Bangor, County Down#Ballyholme Bay

The name Bangor comes from {{langx|ga|Beannchar}}, from {{langx|mga|Beannchor}} and {{langx|sga|Bennchor}}. This is thought to mean 'place of points' or 'horned curve', referring to the shoreline of Bangor Bay.{{cite web |title=Bangor, Co Down |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info/?data_id=dataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22643 |website=Placenames NI}} The Old Irish tale, Táin Bó Fraích, gives a fanciful explanation for the name. It tells how the Connacht warrior Fráech and the Ulster warrior Conall Cernach were returning to Ireland from the Alps with Fráech's cattle. When they came to shore at what is now Bangor Bay, the cattle shed their horns, thus giving rise to the name Trácht mBennchoir, "the strand of the horn-casting".

Bangor Bay was originally called Inber Beg (Inver Beg), 'the little inlet or rivermouth', after the now-culverted stream which ran past the abbey.{{cite book |title=Bangor Abbey Through Fifteen Centuries |date=1958 |location=Bangor |publisher=Friends of Bangor Abbey |author=Canon James Hamilton M.A. |isbn=0-9511562-3-3 }} It was also recorded as Inber Bece.p. 457, Hogan, Edmund, Onamasticon Goedelicum, Williams & Norgate, 1910, reprinted, Four Courts, 2000, {{ISBN|1-85182-126-0}} The area was also known as 'The Vale of Angels', as Saint Patrick is said to have once rested there and had a vision of angels.{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia |id=02250a |title=Bangor Abbey |author=Edward d'Alton |year=1907 |access-date=30 April 2010 }}

{{Historical populations|state=collapsed

|1821|2943

|1831|2741

|1841|3116

|1851|2849

|1861|2531

|1871|2560

|1881|3006

|1891|3834

|1901|5903

|1911|7776

|1926|13311

|1937|15769

|1951|20610

|1961|23862

|1966|26921

|1971|35260

|1981|46585

|1991|52437

|2001|58388

|2011|61011

|2021|64596

|footnote={{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=4840&lh=69&yn=2001&sk=135&sn=Census%202001&yearfilter=2001 | title = Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) – Table view | page = 2 | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 15 August 2019 | archive-date = 23 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210923152256/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/Home.aspx | url-status = live }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/|url-status=dead|title=HISTPOP.ORG – Home|archive-date=7 May 2016|website=histpop.org}}1813 estimate from Mason's Statistical SurveyFor a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see J. J. Lee "On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, in and also New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850 by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (November 1984), pp. 473-88{{cite web |url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/general/9915.pdf |title=NI Assembly: Key Statistics for Settlements, Census 2011 NIAR 404-15 |website=niassembly.gov.uk |date=1 October 2015 |access-date=10 August 2017 |archive-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403212608/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/general/9915.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

Bangor has a long and varied history, from the Bronze Age people whose swords were discovered in 1949 or the Viking burial found on Ballyholme beach, to the Victorian pleasure seekers who travelled on the new railway from Belfast to take in the sea air. The city has been the site of a Gaelic Irish monastery renowned throughout Europe for its learning and scholarship, the victim of violent Viking raids in the 8th and 9th centuries, and the new home of Scottish and English planters during the Plantation of Ulster.{{cite web|url= https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/caribbean/Designed%20establishment.pdf |title="Designed establishment in delightful country": planting, a plantation, The Plantation |page=5|publisher=Lancaster University as part of a conference entitled 'Scotland and the 400th anniversary of the Plantation of Ulster: Plantations in Context'.|year=2010}}

{{Main|Bangor Abbey}}

File:Hereford Mappa Mundi detail Britain.jpg]]

The Annals of Ulster says that the monastery of Bangor was founded by Saint Comgall from Antrim in the year 555,{{cite web|url=http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100001A/text125.html|title=Eclesia Bennchuir fundata est.|publisher=University College Cork|access-date=30 April 2010|archive-date=30 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630075958/http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100001A/text125.html|url-status=live}} while other annals give the year as 558.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywWg9cYAizUC&pg=PA55|title=Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban. II · |volume=2|page=55|first=William Forbes |last=Skene|year=1877|publisher=Edmonston & Douglas}} It was where the Antiphonary of Bangor (Antiphonarium Benchorense) was written, a copy of which can be seen in the town's heritage centre. The monastery had such widespread influence that the city is one of only four places in Ireland to be named in the Hereford Mappa Mundi in 1300. The monastery, situated roughly where the Church of Ireland Bangor Abbey stands at the head of the city, became a centre of great learning and was among the most eminent of Europe's missionary institutions in the Early Middle Ages.

