Editing Downpatrick (section)

== Sport and clubs ==

=== Gaelic games ===
Downpatrick is home to [[Russell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick]]. The Russell Gaelic Union was formed by an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman: Willie King, Alex McDowell, and Willie Byrne, respectively, in the county town in the early 20th century.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} The team traditionally wears green and white hoops. Downpatrick has had mixed fortunes over the years but has still managed to produce excellent county footballers such as [[Ray McConville]], Conor Deegan, and Barry Breen, all of whom won All-Irelands with Down. The club was named in honour of [[Society of United Irishmen|United Irishman]], [[Thomas Russell (rebel)|Thomas Russell]] .

Downpatrick has had a successful [[Gaelic handball|handball]] club since the 1980s when local teacher Martin Murphy established a team. After a number of years it was incorporated into the RGU family.

=== Cricket ===
[[Downpatrick Cricket Club]] has won the [[Irish Senior Cup (cricket)|Irish Senior Cup]] on two occasions, the [[NCU Senior League]] on six occasions and the [[NCU Challenge Cup]] on six occasions. The club's [[Strangford Road]] ground has hosted [[Ireland cricket team|Ireland]] international matches, most recently against [[Australia cricket team|Australia "A"]] and [[South Africa cricket team|South Africa]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland Statistics |url=http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/irehome.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001190259/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/irehome.htm |archive-date=1 October 2012 |access-date=2 October 2012 |publisher=Cricketeurope4.net}}</ref>

===Rugby union===
The community of Downpatrick also features two [[Rugby union|Rugby Clubs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.activdownpatrick.com/community/Content/DownpatrickSportsClubs-644.html |title=Downpatrick Sports clubs¦ Downpatrick Clubs ¦ Clubs in Downpatrick |publisher=Activdownpatrick.com |access-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910103249/http://www.activdownpatrick.com/community/Content/DownpatrickSportsClubs-644.html |archive-date=10 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> These clubs are Ballynahinch Rugby Football<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinchrfc.com |title=Ballynahinch Rugby Football Club |publisher=www.hinchrfc.com |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805075313/http://hinchrfc.com/ |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Dromore Rugby Football.

===Association football===
Downpatrick's most prominent team is [[Celtic Bhoys]] which competes in the [[Newcastle Premier district League]] The Bhoys are current Premier Division and Division 2 Champions for Season 2018/2019. There are other clubs associated with the town, and others from surrounding areas. These include Ballynagross F.C<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballynagrossfc.com/ |title=Ballynagross Football Club |publisher=Ballynagrossfc.com |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-date=30 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730211533/http://www.ballynagrossfc.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rossglass County F.C<ref>{{cite web |author=Rossglass County |url=http://www.rossglasscounty.net |title=Home |publisher=Rossglasscounty.net |access-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114220810/http://www.rossglasscounty.net/ |archive-date=14 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

There are also many youth teams such as the Celtic Bhoys, Ballynagross, Rossglass and Coney Island  who along with many other teams in the area, participate in the Downpatrick Youth
League. Most famous football side out of Downpatrick were [[Downpatrick Recreation F.C.|Downpatrick Rec.]] who won the Steel & Sons Cup in 1978. Downpatrick is home to one of the biggest Northern Irish branches of the [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] Supporters' Club, the ''Downpatrick Manchester United Supporters' Club'', which was founded in 1993.

===Snooker and billiards===
Downpatrick is also the home of the Downpatrick & District Snooker & Billiard League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downpatrickdistrict-snookerbilliards.com |title=Downpatrickdistrict-Snookerbilliards.com |publisher=Downpatrickdistrict-Snookerbilliards.com |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920025530/http://www.downpatrickdistrict-snookerbilliards.com/ |archive-date=20 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many of the local towns compete in the leagues. Teams from Downpatrick, [[Newcastle, County Down|Newcastle]], [[Ballynahinch, County Down|Ballynahinch]], [[Crossgar]], [[Drumaness]], [[Ballykinler]], [[Castlewellan]], [[Newtownards]] and Ballyalton play in the local district.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
The league currently has the [[Northern Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association]] Billiard Champion Darren Dornan playing in the league.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

===Bowls===
Downpatrick Bowling Club is situated on the Old Belfast road, Downpatrick. Having been established since the early 1950s it is only over the last several years that they have finally enjoyed a sustained period of success. The club won the Irish Bowling Association Junior Cup for the first time in their history in 2006. The following year they once again reached the final only to be beaten by Cookstown in a close encounter. However the club once again regained the Irish Cup in 2011, with a resounding victory against Kilrea. In 2011 Downpatrick also won the PGL Midweek Division 2 title.

===Other sports===
Downpatrick Golf Club<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downpatrickgolfclub.org.uk/ |title=Welcome to |publisher=Downpatrick Golf Club |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403081952/http://www.downpatrickgolfclub.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> has its own club grounds. The town also has its own tennis club, Downpatrick Tennis Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downpatricktennisclub.co.uk/ |title=Downpatrick Tennis Club |publisher=Downpatrick Tennis Club |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301092331/http://www.downpatricktennisclub.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Downpatrick has several other clubs that use the facilities of the Down Leisure Centre (run by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council) such as the Lecale Amateur Swimming Club, the Downpatrick School of Lifesaving and the East Down Athletics Club.
Downpatrick Golf Club is now known as St Patrick's Golf Club.