County Down

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County Down is one of the 100 cermonial counties of the UK. It is one of 6 counties located in Northern Ireland, and of these it has the second largest population. The county town is Downpatrick, which lies at the heart of the southeast of the county.

The Belfast metropolitan area is the 10th largest urban area in the UK and lies on the boundary between counties Down and Antrim. Southeastern parts of Belfast lie within the county's boundaries and its communter belt covers most of the county.

Bangor is the largest town in all Ireland. Other sizeable towns include Newtownards, Dundonald, Banbridge, Downpatrick and Holywood.

It is the closest Northern Irish county to the Isle of Man. It is the most easternly and the most southernly county in Northern Ireland. County Down is the second most populated county of both Ulster and of Northern Ireland, as well as being the forth most populated county in all Ireland.

The tidal inlet of Strangford Lough is located in the county, being a haven for bird life. The Mourne mountains dominate much of the south of the county, including Slieve Donald, which is the highest mountain in Ulster.

The county has strong connections historically with Saint Patrick, who is reputedly buried in Downpatrick.

The north of the county is far more densely populated than the south. Newry is by far the largest urban area in the south of the county, and serves as the economic centre for the Mournes, south Armagh and hold economic importance on an all-Ireland basis. It is spilt with County Armagh. Lisburn was legally designated a city at the same time as Newry, but lies very much in the shadows of its larger neighbour Belfast. It too is spilt with County Antrim.