At Bangor, Comgall instituted a rigid monastic rule of incessant prayer and fasting. Far from turning people away, this ascetic rule attracted thousands. When Comgall died in 602, the annals report that three thousand monks looked to him for guidance. Named Bennchor Mór, "the great Bangor", to distinguish it from its British contemporaries, it became the greatest monastic school in Ulster as well as one of the three leading monasteries of Celtic Christianity. The others were Iona, the great missionary centre founded by Columba, and Bangor on the Dee, founded by Dinooth; the ancient Welsh Triads also confirm the "Perpetual Harmonies" at the house.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzQrDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT205|title=Music in Welsh Culture Before 1650: A Study of the Principal Sources|first= Sally|last= Harper |year=2017|page=185|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781351557269 }}

Throughout the sixth century, Bangor became famous for its choral psalmody. "It was this music which was carried to the continent by the Bangor missionaries in the following century".Hamilton, Rector of Bangor Abbey Divine services of the seven hours of prayer were carried out throughout Bangor's existence, however the monks went further and carried out the practice of laus perennis. In the twelfth century, Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of Comgall and Bangor, stating, "the solemnization of divine offices was kept up by companies, who relieved each other in succession, so that not for one moment day and night was there an intermission of their devotions." This continuous singing was antiphonal in nature, based on the call and response reminiscent of Patrick's vision, but also practised by St. Martin's houses in France. Many of these psalms and hymns were later written down in the Antiphonary of Bangor which came to reside in Colombanus' monastery at Bobbio, Italy.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02249a.htm Ua Clerigh, Arthur. "Antiphonary of Bangor." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 14 April 2015]

In 580, a Bangor monk named Mirin took Christianity to Paisley in the west of Scotland, where he died "full of sanctity and miracles". In 590, the fiery Colombanus, one of Comgall's leaders, set out from Bangor with twelve other brothers, including Saint Gall who planted monasteries throughout Switzerland. In Burgundy, Columbanus established a severe monastic rule at Luxeuil which mirrored that of Bangor. From there he went to Bobbio in Italy and established the house which became one of the largest monasteries in Europe.{{cite encyclopedia|last=Edmonds |first=Columba |title=St. Columbanus |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=4 |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |location=New York |year=1908 |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04137a.htm |access-date=15 January 2013}}

Saint Malachy was elected abbot of the monastery in 1123, a year before being consecrated Bishop of Connor. His extensive travels around Europe inspired him to rejuvenate the monasteries in Ireland, and he replaced the existing wooden huts with stone buildings.{{cite book|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25761/25761-h/25761-h.htm#Page_25 |last= Lawlor|first=H.J.|title=St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh|publisher=The Macmillan Company|location=London|year=1920| page=25}}

File:OldCustomHouse1.jpg

The modern city had its origins in the early 17th century when James Hamilton, a Lowland Scot, arrived in Bangor, having been granted lands in North Down by King James VI and I in 1605. In 1612, King James made Bangor a borough which permitted it to elect two MPs to the Irish Parliament in Dublin.{{cite book|last=Hanna|first=John|title=Old Bangor|year=2003|publisher=Stenlake Publishing|location=Catrine, Ayrshire|isbn=9781840332414|page=3|url=http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=305|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317051836/http://stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=305|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2015}} The Old Custom House, which was completed by Hamilton in 1637 after James I granted Bangor the status of a port in 1620, is a visible reminder of the new order introduced by Hamilton and his Scots settlers.{{cite web|url=https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=6628&js=false|title=The Tower House 34 Quay Street Bangor Co Down (HB 23/05/012)|publisher=Department for Communities|access-date=23 June 2022}}

In 1689 during the Williamite War in Ireland, Marshal Schomberg's expedition landed at Ballyholme Bay and captured Bangor, before going on to besiege Carrickfergus. Schomberg's force went south to Dundalk Camp and were present at the Battle of the Boyne the following year.{{cite web|url=https://www.historicalbelfast.com/post/the-woman-who-took-on-king-billy-and-won|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924214629/https://www.historicalbelfast.com/post/the-woman-who-took-on-king-billy-and-won|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 September 2020|title=The Woman Who Took on King Billy, And Won|date=7 October 2019|publisher=Historical Belfast|access-date=23 June 2022}}

The city was an important source of customs revenue for the Crown and in the 1780s Colonel Robert Ward improved the harbour and promoted the cotton industries; today's seafront was the location of several large steam-powered cotton mills, which employed a large workforce.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bangorhistoricalsocietyni.org/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000027/002741.shtml|title=Bangor's cotton mills; the Chambers Motor Company|publisher=Bangor Historical Society| first=Sandra|last= Millsopp|date=14 November 2019|access-date=23 June 2022}}

The end of the 18th century was a time of great political and social turmoil in Ireland. The United Irishmen, inspired by the American and French Revolutions, sought to achieve a greater degree of independence from Britain. On the morning of 10 June during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a force of United Irishmen, mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the nearby town of Newtownards. They met with musket fire from the market house and were subsequently defeated.{{cite web|url=https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/pdf/AND_Newtownards_Walking_Leaflet.pdf|title=Newtownards Walking Leaflet|publisher=Ards and North Down Borough Council|accessdate=21 April 2020|archive-date=15 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015232416/https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/pdf/AND_Newtownards_Walking_Leaflet.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/opinion/2014/07/26/news/1798-summer-soldiers-recalled--97723/|title=1798 'summer soldiers recalled'|date=26 July 2014|publisher=The Irish News|accessdate=15 November 2020}}

