Portrush - Places of Interest

Places of Interest

• Attractions in the town include Portrush Countryside Centre "The coastal zone"; the Dunluce Centre and Waterworld swimming complex. Also on the edge of town are the links of the Royal Portrush Golf Club, which hosted the 1951 British Open golf championship, and Ballyreagh Golf Course. At the 1951 British Open golf championship young starlet Derek McLachlan won the hearts of the local crowd, the young man led on the third day by 3 strokes, only to drive out of bounds twice on the last day and finish tied for 8th place.
• There are two long sandy beaches in the town, known as the West and East Strand. White Rocks and Curran Strand stretch on from the East Strand and are backed by dunes. The coast continues past Dunluce Castle to the Giant's Causeway (it was once possible to travel to these attractions from Portrush on the Giant's Causeway Tramway). A 13 ft high bronze sculpture, inspired by the sails of local traditional boats, is located at East Strand (’To the People of the Sea’ by Cork-based sculptor Holger Lönze).
• The White House department store is a well known icon for many visitors. It has been on site for over one hundred and twenty years.
• Portrush is home to one of Northern Ireland's best known nightclubs. The Kelly's complex consists of a multitude of bars and clubs and is Northern Ireland's largest nightclub complex. It includes the nightclub Lush! which attracts many of the world's top DJs and hosts BBC Radio 1 events.
• Portrush is also home to Barry's Amusements, the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland. Actor James Nesbitt once worked in Barry's.
• The Skerries, a collection of rocks located just off the coast, are an important habitat for several species, some unique to Northern Ireland.