The Five Minute Spare Guide To Bangor: The Northern Irish One

Bangor – Northern Ireland in Under Five Minutes

As usual, we here at Five Minutes Spare are desperate to explore the mean streets of Bangor, desperately seeking the dirt. By which, of course, we mean the gossip. We’re going to start several hundred years ago because, frankly, so did Bangor. Let’s see if we can detail the whole history of a town and what it has to offer in less than five minutes…

…Well we did warn you that you’d need to read fast.

Bangor Way Back When…

Situated in County Down, Bangor has steadily grown into a seaside resort town. Only 13 and a bit miles to the east of Belfast, this lovely space was once the holiday destination of the Irish nobility. The town’s name comes from the old Irish word “Beannchar” which means a sharp curve – but the cliffs of the bay, the shape of it, and the fact that the word might also refer to a sort of fort, all represent the same thing… that this town predates our understanding of language.

According to the myth/legend/parable, Saint Patrick – the one that drove the snakes out of Ireland – rested in this valley. While resting, he looked out over the beauty of the place and drifted off. While dozing, he encountered angels, but time has lost what they told him. Perhaps, that he would have his own celebrated day once a year for the rest of forever? Who knows? It is wonderful, however, that the area has such enchanting tales to tell. The valley is known as the Vale of Angels as a result.

So… A monastery was built here in 555 AD and had widespread influence throughout the whole country. It was built where Bangor Abbey stands now, and the new building is not like the old one. It has been rebuilt so many times that they probably aren’t even the same stones anymore. An especially important biblical work was produced here that we could not even hope to spell. They also sent forth Bangor missionaries all across Europe to spread the good word. When the founder Saint Comgall died in the start of the 7^th century, it is recorded some 3000 monks lived in the area.

Recent evidence uncovered some Bronze Age tools in the city. Similarly, a Viking burial has been evidenced on the beaches. Unfortunately, the Vikings loved wealth, and monasteries, churches, chapels, and cathedrals had the most of it – and were always built by waterways. The Vikings adjusted their boats to sail upriver and boom… three hundred or so years of terror-raids on your coastline. The monastery was right on the edge of the water, right on the coast closest to the Netherlands. Poor thing never stood a chance.

Around the time that the Vikings were raiding, but not long before they stopped (the tenth century) someone, either in Lincoln or in Hereford Cathedrals, ordered a map of the ‘known’ world made. It wasn’t all that big… but it did include Bangor in Northern Ireland. It was called the Mappa Mundi… the Map of the World.

The town next pops up in 1123 when Saint Malachy was head of the monastery. This is the same guy that predicted a limit on the number of popes. He also performed miracles all over the place. One of the things he is known for was rebuilding things in stone instead of wood.

There is only one more thing we want to mention from Bangor’s early years and that is the Plantation of Ulster. King James, I sent troops, and then colonisers, over to Ireland. They would often own the best land and set up plantations. This was a double-edged sword. Nobody wants another country sending immigrants over to ‘plant’ their lands. However, it did contribute to the development of the city, preparing it to be dragged into the 18^th century and the Industrial Revolution. It was a horrid conflict where people died, and it should be remembered. It was also part of ‘progress’ which is too often harsh.

Anyway, let’s not get down in the dumps and turn to some fun facts instead. Bangor has quite a history, so here are some of the interesting bits…

Fun Facts about Bangor

This place is such a special one. Where normally we find fun facts after hours of digging – with Bangor they were popping out at us from the very beginning. It turns out Northern Ireland is an interesting place, even if you don’t include the thousand years of known history. Here are some of the Five Minutes Spare favourites that jumped out at us, straight away:

• Clan Hamilton, a lowland clan from Scotland, has had a wide-reaching influence on the town. One of the Hamiltons was first granted lands by James I and opened a large plantation in the area. To this day, there is a Hamilton street to commemorate this incident.
• Charles Dickens visited Ballyholme Beach in 1858 to take a swim and enjoy a break. The Victorian times saw a rise in beach breaks as people thought salt water was healing. County Down has 16 miles of wonderful coastline to explore.
• Bangor is considered one of the ‘posher’ towns of County Down. It earns this title in a group alongside Holywood and Hillsborough.
• Many scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed on location in the Mourne Mountains… the same mountains that make a beautiful backdrop to Bangor. You can drive out there in only a couple of hours.
• This one isn’t strictly Bangor, but it is County Down and totally worth it. In old maps of the island, the Ards Peninsula was listed as the Ards Penisula. It was changed in the 60s but this caused an uproar. Allegedly there were literally riots. The Irish are great!

