PORTRUSH - HISTORY
Portrush began as just a small fishing village near the remains of a Norman Castle and a medieval abbey and was a site sheltered geographically by the protective peninsula of Ramore Head. It was protected from both westerly and easterly gales and was a natural location for a growing fishing industry. However, the real development of the town of Portrush followed the arrival of the railways in the 19th century and a period of rapid industrialisation.
Long elegant terraces of Georgian style houses reach out towards Ramore Head. Some quirky buildings such as the mock-Tudor railway station and the fairytale-castle-like Town Hall with its round tower give Portrush a charming eccentric character. At the beginning of the 20th century, passenger steamers regularly travelled back and forth between Portrush harbour and Scotland and today cruiseships visit regularly during the summer months.
PORTRUSH - TODAY
Currently, with a resident population of around 6,500, Portrush is a sleepy seaside haven during winter and a beaming centre of activity from spring to autumn. The town enjoys panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and on bright, clear days views of Scotland may be glimpsed in the distance. Just north of Portrush, lying low in the Atlantic Ocean are the Skerries, a chain of small islands formed from cooled volcanic lava which are home to a large population of breeding seabirds. Geological evidence from the Skerries was crucial to prove the theory that basalt is formed from cooled volcanic lava. The Skerries along with the Giant's Causeway and a lot of the North Coast is an area rich in fossils, too.
With all the amenities demanded of a popular holiday resort, Portrush's beaches, West Bay, East Strand and Whiterocks are among the finest in Ireland for surfing and watersports and have enjoyed prestigious European Blue Flag status. Portrush also has a growing variety of restaurants, gastro pubs and cafes all adding their own flavours to the area.
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