Holyhead
 |
A panoramic view of Holyhead taken from atop Holyhead Mountain, showing the harbour's breakwater on the left |
Holyhead's maritime importance was at its paramount in the
19th century when the two and a half mile (4 km)
breakwater, widely acknowledged to be one of Britain's finest, was built, creating a safe harbour for vessels caught in stormy waters on their way to
Liverpool and the industrial ports of
Lancashire. Holyhead's sea heritage is remembered in a maritime museum.
Today, Holyhead's main industry is
aluminium-based, with
Rio Tinto Group's
Anglesey Aluminium subsidiary operating a massive aluminium smelter on the outskirts of the town. There is also a plant that refines
bauxite near the site. A large jetty in the harbour receives ships from
Jamaica and
Australia, and their cargo of bauxite and
aluminium ores are transported on a conveyor belt that runs underneath the town to the plants.
Holyhead is the start and finish point of the
Anglesey Coastal Path.
Holyhead is also the home of
linguist David Crystal, who chairs the charity behind Holyhead's
arts centre, the
Ucheldre Centre, which is located in the chapel of an old convent belonging to the
order of the
Bon Sauveur.
Holyhead hosted the
National Eisteddfod in
1927.
*
Artist Francis Dodd was born in the town in
1874*Comedienne
Dawn French was born in the town in
1957.
*
Welsh international football player
Tony Roberts was born in the town in
1969.
The town's main
football team is called
Holyhead Hotspur and they play in the
Cymru-Alliance league [
1], with their reserves playing in the
Gwynedd League. There is also
Holyhead Gwelfor Athletic who play in the
Anglesey League.
*
Encyclopedia HolyheadYeah from Caergybi.com, an often humorous collection of local knowledge*
Sealink-Holyhead.com, a guide to the history of the sea route between Holyhead and Ireland*
Holyhead page of the Wales2000 Network*
Stena Line*
Irish Ferries*
Holyhead Hotspur FC