Map – Richard Bartlett (Bathelet) circa 1602

 

Now that we have all had a giggle to lighten things up, let’s go back to history. There’s a bit of a breakup coming which lasted until the 17^th century when King James started annoying everyone.

17^th Century Bangor and Onwards

King James I gave lands to a man named Hamilton in 1605. It was pronounced a borough in 1612, and the customs house went up in 1632. This allowed control of trade to the two elected officials of the town. By the end of the century, the Jacobite uprising had spread across the water from the rest of Great Britain. This caused a war in Ireland which allowed Bangor to get captured. A couple of years later the Battle of the Boyne sorted it all out once and for all.

During the 18^th century, the town skyrocketed as a place in history. Three giant mills on the water operated using an early version of hydraulic power to produce cotton fit for weaving. It employed over 300 people. A market house was built and, of course, the Irish Rebellion in 1798 saw disquiet, death, and the odd attempt at invading each other.

The railway followed in 1865, the mills went out of popularity and the town went the opposite way of industrial-focused. Instead of building jobs in factories, they built jobs in hotels, in seafront stores and in entertainment. Ward Park was built, the marine gardens were added, and the town prospered from the Victorian tradition of ‘sea bathing’. As a result of these, the turn of the century saw more and more chip shops, ice cream parlours, and attractions built. As ever, the beach remained the focus.

Modernising Bangor

After the Victorian era, it was an ever-expanding group of seaside tourists that drove the ever-expanding opportunities in Bangor. A cinema opened in the 20^th century, Caproni’s Ballroom became the place you hung out on a Friday or Saturday when you had a date. The Bangor Seafront had a massive refurbishment in the ’90s. Pickies Fun Park re-opened, having been first open in the early 1900s.

In a strange twist of events, Bangor played host to General Eisenhower during WWII. He gave a speech here to rally the troops. We’re telling you this as background because many years later his niece re-opened the refurbished pier area. At the turn of the 19^th century, it had around 15,000 people. Nearly a hundred years later it sat at 70,000. Shopping centres were added, play parks, the marina was built…

In the 70s, during the Troubles which saw two sides fight for independence among other things, saw three bombs go off in the city. In the ’90s, the IRA detonated more bombs – and more people were hurt. Luckily, most of the damage in all areas was aimed at buildings over people. That didn’t make it acceptable. Setting off bombs where people live isn’t really forgivable.

All that being said, Bangor escaped fairly lightly during the Troubles, in terms of casualties at least. Since then, it has grown from strength to strength in terms of both work opportunities and population. People are proud to say they are from Bangor – and rightly so. The scenery alone is worthy of the Angels. We sincerely hope they continue to prosper during whatever troubling times may lie ahead.

Now we’re going to move on to famous faces. Let’s remind the world how impressive this town is by showcasing a few of its best talents…

Famous People Born in Bangor

Let’s not neglect the facts here. Bangor in Northern Ireland has brought a number of famous people into the world as a creative hub and centre of all things intelligence. Let’s talk famous faces, who they are, and delight in the Bangor that they came from.

Famous people from Bangor include:

• Eddie Izzard, comedian extraordinaire. Yep, you heard us right. We’ll give you a minute to let that sink in.
• Gary Lightbody, the lead singer of Snow Patrol, is a Bangor guy.
• Musician and eccentric Foy Vance is also from the city.
• Game of Thrones actress Aimee Richardson was a Bangor gal.
• And let’s not forget Zoe Salmon, the Blue Peter presenter who went on to do Dancing on Ice a few years ago.

There are loads of them. It always strikes us that Irish towns have so many famous faces per thousand residents that it’s not really fair on the rest of us. They are a talented bunch.

Attractions in Bangor

Bangor is a banging place… We’re sorry, we had to. Complaints can be addressed to the Five Minutes Spare forum where you will undoubtedly find a number of unamused peers who are similarly dissatisfied with our quality of pun.

In the meantime, please enjoy the Five Minutes take on the best things to see and do in Bangor….

Historic Sights and Landmarks

Bangor Castle

Yes, Bangor has its own castle. Well, it’s more like a grandiose townhouse really and is now doubles as the town hall housing the Ards and North Down Borough Council. Joking aside this stunning building was constructed in 1852 and although it’s not open to public tours (well it is a working building after all), the walled gardens are and are one of the top attractions in the whole area. One of Belfast’s most famous literary sons C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) was a big fan of the gardens and there is even a bench named in his honour which was part of 1998’s CS Lewis Centenary Celebration. Spend a few minutes in it looking over the Belfast Lough and who knows you might be similarly inspired to write a literary classic.

