CASTLEREAGH

Irish An Caislen Riabhach district, Northern Ireland, located directly southeast of Belfast, from where it is administered. Formerly astride Down and Antrim counties, in 1973 Castlereagh was established as a district covering 33 sq mi (84 sq km) of rolling lowlands bordering the districts of Lisburn to the southwest, North Down to the north, Ards to the east, and Down to the south. What is now Castlereagh district was settled in the 14th century by the O'Neill clan of Ulster, whose main stronghold was Grey Castle (no longer extant) from which the district takes its name. Composed largely of post-World War II residential developments and having substantial agricultural land, Castlereagh is closely linked to eastern Belfast, where many of its residents are employed in shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and related industries. There is an industrial park at the planned suburb of Newtownbreda. Castlereagh district is traversed by several roads extending southeast from Belfast. Pop. (1981) 60,757.