File:Bangor, County Down (13309912775).jpg

By the middle of the 19th century, the cotton mills had declined and the city changed in character once again. The laying of the railway in 1865 meant that inexpensive travel from Belfast was possible, and working-class people could afford for the first time to holiday in the city. Bangor soon became a fashionable resort for Victorian holidaymakers, as well as a desirable home to the wealthy. Many of the houses overlooking Bangor Bay (some of which have been demolished to make way for modern flats) date from this period. The belief in the restorative powers of the sea air meant that the city became a location for sea bathing and marine sports, and the number of visitors from Great Britain increased during the Edwardian era at the beginning of the 20th century, which also saw the improvement of Ward Park.<{{cite web|url=http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Ward-Park-Bangor-P3007 |title=Ward Park|publisher=Discover Northern Ireland|access-date=23 June 2022}}

File:Main Street, Bangor, County Down (16192309618).jpg

The inter-war period of the early 20th century saw the development of the Tonic Cinema, Pickie Pool and Caproni's ballroom. All three were among the foremost of their type in Ireland, although they no longer exist. However, there is a park which replaced Pickie Pool named Pickie Fun Park. A children's paddling pool was created as the original Pickie Pool was demolished due to the rejuvenation of Bangor seafront in the 1980s and early 1990s. Pickie Fun Park closed in early 2011 to be refurbished and modernised. The park, which reopened in March 2012, has an 18-hole maritime themed mini golf course, children's electric cars and splash pads (replacing the old children's paddling pool). Also, the Pickie Puffer steam train has been given an updated route and the swans have a new lagoon.{{cite web|title=Pickie Fun Park, Bangor {{!}} Felix O'hare & Co Ltd|url=http://www.felixohare.co.uk/project/pickie-fun-park-bangor|website=felixohare.co.uk|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209040416/http://www.felixohare.co.uk/project/pickie-fun-park-bangor/|url-status=live}}

File:EisenhowerPierPlaque.jpg

During World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed Allied troops in Bangor, who were departing to take part in the D-Day landings. In 2005, his granddaughter Mary-Jean Eisenhower came to the city to oversee the renaming of the marina's North Pier to the Eisenhower Pier.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/granddaughter-of-ike-eisenhower-leads-bangor-celebrations-28243787.html|title=Granddaughter of Ike Eisenhower leads Bangor celebrations|date=5 July 2008|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=23 June 2022}}

With the growing popularity of inexpensive foreign holidays from the 1960s onwards, Bangor declined as a tourist resort and was forced to rethink its future. The second half of the 20th century saw its role as a dormitory town for Belfast become more important. Its population increased dramatically; from around 14,000 in 1930 it had reached 40,000 by 1971 and 58,000 by the end of the century (the 2001 census showed the population as 76,403).{{cite web|url=https://www.inyourpocket.com/belfast/NI-Facts-and-Figures|title=Northern Ireland Facts and Figures|publisher=In Your Pocket|access-date=23 June 2022}}

The 1970s saw the building of the Springhill Shopping Centre, an out-of-town development near the A2 road to Belfast and Northern Ireland's first purpose-built shopping centre. It has since been demolished to facilitate a modern Tesco supermarket.{{cite web|url=https://excavations.ie/report/2007/Down/0017359/|title=2007: Springhill shopping centre, Carnlea, Bangor, Down|publisher=Excavations.ie| access-date=23 June 2022}}

In the early 1990s, Bloomfield Shopping Centre, another out-of-town development, opened beside Bloomfield Estate. In 2007, a major renovation of the centre began, including the construction of a multistorey car park. The trend towards out-of-town shopping centres was somewhat reversed with the construction of the Flagship Centre around 1990. The Flagship Centre went into administration and was closed in January 2019, it is currently undergoing appraisal for re-development options.{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Sarah|date=31 July 2019|title=Council issues statement over future development of Bangor's Flagship|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/flagship-bangor-undergoing-appraisal-over-16672613|access-date=8 June 2020|website=belfastlive|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923152252/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/flagship-bangor-undergoing-appraisal-over-16672613|url-status=live}}

The former seafront of the city is awaiting redevelopment and has been for over two decades, with a large part of the frontage already demolished, leaving a patch of derelict ground facing onto the marina. A great deal of local controversy surrounds this process and the many plans put forward by the council and developers for the land. In November 2009 it was voted by UTV viewers as Ulster's Biggest Eyesore. A state of the art recycling centre has been built in Balloo Industrial Estate which is supposed to be one of the most advanced in Europe. It opened in the summer of 2008.[http://www.northdown.gov.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828053228/http://www.northdown.gov.uk/|date=28 August 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ceequal.com/awards_053.htm |title=CEEQUAL | Awards | Balloo Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Centre, Bangor |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081951/http://www.ceequal.com/awards_053.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}

