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Ballygowan

Ballygowan
  • Irish: Baile Mhic Gabhann
Church Hill, Ballygowan, August 2010 (01).JPG
Ballygowan is located in County Down
Ballygowan
Ballygowan
Ballygowan shown within County Down
Population 2,957 (2011 Census)
District
County
Country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEWTOWNARDS
Postcode district BT23
Dialling code 028
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
Website http://www.ballygowan.org.uk/
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Down
54°30′N 5°48′W / 54.5°N 5.8°W / 54.5; -5.8Coordinates: 54°30′N 5°48′W / 54.5°N 5.8°W / 54.5; -5.8

Ballygowan (from Irish Baile Mhic Gabhann, meaning 'MacGabhann's town') is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Borough of Ards. The town of Comber is a short distance to the north-east, the town of Saintfield to the south, and the city of Belfast a further distance to the north-west. It is situated in the townland of the same name, the civil parishes of Killinchy and Comber and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower. Ballygowan is a busy commuter bypass and is said to border the 'Greater Belfast City District' providing excellent travelling distance to Belfast City Centre. Ballygowan is said to one of the most wealthy districts of County Down (based on household income), similar to that of North Down (Northern Ireland's most affluent borough). It had a population of 2,957 people in the 2011 Census.

Prior to the Ulster-Scots settlement in the early 17th century, when a great number of Presbyterians moved over from the Scottish Lowlands to settle in North Down on lands granted by King James I to James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, the area surrounding Ballygowan was sparsely inhabited by subsepts of the great 'Neill clan of Castlereagh. Since the late 17th century the population has been predominantly Presbyterian.


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