Annalong

Annalong () is a seaside village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, south of Newcastle. Annalong is in the civil parish of Kilkeel, the barony of Mourne, and the Newry and Mourne District Council area. It had a population of 2,037 at the 2021 census. The village formerly exported dressed granite and is now a fishing and holiday resort.

==History== In the census report of 1659, Annalong is referred to as a 'quarter' - a sub-division of a townland - in this case Moneydarraghmore. Like practically every locality in Mourne, the name derives from the Irish Celtic (Gaelic) - Ath na Long. This means 'the ford of the ships' - a reference to some crossing on the river near where it enters the harbour. It likely relates to around a thousand years ago when the Viking longships found some shelter at the mouth of the river. There is no material evidence of the Vikings ever having settled here. However, there are some words in the local dialect which would appear to suggest Norse influence, such as; 'selk', the local name for the common seal; to 'set allow' is to set on fire; to 'hain' is to eke out; 'holm' refers to low-lying land close to the river.