| Bessbrook | |
|---|---|
 Bessbrook from the east, with the Craigmore Viaduct in the foreground | |
  Location within Northern Ireland | |
| Population | 2,892 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | J048287 |
| • Belfast | 39 miles (63 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWRY |
| Postcode district | BT35 |
| Dialling code | 028, +44 28 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
Bessbrook (Irish: An Sruthán[1]) is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles (5 km) northwest of Newry and near the Newry bypass on the main A1 Belfast-Dublin road and Belfast-Dublin railway line. Today the village of Bessbrook straddles the three townlands of Maghernahely, Clogharevan and Maytown. Bessbrook is near Newry railway station. It had a population of 2,892 at the 2021 Census.[2] The model village of Bessbrook, County Armagh is a visible memorial to the commercial endeavours of the Richardson family over a number of generations.[3]
During the late 20th century some of the worst violence of "the Troubles" took place near the village and it became a military zone with a large garrison. The small village became the busiest (military) heliport in Europe.
- ^ a b Bessbrook/An Sruthán, Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
2021 popwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Harrison, Richard (2008). The Richardsons of Bessbrook. Dublin: Original Writing Ltd. pp. 13–18. ISBN 978-1906018832.