In May 2022, it was announced that, as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours, Bangor would be granted city status by Letters Patent.{{Cite news |date=19 May 2022 |title=Platinum Jubilee: Eight towns to be made cities for Platinum Jubilee|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61505857 |access-date=20 May 2022}} It received the status on 2 December 2022,{{Cite news |date=2 December 2022 |title=Bangor receives city status in Princess Anne visit|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-63828321 |access-date=2 December 2022}} becoming Northern Ireland's sixth city, alongside Armagh, Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, and Newry.

Despite escaping much of the sectarian violence during The Troubles, Bangor was the site of some major incidents. During the Troubles there were eight murders in the city including that of the first Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) woman to be murdered on duty; 26-year-old Mildred Harrison was killed by an explosion from a UVF bomb while on foot patrol in the High Street on 16 March 1975.[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/cgi-bin/dyndeaths.pl Malcolm Sutton: An Index of Deaths from the conflict in Ireland], Cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 9 February 2016. On 23 March 1972 the IRA detonated two large car bombs on the town's main street.Sheehy, Kevin. More Questions Than Answers: Reflections on a life in the RUC, G&M, September 2008, p. 20; {{ISBN|978-0-7171-4396-2}}

On 30 March 1974, paramilitaries carried out a major incendiary bomb attack on the main shopping centre in Bangor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/UK-NORTHERN-IRELAND-CONFLICT/e44ce3c9b3111bdea7856539533b8fc6|title=UK NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT | AP Archive|website=aparchive.com|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305104552/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/UK-NORTHERN-IRELAND-CONFLICT/e44ce3c9b3111bdea7856539533b8fc6|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/UK-NORTHERN-IRELAND-CONFLICT/7b18df711a52770a879464c8cfdbad0b|title=UK NORTHERN IRELAND CONFLICT | AP Archive|website=aparchive.com|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305094927/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/UK-NORTHERN-IRELAND-CONFLICT/7b18df711a52770a879464c8cfdbad0b|url-status=live}} On 21 October 1992, an IRA unit from the lower Ormeau exploded a {{convert|200|lb|adj=on}} bomb in Main Street, causing large amounts of damage to nearby buildings.{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch92.htm|title=CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1992|publisher=Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN)|access-date=30 April 2010|archive-date=5 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305015936/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch92.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=CAIN: Peter Heathwood Collection of Television Programmes – Search Page|url=http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/heathwood/static/1992.html|website=cain.ulst.ac.uk|access-date=31 January 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174837/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/heathwood/static/1992.html|url-status=live}}

Main Street sustained more damage on 7 March 1993, when the IRA exploded a {{convert|500|lb|adj=on}} car bomb. Four RUC officers were injured in the explosion; the cost of the damage was later estimated at £2 million, as there was extensive damage to retail premises and Trinity Presbyterian Church, as well as minor damage to the local Church of Ireland Parish Church and First Bangor Presbyterian Church.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/no-warning-for-ira-car-bomb-four-police-officers-seriously-injured-by-second-terrorist-blast-in-seaside-town-in-six-months-1496327.html |title=No warning for IRA car bomb: Four police officers seriously injured by second terrorist blast in seaside town in six months|date=8 March 1993|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=23 June 2022}}

The shield is emblazoned with two ships, which feature the Red Hand of Ulster on their sails, denoting that Bangor is in the province of Ulster. The blue and white stripes on the shield show that Bangor is a seaside city. Supporting the shield are two sea-horses, signifying Bangor's links with the sea. Each is charged with a gold roundel; the left featuring a shamrock to represent Ireland, and the right featuring a bull's head, possibly in reference to the derivation of the city's name. The arms are crested by a haloed St Comgall, founder of the city's abbey, who was an important figure in the spread of Christianity. The motto reads Beannchor, the archaic form of the city's name in Irish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/BangorC5.htm|title=Bangor Civic Week|year= 1951|publisher=Bangor Town Council|access-date=23 June 2022}}

File:BangorCastle2.jpg]]

Bangor is administered by Ards and North Down Borough Council which is based at Bangor Castle.{{cite web|url=https://www.bangorhistoricalsocietyni.org/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000025/002572.shtml|title=Bangor Castle|publisher=Bangor Historical Society|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126185425/https://www.bangorhistoricalsocietyni.org/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000025/002572.shtml|url-status=live}}

Bangor lies on the east coast of Northern Ireland, on the south shore of the mouth of Belfast Lough, north east of central Belfast.

