Andreas is in the north of the island, 5 km from Ramsey.
Andreas village in the parish of Andreas, lies at an altitude of about 20 metres, in the centre of the island’s northern plain. This parish takes in part of the sandy lands known as the Curragh, and to the north contains low, rounded hills, including the Ayres National Nature Reserve.
It is in the sheading of Ayre and the Keys constituency of Ayre & Michael; the local MHK’s are Alfred Cannan, Chief Minister and Tim Johnson, Minister for Department of Enterprise
The Isle of Man census of 2021 showed the parish population to be 1400.
The Parish of Andreas currently has four Commissioners who are responsible for the play park and sports field, public toilets, street lighting and refuse collection amongst other things. A full list of their functions can be found here:- Isle of Man Government – Local authorities.
Both the village and the parish take their name from Saint Andrew.
St Andrew’s Church (Kirk Andreas), was most likely built on the site of a much older early Christian keeill (small chapel). Evidence for human habitation of the area stretches back to pre-Christian era, an example of this being the Bronze Age Ballavarry Burial Mound which can be found a short distance outside of the village on the A17. Several medieval Manx carved stone crosses with slabs have been discovered in the vicinity of the parish church and eleven slabs are now on display in the Church. There are also 23 military graves within the Church graveyard from WWII.
A 120-foot bell tower was built in 1869, but reduced in height during World War II. The bell tower has never been restored to its original height.
Also in the parish is St Jude’s Chapel, built in 1869 in a Romanesque style with a square tower. In March 2005 the Friends of St Jude’s took over the upkeep of the chapel and successfully campaigned against its demolition. It is now used for occasional services including weddings, funerals and christenings.
There is an original RAF airfield just east of the village. During the war the Royal Air Force Station Andreas was home to several squadrons, including 457 and 452 squadrons RAAF, 93 Squadron RAF, an Air Sea Rescue Squadron and No.11 Air Gunnery School. The airfield operated from 1941 to 1946, and had three runways. Nowadays it is used for agriculture, light aircraft activity, including gliding, and is the base for a number of small businesses. There were also a number of military campsites dotted around the village, where many of the residential estates have now been built.
The village has one school, Andreas Primary, which takes children from ages 4 to 11. It was originally built in 1903, with the current building dating primarily from 1977. After year six, pupils generally attend either Ramsey Grammar School or Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel. The school logo features a cross based on Viking cross-slabs in the village church, a Viking ship based on a local ship burial at Knock-e-Dooney and the Manx Arms.
The Parish Hall, built in 1939, is a former RAF building used for a gym and a place of worship. Nowadays the Parish commissioners meet there on a monthly basis in the private meeting room.
Due to it’s size, the Hall is also a popular venue for a variety of events such as exhibitions, indoor bowls, and birthday or anniversary parties.
There is one pub in the village, the Grosvenor, run by a local family which is a free-house serving food daily.
Ayre United Football Club are based in the village. Founded in 1967, they compete in the Isle of Man Football League and play their home games at Andreas Playing Fields where they have a clubhouse. They were the first club on the island to install floodlights and won the Manx FA Cup in the 2002-3 season.
Previously the parish was primarily based around agriculture. Nowadays many inhabitants commute daily to towns and villages around the Island.