Location and local Information

Holywood (Ard Mhic Nasca in Irish) is a town in County Down , Northern Ireland , on the shores of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor . It had a population of 12,037 according to the 2001 Census.

Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual Jazz and Blues Festival.
Although it is pronounced in the same way, Holywood is not to be confused with Hollywood , the home of the US movie industry; Holywood was named Sanctus Boscus ("Holy Wood") by the Normans after the woodland surrounding a monastery founded by St. Laiseran before 640.

Holywood is famous for its Maypole at the crossroads in the centre of town. Its origin is uncertain, but according to local folklore it dates from 1700, when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew erected the broken mast to show their appreciation of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk. The Maypole is still used for dancing at the annual May Day fair. Over the years,many of the girls who attended Holywood Primary School have had the opportunity to do just that!

Sophia Rosamond Praeger was the younger sister of the naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger (q.v.), and was born in Holywood and educated at Sullivan Upper School, the Belfast School of Art and the Slade School of Art in London. She also studied art in Paris. She wrote and illustrated children's books, but is best known for her sculpture. The Philosopher (which was shown at the Royal Academy) is now in Colorado Springs, U.S.A. Among many other works, her well-loved 'Johnny The Jig' is to be seen in Holywood (between the Maypole and the Priory).Beside this sculpture is a lovely playpark that many children from our school and neighbouring schools enjoy visiting.