Ballycopeland Windmill

This is a really evocative image from my childhood. We had a caravan on the Co. Down coast and spent long summers, weekends etc there for many years. This iconic windmill sits beside the road just 6 miles from the caravan and as children we got very excited when we saw it because it meant we would soon arrive at what we regarded as paradise!
The windmill dates from the later half of the 18th century and was fully operational until 1915, after which it fell into decay. In 1935 it was bought by the N. I. government and extensively renovated and began working again in 1978. At one point in history there were over one hundred at one point in County Down alone. However, most are in ruins. Ballycopeland is thought to be the only operating windmill in Ireland today.