{{Further|Bangor (civil parish)#Townlands}}

Bangor city includes the following townlands:{{cite web |title=Northern Ireland Place-Name Project |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Home/?data_id=dataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A27985}}

• Balloo ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Aodha|Hugh's townland}})
• Ballycroghan ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Cruacháin|townland of the small stack/hill}}){{cite web |author=Karolyn Cooper |title=Ballycroghan |url=https://townlandsofulster.com/2019/10/19/ballycroghan/ |date=19 October 2019 |work=Townlands of Ulster |access-date=11 December 2024}}
• Ballyholme (probably meaning "townland of the river meadow")
• Ballykillare ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Cille Láir|townland of the central church}})
• Ballymaconnell ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Mhic Dhónaill|McConnell's townland}})
• Ballymacormick ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Mhic Cormaic|McCormick's townland}})
• Ballymagee ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Mhic Aodha|Magee's townland}})
• Ballyree ({{Irish derived place name|Baile an Fhraoigh|townland of the heather}})
• Ballyvarnet, historically 'Ballyvernan' ({{Irish derived place name|Baile Bhearnan|townland of the gap}})
• Carnalea ({{Irish derived place name|Carnán Lao|the cairn of the calf}})
• Conlig ({{Irish derived place name|An Choinleac|the hound-stone}}, referring to a standing stone on Runestone Hill)
• Rathgill or Rathgael ({{Irish derived place name|Ráth Giall|fort of the hostages}})

{{redirect|Ballyholme Bay|ships with the name|SS Ballyholme Bay}}

The sea area to the north east of Bangor is Ballyholme Bay, named for the township of Ballyholme in the east of the town. During World War II the bay was used as a base for American troops training for the Normandy Landings.{{cite web |title=Ballyholme Beach and Park |url=https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/ballyholme-beach |website=Visit Ards and North Down |access-date=15 February 2021|archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124015056/https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/ballyholme-beach/ |url-status=live }} Two ships have been named SS Ballyholme Bay. In 1903 a Viking grave was found on the shore at Ballyholme Bay: it contained two bronze brooches, a bowl, a fragment of chain and some textile material.{{cite web |title=Ballyholme |url=https://townlandsofulster.com/2016/06/26/ballyholme/ |website=Townlands of Ulster |access-date=15 February 2021|date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201113722/https://townlandsofulster.com/2016/06/26/ballyholme/ |url-status=live }} It has been said that "Ballyholme Bay is a sheltered bay and studies have suggested that it is one of the best landing places on Belfast Lough and would therefore have made a good location for a Viking base. It is possible that the burial was associated with a Viking settlement in the area."{{cite web |last1=Sikora |first1=Maeve |title=Ballyholme |url=https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/education/viking-knowledge/the-viking-age-geography/the-vikings-in-the-west/ireland/ballyholme |website=Vikingeskibsmuseet i Roskilde |access-date=15 February 2021|archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127103537/https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/professions/education/viking-knowledge/the-viking-age-geography/the-vikings-in-the-west/ireland/ballyholme/ |url-status=live }} In 1689 Field Marshal Schomberg landed with 10,000 troops either at Ballyholme Bay or at Groomsport, a little further east.{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Jason |title=The Woman Who Took on King Billy, And Won |url=https://www.historicalbelfast.com/post/the-woman-who-took-on-king-billy-and-won |website=Mysite |access-date=15 February 2021|date=27 November 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228162330/https://www.historicalbelfast.com/post/the-woman-who-took-on-king-billy-and-won |url-status=usurped }}

On census day (21 March 2021) there were 64,596 people living in Bangor. Of these:

• 66.62% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion and 12.67% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}
• 67.38% indicated that they had a British national identity,{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} 41.06% had a Northern Irish national identity{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} and 10.30% had an Irish national identity{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000564 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).

On census day (27 March 2011) there were 61,011 people living in Bangor, accounting for 3.37% of the NI total.{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Bangor@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Bangor@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Bangor Settlement | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 15 August 2019 | archive-date = 23 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210923152254/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Bangor%40Exact+match+of+location+name%3A+%40Exact+Match+Of+Location+Name%3A++Bangor%4023%3F | url-status = live }} 30px This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright. Of these:

• 18.83% were aged under 16 years and 17.40% were aged 65 and over;
• 52.14% of the usually resident population were female and 47.86% were male;
• 74.84% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion and 11.99% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.
• 72.51% indicated that they had a British national identity, 32.95% had a Northern Irish national identity and 8.05% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity);
• 41 years was the average (median) age of the population;
• 7.94% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 2.72% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaelic).

Bangor had an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the equivalent of $US678 million in 2015.{{cite web | title=Urban centres database 2018 visualisation – European Commission | website=Global Human Settlement | url=https://ghsl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ucdb2018visual.php#HDC=1678 | access-date=3 October 2021}}

Colleges and schools in the area include South Eastern Regional College, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, Bangor Grammar School, Glenlola Collegiate School, and St Columbanus' College. Primary schools include Towerview Primary School, Clandeboye Primary, Ballyholme Primary School, Kilmaine Primary, St Malachy's Primary, St Comgall's Primary, Grange Park Primary, Ballymagee Primary, Bloomfield Primary, Kilcooley Primary, Rathmore Primary, Towerview Primary, and Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.

