Holywood —County Down

While Holywood may be well known for its fashionable shops, boutiques, arts and crafts, the town is also famous for its Maypole at the crossroads. Local folklore dates the Maypole back to 1700 when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew erected the broken mast as a show of appreciation for the assistance offered by the townsfolk. The Maypole is still used for dancing at the annual May Day fair.