Ards Peninsula, County down, Northern Ireland

The Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea, on Ireland's northeast coast. At the narrowest point, only 13 miles of sea separate the Ards Peninsula and Scotland. Newtownards is situated at the northern end of the peninsula and Portaferry is at the southern end.

The peninsula was conquered by the Normans in the 12th century, with the Norman family Savage building a number of castles, and priories on the peninsula. Towns and villages of the Ards Peninsula include Newtownards, Portaferry, Ballyhalbert, Ballywalter, Carrowdore, Cloghy, Greyabbey, Kircubbin, and Portavogie.

 
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Bits & Bobs - Birth, Marriage & Death Info From Other Families in the Ards
Map of R. Johnston Estate, Kirkistown and Ratallagh, Co. Down, 1791.
Map of R. Johnston Estate, Kirkistown and Ratallagh, Co. Down, 1791.

This map of the Johnston estate at Kirkistown and Ratallagh includes a list of tenants and rents on the bottom right corner.

Map of Parishes in the Ards
Map of Parishes in the Ards
Ards Peninsula
1911 Irish Census Project
Adkeen Rath + Old Church on Castle Hill
Adkeen Rath + Old Church on Castle Hill

On a hill projecting as a peninsula into Strangford Lough, in the townland and parish of Ardkeen, stands the old motte and later castle of the Savage family. The church yard and building on the south slope probably dates from the late thirteenth century.

1762 - 1870 Church Wardens, Christ Church, Ardkeen Diocese of Down, Church of Ireland
1762 - 1870 Church Wardens, Christ Church, Ardkeen Diocese of Down, Church of Ireland

Excerpt from pages 107-111 of the book Diary of a Country Parish: Christ Church - Ardkeen Diocese of Down by Rev. Cannon Frank W.A. Bell, M.A., B.D., circa 2001.

Description of County Down Prior to Scots Settlement Quoted from Two Centuries of Life in Down 1600-1800 by John Stevenson, 1920.
Description of County Down Prior to Scots Settlement Quoted from Two Centuries of Life in Down 1600-1800 by John Stevenson, 1920.

Published in 1920, John Stevenson's Two Centuries of Life in Down 1600-1800 is a detailed description of local history and life in County Down. I've extracted a description of Down prior to the Scots settlelement found on pages 20-25.

Rent Roll of the Clanbrassil Estate, County Down, 1681

This is not the complete list although I believe I have extracted all the renters from the Ards.

Irish Famine + Ardkeen Relief Committee, 1847
Irish Famine + Ardkeen Relief Committee, 1847

The following images are excerpts from the Famine Relief Commission Papers, 1845-1847, (RFLC3/2, Incoming Letters: Baronial Sub-series) which document the subscribers to the Ardkeen Soup Kitchen on March 27, 1847. You will note many local family names including McMaster, Young, McCormick, Coulter, Echlin, Donan, Bailie and Savage.