There are also a number of secondary, grammar, and primary schools in nearby towns and the vicinity of Bangor such as Crawfordsburn Primary & Groomsport Primary; Priory Integrated College, Sullivan Upper School, Regent House Grammar School, Movilla High School, Strangford College, Campbell College, and Rockport School are secondary schools.

File:McKeeClock1.jpg

• Bangor Marina
• Clandeboye Estate
• Ward Park
• Clandeboye Park
• Bangor Abbey
• Bangor Carnegie Library
• Bangor Castle
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Bangor Old Custom House
• McKee Clock

Like the rest of Northern Ireland, Bangor has a mild climate with few extremes of weather. It enjoys one of the sunniest climates in Northern Ireland, and receives about {{convert|970|mm}} of rain per year. Snow is rare but occurs at least once or twice in an average winter and frost is not as severe as areas further inland. This is due to the mild winters and close proximity to the sea. Winter maxima are about {{Convert|8|C|F}} but can reach as high as {{Convert|17|C|F}}. Average maxima in summer are around {{Convert|20|C|F}}, and the record high is {{Convert|28.8|C|F}}, owing to the moderating influence of the sea. The lowest recorded temperature is {{Convert|-6.2|C|F}}. Temperatures above {{Convert|25|C|F}} in Bangor can be uncomfortable due to the high humidity, with an apparent temperature in the high 20s.

{{Weather box

|location = Bangor (Helens Bay),{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|2.8|mi|1|abbr=out}} from Bangor town centre}} elevation: {{convert|43|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present

| collapsed =

| metric first = y

| single line = y

| Jan record high C = 14.4

| Feb record high C = 17.0

| Mar record high C = 20.0

| Apr record high C = 21.2

| May record high C = 26.0

| Jun record high C = 28.8

| Jul record high C = 28.7

| Aug record high C = 27.6

| Sep record high C = 24.2

| Oct record high C = 21.1

| Nov record high C = 17.3

| Dec record high C = 14.9

| Jan high C = 7.7

| Feb high C = 8.5

| Mar high C = 10.3

| Apr high C = 12.7

| May high C = 15.6

| Jun high C = 18.0

| Jul high C = 19.6

| Aug high C = 19.4

| Sep high C = 17.3

| Oct high C = 13.8

| Nov high C = 10.2

| Dec high C = 8.1

| year high C = 13.5

| Jan mean C = 5.4

| Feb mean C = 5.7

| Mar mean C = 7.0

| Apr mean C = 8.9

| May mean C = 11.4

| Jun mean C = 13.9

| Jul mean C = 15.5

| Aug mean C = 15.5

| Sep mean C = 13.8

| Oct mean C = 10.8

| Nov mean C = 7.7

| Dec mean C = 5.8

| year mean C = 10.1

| Jan low C = 3.0

| Feb low C = 2.9

| Mar low C = 3.7

| Apr low C = 5.2

| May low C = 7.2

| Jun low C = 9.8

| Jul low C = 11.5

| Aug low C = 11.6

| Sep low C = 10.2

| Oct low C = 7.9

| Nov low C = 5.3

| Dec low C = 3.5

| year low C = 6.8

| Jan record low C = -4.9

| Feb record low C = -5.0

| Mar record low C = -5.0

| Apr record low C = -2.3

| May record low C = -1.1

| Jun record low C = 2.1

| Jul record low C = 5.0

| Aug record low C = 4.8

| Sep record low C = 1.6

| Oct record low C = 0.0

| Nov record low C = -2.4

| Dec record low C = -6.2

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 92.5

| Feb precipitation mm = 74.7

| Mar precipitation mm = 72.0

| Apr precipitation mm = 61.6

| May precipitation mm = 63.4

| Jun precipitation mm = 71.5

| Jul precipitation mm = 76.7

| Aug precipitation mm = 82.8

| Sep precipitation mm = 72.1

| Oct precipitation mm = 97.8

| Nov precipitation mm = 103.4

| Dec precipitation mm = 99.1

| year precipitation mm = 967.7

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 14.7

| Feb precipitation days = 12.5

| Mar precipitation days = 12.3

| Apr precipitation days = 11.3

| May precipitation days = 11.9

| Jun precipitation days = 11.3

| Jul precipitation days = 12.9

| Aug precipitation days = 13.2

| Sep precipitation days = 11.4

| Oct precipitation days = 13.3

| Nov precipitation days = 15.4

| Dec precipitation days = 14.8

| year precipitation days = 155.1

| Jan sun = 49.1

| Feb sun = 76.8

| Mar sun = 112.4

| Apr sun = 162.4

| May sun = 201.7

| Jun sun = 171.3

| Jul sun = 157.5

| Aug sun = 157.2

| Sep sun = 124.9

| Oct sun = 95.9

| Nov sun = 62.6

| Dec sun = 42.7

| year sun = 1414.4

| source 1 = Met Office{{cite web

| url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gceyvpufr

| title=Helens Bay 1991–2020 averages

| work = Station, District and regional averages 1981–2010

| publisher=Met Office

| access-date=3 March 2023}}

| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |title=Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature|access-date=3 March 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather}}{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php |title=Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature|access-date=3 March 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather}}

| date = June 2015}}

Bangor has had a number of extreme weather events, including hot summers in 2006, 2013 and 2018. The summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009 were some of the wettest on records with flooding in June 2007. The Autumn of 2006 was also the warmest recorded. December 2010 saw record snowfall fall on the town, with temperatures below {{Convert|-7|C|F}}. On 21 December 2010 an unofficial weather station staffed by a retired meteorological officer in the Springhill area recorded a low of {{Convert|-8.1|C|F}}, and a high of {{Convert|-2.0|C|F}}. Snow lay to a level depth of {{Convert|24|cm|in|abbr=on}}, the same morning. Inland Northern Ireland saw almost {{Convert|-19|C|F}}, new record lows. Like much of the UK, spring 2020 was the sunniest on record.

File:Bangor West station, Northern Ireland Railways - geograph.org.uk - 193097.jpg, NI Railways]]

The first section of Belfast and County Down Railway line from Belfast to Holywood opened in 1848 and was extended to Bangor by the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (BHBR), opening on 1 May 1865, along with Bangor railway station. It was acquired by the BCDR in 1884.{{cite web | title=Belfast and County Down Railway | work= Irish Railwayana| url=http://www.irishrailwayana.com/pa005.htm | access-date=1 September 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815044710/http://irishrailwayana.com/pa005.htm|archive-date=15 August 2007|url-status = live}} and closed to goods traffic on 24 April 1950.{{cite web|title=Bangor stations|work=Railscot – Irish Railways|url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|access-date=28 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|archive-date=26 September 2007|url-status = live}} Bangor West railway station was opened by the BCDR on 1 June 1928. Most of the BCDR's network was shut down by its successor, the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) in 1950, two years after nationalisation and only the branch to Bangor survived. The line received a further blow in 1965 when it was isolated from the rest of the Irish railway system by closure of the Belfast Central Railway line from Ballymacarrett Junction (east of Queen’s Quay station in Belfast) to Central Junction, just west of the former GNR(I) Great Victoria Street station. Fortunately the connection was rebuilt in 1976 to allow Bangor line services to transfer to Belfast Central (now Lanyon Place) and run directly through to the rest of the Northern Ireland railway network.

Today the Belfast–Bangor line is operated by Translink's Northern Ireland Railways, which runs trains to Belfast.

File:Ulsterbus no. 2566.jpg

Bangor is served by Ulsterbus, which aside from local town services, provides daily services to Belfast, Newtownards, Holywood and Donaghadee.

In football, NIFL Championship sides Ards and Bangor play at Clandeboye Park on Clandeboye Road.{{cite web|url=https://bangorfootballclub.webstarts.com/club_history.html|title=History|publisher=Bangor F. C.|access-date=23 June 2022}} Bangor also has a number of intermediate clubs, including Bryansburn Rangers, Bangor Swifts, Bangor Amateurs. Bangor also has a number of junior football clubs including Bangor Young Men, 3rd Bangor Old boys FC, and Castle Juniors FC.

Bangor has two hockey clubs that cater for both men's and women's hockey, respectively:

• Bangor Ladies Hockey Club : Bangor Ladies run three teams playing in Ulster Hockey Senior 3, Junior 7 and Junior 8b
• Bangor Mens Hockey Club : Bangor Mens run five teams with the 1st XI playing in the Ulster Hockey Premiership

Bangor RFC plays in division 2C of the All-Ireland league at Upritchard Park.

Bangor has clubs such as the Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club which is the venue for Northern Ireland's Elite Sailing Facility.

North Down Softball Club (previously Bangor Buccaneers Softball Club, est. 2014) compete in the Softball Ulster League. Based at Ward Park the club comprises three competitive teams; the Buccaneers, the Barracudas (2023) & the Sluggers (2024)

Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex includes Northern Ireland's only Olympic-size swimming pool.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bangoraurora.com/ |title=Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815120722/https://www.bangoraurora.com/ |url-status=live }}

The city has created an environment which has supported local musicians, such as Foy Vance and Snow Patrol.{{cite news|url=http://www.snowpatrol.com/news/default.aspx?nid=8701|title=Snow Patrol response to Ward Park gig|access-date=28 July 2008|publisher=Snow Patrol Official Website|archive-date=7 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207032041/http://www.snowpatrol.com/news/default.aspx?nid=8701|url-status=dead}} It is also home to Two Door Cinema Club.

