The Rocket Tower, situated at Cowden's yard on the Kilkeel side of Annalong, is a listed building. Despite being derelict, it is believed to be the only rocket station remaining in Ireland. The tower housed the pigeons, which were used as couriers between the Coastguard stations, and the garage housed a rocket launcher that fired ropes to boats that ran aground during the smuggling in the 18th–19th centuries. Annalong Mural Project is a mural painted by pupils from Annalong Primary School and St. Mary's Glasdrumman depicting the area of the Mournes on Main Street. It was created in a cross-community effort between the two schools. Notable People Francis Rawdon Chesney (1789–1872), Army general; Chesney was born in Annalong. At age 25, he was honoured for saving the lives of several local fishermen who were caught in a storm. He was a British soldier, an explorer in Asia ,and was able to demonstrate that the Suez Canal was a feasible project, bringing about its eventual construction. He also proved that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were navigable, advocating the adoption of a route to India via the Euphrates. Elizabeth Shane (1877–1951), a poet, lived her last years at Glassdrummond House near Annalong. Demography 2011 Census On census day (27 March 2011) there were 1,805 people living in Annalong. Of those: 20.8% were aged under 16 years and 15.8% were aged 5 and over; The average age was 38 years (Northern Ireland average 37.6); 50.1% of the population were male and 49.9% were female; 29.8% were from a Catholic background, and 64% were from a Protestant background; 5.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed; 21.4% of the population had no access to a car or van. 2001 Census Annalong is classified by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) as a village (i.e. it has a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,778 people living in Annalong. Of these: 23.8% were aged under 16 and 19.1% were aged 60 and over; the average age was 36.2 years (Northern Ireland average age 35.8 years); 50.1% of the population were male and 49.9% were female; 25.9% were from a Catholic background, and 71.8% were from a Protestant background; 3.1% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed. 7.5% of the local population had access to a car or van. Religion Annalong Presbyterian Church is situated on the