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| Welcome the About Ballyhalbert section of the website. Here we will cover some of the history and geography of the village and surrounding district. Historical contributions to this part of the site have been put together by the Ballyhalbert Historical Society. Should you wish to contact the Society it can by reached by email at ballyhalbert@gmail.com | |
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About
the Village Ballyhalbert (from the Irish: Baile Thalbóid meaning "Talbot’s townland"; also Talsbotstoun in Ulster Scots) is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the east (Irish Sea) coast of the Ards Peninsula between Ballywalter and Portavogie. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 447 people, but this will have greatly increased as new housing projects have been created since then. It is largely residential and has a small harbour and large caravan site which was formerly a Royal Air Force (RAF) base, RAF Ballyhalbert, during World War II. The village is within the Ards Borough Council area. |
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Little History Ballyhalbert takes its name from the Talbot family who settled in the area following the Anglo-Norman conquest led by John de Courcy in the 12th century. During the Second World War the village played a major role when an RAF airfield, RAF Ballyhalbert, was built. It had the important role of protecting Belfast and the eastern half of Northern Ireland. During its lifetime, Ballyhalbert was home to RAF, Army, Navy and United States Air Force (USAF) personnel. The airfield was sold to developers in March 1960, and is in use for several popular caravan parks. If you google map the village the run ways can clearly be seen in aerial satellite photography. |
Coming Soon We will be adding new features to this area of the site in the coming months to include some of the geographical features of the village as well an area dedicated to Glastry Nature Reserve, which is currently being renovated by BDCA and the National Trust. |
© BDCA 2008