information.

A Dudley http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=31253517 stop valve cover at High street.

Apartments on the southern side of My Lady’s Mile Image