Ballygowan
Ballygowan is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Ards and North Down Borough. The town of Comber is a short distance to the north-east, the town of Saintfield to the south, and the city of Belfast further to the north-west. It is within the civil parishes of Killinchy and Comber and is split between the historic baronies of Castlereagh Lower and Castlereagh Upper. It had a population of 3,138 people in the 2021 census.
History
Before the early 17th century Plantation of Ulster, when many Lowland Scots moved across the Irish Sea to settle in northern Ireland on lands granted by King James I to James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, the area of Ballygowan was sparsely inhabited by Irish Gaels. It was within the territory of Clannaboy, and in 1744 the McGowans of the Ards were associated with the Clannaboy O'Neills.In the late 18th century the village comprised a bridge, a dozen or so small houses and an inn. The surrounding townlands were populated by a great number of small tenant farmers and weavers. The main landlords were Lord Dufferin and Lord Londonderry.
From the mid-19th century through the early 20th century the population of the rural area surrounding Ballygowan declined considerably as many people emigrated to North America or found work in Comber, Saintfield and particularly in Belfast. However, it was during this period, and subsequent to the introduction of the Belfast & County Down Railway in 1850, that the village began to grow. Ballygowan railway station opened on 10 September 1858, but finally closed on 15 January 1950. After the railway closed in 1950 the village became an attractive "dormitory" town and the ensuing 50 years have seen rapid growth.
On Monday, 15 September 2014, the remains of The Baron Bannside were buried in the graveyard attached to Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church. Lord Bannside was a former First Minister of Northern Ireland and a former Leader of the DUP.
Demography
2001 census
In the 2001 census, Ballygowan had a population of 2,671 people.2011 census
On census day in 2011, 27 March 2011, the usually resident population of Ballygowan Ward was 2,957. Of these:- 21.39% were aged under 16 years and 12.27% were aged 65 and over;
- 49.40% of the usually resident population were male and 50.60% were female, and 40 years was the average age of the population.
- 99.09% were from the white ethnic group;
- 11.22% belong to or were brought up Catholic and
- 80.19% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian 'denominations;
- 75.81% indicated that they had a British national identity, 7.12% had an Irish national identity and 33.69% had a Northern Irish national identity
2021 Census
- 51% were male, 49% were female
- 99% were from the white ethnic group
- 8% belong to or were brough up Catholic
- 78% belong to or were brought up as Protestant or other Christian religions
- 13% belong to no religion
- 52% identified as British only, 3% identified as Irish only and 21% identified as Northern Irish only. Respondents could indicate more than one national identity.
- 2% indicated some ability in Irish language, 12% indicated some ability in Ulster Scots
Education
Primary
Ballygowan has one primary school locally, seen at the top of the table below. Other schools are nearby.| School Name | Location | Ref |
| Alexander Dickson PS | Ballygowan | |
| Carrickmannon PS | Ballygowan | |
| Moneyrea PS | Moneyreagh | |
| Millennium Integrated PS | Saintfield |
Secondary
Ballygowan does not have any secondary schools locally, but those nearby are seen in the table below;| School Name | Location | Ref |
| Saintfield High School | Saintfield | |
| Lagan College | Castlereagh | |
| Grosvenor Grammar School | Castlereagh |