at around 12:24am, a car bombing occurred near Palace Barracks, a British Army barracks on the edge of Holywood's town centre. An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack. Demography As of the 2011 United Kingdom Census on 27 March, there were 11,257 people living in Holywood. Of these: 18.29% were under 16 years of age and 18.79% were 65 or older 48.99% were male and 51.01% were female 62.25% were from a Protestant or other Christian background and 23.11% were from a Catholic Christian background. 3.39% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed. Places of interest Holywood is famous for its maypole at the crossroads in the centre of town. Its origin is uncertain, but, according to local folklore, it dates from 1700, when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew erected the broken mast to show their appreciation of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk. It was severely damaged in high winds in February 2021 and had to be replaced. Nearly as famous, is the adjacent Maypole Bar, locally known as Ned's. There is a Norman motte in the town which may have been constructed on an earlier burial mound. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum illustrating the way of life and traditions of the people of Ulster is nearby, at Cultra. Transport On 2 August 1848, the first leg of the Belfast and County Down Railway, or BCDR, was opened from Belfast to Holywood. The Holywood railway station opened simultaneously. The railway line was extended via the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (BHBR) to Bangor, and the extension opened on 1 May 1865. The BCDR acquired the BHBR in 1884. Holywood station was closed for goods traffic on 24 April 1950. Wildlife Records of the marine algae include: Polysiphonia elongata, Laurencia obtusa, Chondria dasyphylla, Pterothamnion plumula, Rhodophyllis divaricate, and Coccotylus truncates. Industry The Crosslé Car Company, a manufacturer of racing cars is based in Holywood. Education The town contains the following schools: Holywood Primary School, Holywood Nursery School, Holywood Rudolf Steiner School, Priory Integrated College, Rockport School, St. Patrick's Primary School, and Sullivan Preparatory School and Sullivan Upper School. Sport Holywood is home to Formula One driver, Eddie Irvine and