Hillsborough, County Down
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Hillsborough (Cromghlinn in Irish) is a small, pretty and historical Georgian village situated only 19 km (12 miles) from the capital city of Belfast.
Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of the Queen (and other royal family members) when visiting the province and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The village is also the site of local Government and council offices. Hillsborough Castle was the venue for the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. Prime Minister Tony Blair has stayed at the castle on many occasions during negotiations related to the peace process.
There are many interesting walks and local pubs offering delicacies to enjoy; and is home to a public forest park and lake that form the picturesque setting for the original fort residence of Lord Hillsborough. Hillsborough village hosts an International Oyster Festival, generally every September, attracting thousands of visitors from many countries (as far away as Japan, Russia, US and Argentina) to partake in the competitions festivities; these include boat racing, parachuting, garden fêtes, oyster eating and Guinness drinking – all in the name of fun, revelry and charity.
Hillsborough is also (in somewhat exaggerated terms) said to be the birthplace of the United States - due to a disastrous meeting that took place between Benjamin Franklin and Lord Hillsborough (then the acting Secretary of State for the Colonies) in the early 1770s. They are reported to have hated each other at first sight and, on leaving 3 days into a week long visit, Franklin returned home to convince the dissident colonists he represented that there was no alternative but to initiate immediate revolution. The 'Declaration of Independence' in July 1776 followed shortly from Franklin's return.
External links
- Lisburn.com (http://www.lisburn.com/)
- Irish art gallery based in Hillsborough (http://www.whiteimage.com)
- See also: List of towns in Northern Ireland