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Hoping that the the posters for A Sacred Cantata at the parish church might help us to date this photograph of Greencastle Street in Kilkeel, Co. Down! When I really squint, I'm getting Wednesday Aug 14 1907?? See what you all think. Failing that, the sign for Hanneford's Canadian Circus should be of use.
NLI Ref.: L_CAB_01936
The Ballyvea Flute Band parading at Kilkeel
1834 survey map of Kilkeel
Photo by Photographer: Probably Robert French of Lawrence Photographic Studios, Dublin National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Destinations
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EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland

Kilkeel

Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe

About Kilkeel

Kilkeel is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Annalong, 18km from Tollymore Forest Park.

Kilkeel is a town located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. With a population of 6,447, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Kilkeel sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Kilkeel to your route.

About Kilkeel

Kilkeel (from Irish Cill Chaoil, meaning 'church of the narrow') is a small town and civil parish on the Irish Sea coast of County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast, and its harbour is home to the largest fishing fleet in Northern Ireland. It had a population of 6,633 people at the

Read more 2021 census. The town contains the ruins of a 14th-century church and fort, winding streets and terraced shops. It lies just south of the Mourne Mountains, in the historic barony of Mourne, and is the southernmost town in Northern Ireland.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Kilkeel

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Kilkeel?

Kilkeel offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Kilkeel?

Plan your road trip to Kilkeel with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Kilkeel as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Kilkeel located?

Kilkeel is located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.0620 latitude, -6.0031 longitude.

What is the population of Kilkeel?

Kilkeel has a population of approximately 6,447 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
6,447
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Northern Ireland
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
54.0620, -6.0031

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern IrelandTown

Worth the detour from Kilkeel

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

scenic viewpoint

Mourne Mountains

Granite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.

11 km · about 20 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Slieve Donard and the Mourne Wall

Northern Ireland's highest peak at 850m, with the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall running over its summit.

14 km · about 25 min drive

national park

Tollymore Forest Park

Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.

18 km · about 20 min drive

film location

Castle Ward (Winterfell)

The farmyard at Castle Ward on Strangford Lough was Winterfell's courtyard in season one; archery and banquet experiences run on site.

44 km · about 50 min drive

ancient ruins

Newgrange

A 5,200-year-old passage tomb in Ireland's Boyne Valley, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, famous for its winter solstice illumination of the inner chamber.

51 km · about 60 min drive

ancient ruins

Knowth

A great passage tomb in the Boyne Valley ringed by kerbstones carrying the largest collection of megalithic art in Europe.

51 km · about 60 min drive

natural wonder

Lough Neagh

The largest freshwater lake in the British Isles at 392 square kilometres, with a famous eel fishery.

54 km · about 65 min drive

historic highway

Dundrod Circuit

A 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.

58 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Kilkeel

9 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.

  • Right hereMourne MountainsGranite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
  • Right hereSlieve Donard and the Mourne WallNorthern Ireland's highest peak at 850m, with the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall running over its summit.
  • 58 kmDundrod CircuitA 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
  • 63 kmCraigantlet HillclimbA hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
  • 77 kmHowth Cliff WalkA looped cliff path around Howth Head with views to Ireland's Eye and the Wicklow mountains, easily reached from Dublin.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Kilkeel.

Warrenpoint

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

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Castlewellan

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22 km awayPop. 2,499

Newry

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25 km awayPop. 27,757

Blackrock

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26 km awayPop. 5,000

Dundalk

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28 km awayPop. 39,004

Ardglass

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34 km awayPop. 1,676

Downpatrick

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35 km awayPop. 10,507

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence