The Surrounding District
Going North from Ardglass  you will come across -

The peninsula of Ardtole
Ardtole can be seen across the harbour bay from Ardglass.  
The main feature is the ruin of the ancient Ardtole Church destroyed by fire some 700 years ago, it is believed, when an angry Magennis clansman and his friends locked their McCartan rivals into the church during Mass and set it ablaze, burning all the worshippers alive.   It would appear that the efforts of St. Patrick to christianise the natives and woo them from hard drink and fighting were less than successful on this occasion.. 
    The story is handed down that a bearded, hairy Magennis man was discovered by a McCartan clansman as he slept outdoors following a hard night on the poiteen. The McCartan man tied him to brambles by the hair as he slept, so that the Magennis man had great difficulty arising from his slumbers, nearly tearing his head off.   
    The Magennis and McCartan clans at that time were in a state of continual conflict, and the hair-tying episode was all that was needed to provoke a dreadful retaliatory act. 
   It is said that in the early 1700's a lady guest staying at in the summer home of the Fitzgerald family at Ardglass Castle (now the Golf Clubhouse) wrote an account of this event to her clergyman nephew in Dublin, Jonathan Swift.  Hairy giant tied down by small people in 'Gulliver's Travels'?  It's not hard to imagine a creative influence.

A further historical note relates to this area.  Sheepland Harbour, with its cluster of abandoned dwellings and water and windmills, lies just across the Ardtole peninsula.  It is there that the L'Amitie, a French brigantine with 101 crew, gun running at the time of the 1798 rebellion, foundered in a gale. All hands were lost except for the steersman, who was hidden by locals from the investigating militia.  Part of one of the walk recommended in Ardglass Walks goes along what is locally known as the Steersman's Path. A canon retrieved from L'Amitie by members of a local diving club is at present in the Ardglass harbour yard.
    The same walk goes past a famous St. Patrick's Well, reputed to have curative powers.  Whatever about this there is little doubt that the Saint looks kindly upon those who say a simple prayer as they pass by and quaff the waters.

Dunsford is a hamlet two miles from Ardglass and is part of the parish of Dunsford & Ardglass. (Another good bar there too! The Chapeltown Bar. Good place to call into after a visit to the beautiful little church of St. Mary across the road.) 
Dunsford Arts & craft Cross community Group holds meetings and activities every Wednesday 7 Thursday from 10 am - 1 pm in the parish hall of St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Church Road.

Sheepland Open Farm at Chapeltown - well, that's the same place as Dunsford, just to confuse you! Tel. 028 44 842268
Birds, ducks, sheep, pigs, hens and goats. Sheep shearing, haymaking, potato-digging and feeding lambs - an especially interesting visit for children. Probably best to telephone in advance - but not absolutely necessary we are told.

Ballyhornan is a beach to the north of Ardglass.  It is reputed to have colder water for swimming compared to the slowly shelving beach at Coney Island but has a fine and popular strand. It is the landing point of the telecommunications submarine cable between Northern Ireland and both Scotland & The Isle of Man.  (Good wee Bar there too!  'The Cable', strangely enough! - ramshackle but the craic can be good on a Saturday night.)

There is an active Community Association - Ballyhornan & District Community Association Hon. Sec. is Bobby Magee 

and there is a Mustard Seed Community Group mainly concerned with provision of cross-community facility - Hon  sec.   Marianne Dobson  tel.   028 44 842691.

Strangford & Portaferry are situated at the mouth of Strangford Lough and are inter-connected by means of a car ferry. For more information see the Portaferry website.

Going South from Ardglass -

Coney Island is a splendid, weedy & stony beach with some great beach houses - a place recently made famous by Van Morrison. You can see more on the Van Morrison  website.

Killough is an attractive neighbouring village with a beautiful tree-lined main street.

Rossglass has a small church and walled shoreline with a superb  seascape view all the way to the Mourne Mountains.

Tyrella is a fine 'Blue Flag' beach - extremely popular and with good car parking. A warm swim in the afternoon tide on a sunny day at Tyrella is hard to beat!  The beach is maintained by the Down District Council. For places to stay see Tyrella House.

Going West from Ardglass -

Downpatrick is the County Town, six miles from Ardglass. It was once a  market town, and is famous for the fact that St. Patrick is buried there - in the grounds of Down Cathedral. The Saint built his first church nearby, at Saul. Have a look at Ego Patricius, the website of the St. Patrick Centre in the town, and also at the website of  Down District Council.

Going East from Ardglass -

The Isle of Man!  Thirty miles away.  Great place to go to if you have a boat 

 TOP OF PAGE               Go Back             Go Forward