{{category see also|People from Bangor, County Down}}

• Iain Archer, musician (Snow Patrol)
• Jo Bannister, author and newspaper editor (County Down Spectator)
• Colin Bateman, author, screenwriter and journalist attended Bangor Grammar School (County Down Spectator)
• Edward Bingham, soldier; Victoria Cross recipient
• Colin Blakely, stage, film and TV actor
• Neil Brittain, news reporter
• Mike Bull, Commonwealth Games pole vaulter and decathlete
• Winifred Carney, suffragist and Irish independence activist
• Bryn Cunningham, Ulster Rugby player who attended Bangor Grammar School
• Samuel Cleland Davidson, inventor and engineer
• Kieron Dawson, Ulster Rugby player who attended Bangor Grammar School
• David Feherty, Professional golfer and now broadcaster, attended Bangor Grammar School
• Kelly Gallagher, MBE, British Winter Paralympic gold medallist
• Cherie Gardiner, former Miss Northern Ireland winner
• Keith Gillespie, N Ireland footballer, attended Rathmore Primary and Bangor Grammar School
• Christopher Gray, organist and choirmaster
• Billy Hamilton, former Northern Ireland international footballer
• Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, diplomat and third Governor General of Canada
• Eddie Izzard, comedian (grew up in Bangor until age five)
• Alan Kernaghan, ex-Republic of Ireland and Middlesbrough FC professional footballer
• Bobby Kildea, musician (bassist and guitarist)
• Gary Lightbody, member of the band Snow Patrol
• Alex Lightbody, Former Northern Ireland, Irish and British Open Singles Champion Bangor Bowling Club
• Josh Magennis, professional footballer (Charlton Athletic; the Northern Irish National team)
• Stephen Martin, Olympic hockey gold medalist
• Mark McCall, Ulster rugby coach
• Mark McClelland, member of the band Snow Patrol
• Stuart McCloskey, professional rugby union player{{cite news | author = Gerry Thornley | title = Stuart McCloskey eager to add to his sole Ireland cap | url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/stuart-mccloskey-eager-to-add-to-his-sole-ireland-cap-1.3272007 | date = 28 October 2017 | work = The Irish Times | access-date = 10 October 2023}}
• Rebecca McKenna, footballer
• Miles McMullan, aka Niall, author and naturalist
• William McWheeney, soldier; recipient of the Victoria Cross
• George McWhirter, author; winner with Chinua Achebe of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize inaugural Poet Laureate of Vancouver, Canada, former teacher at Bangor Grammar School
• Peter Millar, author; award-winning Sunday Times journalist
• Dick Milliken, Irish rugby and British Lion player attended Bangor Grammar School
• David Montgomery, media mogul
• Jamie Mulgrew, Northern Irish footballer (Linfield F.C.)
• Terry Neill, Arsenal F.C. captain (1962–63)
• W. P. Nicholson, Presbyterian preacher
• Lembit Öpik, former Liberal Democrat MP and Shadow Welsh and Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
• Jonny Quinn, musician (Snow Patrol)
• Gillian Revie, former first soloist of the Royal Ballet
• Glenn Ross, strongman, multiple Britain's Strongest Man & UK's Strongest Man Champion
• Zoe Salmon, Blue Peter presenter; former Miss Northern Ireland
• Ian Sansom, author
• Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland Correspondent
• Pete Snodden, DJ and radio host on Cool FM
• Patrick Taylor, author
• David Trimble, Nobel Laureate, former Ulster Unionist Party leader and former First Minister of Northern Ireland
• Paul Tweed, media lawyer
• Foy Vance, singer-songwriter

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom}}

Bangor is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Bangor Abbey, the European Connection|url=https://friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk/europe/|website=friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk|publisher=Friends of Columbanus, Bangor|access-date=13 May 2020|archive-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106133247/http://friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk/europe/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Bangor|url=https://vbsca.org/about/|website=vbsca.org|publisher=Sister Cities Association of Virginia Beach|access-date=13 May 2020|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206190634/http://vbsca.org/about/|url-status=live}}

• Bregenz, Austria
• Virginia Beach, United States

{{notelist}}

{{Commons category|Bangor, County Down}}

• Bangor (civil parish)
• List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
• List of RNLI stations
• Market houses in Northern Ireland
• Kilcooley estate

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Bangor (Northern Ireland)}}

• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Bangor (Co. Down)|display=Bangor|volume=3|page=316}}

{{County Down}}

{{Counties and cities of Northern Ireland}}

{{Cities in Ireland}}

{{UK cities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Civil parish of Bangor

Category:Port cities and towns in Northern Ireland

Category:Ports and harbours of Northern Ireland

Category:Seaside resorts in Northern Ireland

Category:Cities in Northern Ireland