Kircubbin, County Down

History

The settlement was originally known as Kilcubin, which is thought to come from Irish Cill Ghobáin, meaning "St Goban's church". This later became Kirkcubbin, from the Ulster-Scots word for church, kirk.

1798 Rebellion

Archibald Warwick, a Presbyterian licentiate and member of the United Irishmen from Kircubbin, was hanged in 1798 near his church, for participating in Irish Rebellion of 1798.

The Troubles

Two significant incidents occurred during the Troubles. In 1974, St Mary Star of the Sea Church, Nunsquarter, which still stands and is used today, was badly damaged by a bomb planted at the side door of the chapel. One man, a local joiner who was working in the church hall adjacent to the church, left the premises shortly before the bomb went off.

Boys' Home abuse

In 2014, the Christian Brothers admitted to the physical and sexual abuse of boys in their care from 1951 to 1985 at the De La Salle Boys' Home, Rubane House, Kircubbin, often referred to as the "Kircubbin Boys' Home". or simply "Kircubbin", and issued an apology to its victims.

Population

2011 Census

In the 2011 Census Kircubbin had a population of 1,153 (471 households).

2001 Census

Kircubbin is classified as a village by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,214 people living in Kircubbin. Of these:

• 25.0% were aged under 16 years and 17.4% were aged 60 and over
• 48.9% of the population were male and the other 51.1% were female
• 66.8% were from a Catholic background and 31.2% were Protestant

Economy

In 2013, Echlinville Distillery was granted the first licence to distil spirits in Northern Ireland in over 130 years.

Sport

Kircubbin F.C. play in the Northern Amateur Football League. They were founded in 1923, and have won the Borough Cup in 2009, and Champions of County Down in 2015.

Popular culture

Hollywood star and actor Robert Retford Grandmother Lena Taylor was born in the village of Kircubbin and emigrated to America.

Kircubbin is the location described in the song "The Irish Drinking Song" by comedian Kyle Gordon.

References

References

1. "Kircubbin". NI Statistics and Research Agency.
2. [http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=12091 Placenames NI]
3. "Interview: William Carson". The Ulster-Scots Language Society.
4. Beiner, Guy. (2018). "Forgetful Remembrance: Social Forgetting and Vernacular Historiography of a Rebellion in Ulster". [[Oxford University Press]].
5. [http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Official-Report/Committee-Minutes-of-Evidence/Session-2012-2013/September-2012/Inquiry-into-Historical-Institutional-Abuse-Bill-De-La-Salle-Order-Briefing/ Northern Ireland Assembly: Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill: De La Salle Order Briefing, 19 September 2012] "claims arising out of Kircubbin boys' home..."
6. McDonald, Henry. (14 January 2014). "Sisters of Nazareth become second Catholic order to admit to child abuse". The Guardian.
7. [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/rubane-house-like-hell-upon-earth-for-69yearold-branded-a-liar-for-reporting-his-abuse-as-boy-30643584.html "Rubane House 'like Hell upon Earth' for 69-year-old branded a liar for reporting his abuse as boy"], belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 9 October 2014.
8. (29 May 2013). "Echlinville Distillery – Irish Whiskey News". Whisky Intelligence.
9. "Northern Amateur Football League :: Kircubbin F.C.".
10. "County Antrim & District Football Association".
11. (2015-01-05). "Amateur League results".