Be sure to check out the McKee clock. It is one of the most recognisable areas of the city, known for the fountain behind it and a booth selling candy floss. The clock tower itself was erected in 1915 by one James McKee of the area.

Take a walk to the fields outside of town to visit the fabled Helen’s tower. Named for the mother of its builder: the 5^th Baron of Dufferin and Claneboyne, it is a 19^th century lookout post. Interestingly enough, the estate at the centre of Bangor actually still belongs to this family. Helen’s Bay beach lies towards the coast from there and makes for a scenic walk.

Next, go to the harbour and have a look at some of the seafront structures. The Tower House in Bangor was erected in the 17^th century as a former customs house. It has come to represent the links between sea-faring and Bangor… and it’s so quaint it is well worth the visit.

Finally, while you are in the harbour area, take a walk around the Marina. Built during the Victorian era, this is where the Yachting clubs meet and keep their boats. It’s always nice to find out how the other half live… and it’s a free attraction, to boot.

Museums and Galleries

If you want to learn a bit more about the Vikings in County Down, they should visit the Picture of North Down Museum. It has lots of other local histories too, of course, but Viking finds are always impressive. We imagine metal detecting in this area might be fruitful.

Although not strictly a museum, you are able to go and see how the other half live at the Clandeboye Estate and Courtyard. This is a home of the local nobles and is a beautiful old building situated in its own gardens.

When it comes to the Arts, you can experience theatre at the Down Arts Centre, or the Ards Arts Centre on the opposite side of town. Each is used as a theatre space as well as galleries, so you can usually catch a show there if it tickles your fancy. To get some local artwork head out to the Gallery, Minerstown, near Tyrella Beach in greater County Down. Why not make a day of it? The entire area sports 16+ miles of coastline, remember. You are sure to find a rock pool or beach with your name on it.

Outdoor and Recreation

Locals tell us that you can find the best of the best in late-night teenage drinking if you head to Ward Park. We have also heard that it is a nice place to hang out with the fam provided you are out through the day. Another free thing to do with kids in Bangor is the Marine Gardens Coastal Walk. Although developed in Victorian times, the route, plants, and picturesque scenery of the route have never changed.

Don’t forget the waterfront. Bangor has some brilliant beaches, and so does the rest of county Down. With 16 miles of coastline to explore, Bangor makes a great starting point. Both Ballyhholme Beach and Crawfordsburn Country Park a little east of town are excellent choices, depending on whether you like busy or quiet areas, respectively.

Looking for something to do in Bangor with kids? Check out the Pickie Fun Park for a day of adventures. Little ones love it and it has a long history of entertaining locals. It contains both a boating pond and a paddling pool for the younger ones – as well as fun golf for the older ones. There’s even a tiny train!

Shopping and Retail

When you want to shop in Bangor you hit up the Flagship Centre. If you don’t want to be seen there, you head to the Bloomfield Centre. If that’s not possible, the Ards Shopping centre can be found on the opposite coastline and just out of town.

Football and Rugby

There are two main clubs in the area. Visit Bangor Football Club on Clandeboyne Park, or head out to the village at Crawfordsburn Road to see the Bryansburn Rangers Football Club playing. In terms of rugby, you can find Bangor RFC in the town too.

Things to do in Bangor with Kids

If you are trying to entertain your little ones, we all know the pain of finding fresh ideas. On holiday it is just as bad. The Thunder Park is an indoor skate and BMX park for those with adventurous youngsters and plenty of time on their hands. If swimming is more the adventure you had in mind, visit the Bangor Aurora. This place has chutes and slides – and a replica pirate ship. Amazing. There’s a gym attached and various workout groups you can go to while they swim. Don’t panic, there’s also a café.

If you really want to let them burn off steam, and only if they are old enough, send them to Bangor Airtastic. They can flip, play, trampoline, solve physical puzzles… the whole lot. Kids today have so many more options for entertainment than we had.

Lastly, those looking for soft play and adventures can find them at Snakes and Ladders. This place is ideal for younger kids and a meeting place for mothers. It has plenty of tables and a café so you can watch for any trouble.

Other Notable Attractions

There is a whole load of things to do in this lovely seaside city that we couldn’t name them all. Although we have had a good attempt at trying. Here are a few more of our Five Minutes Spare favourite things to do in Bangor, specifically for your pleasure:

• Visit the Eisenhower Pier. The great American General’s niece didn’t just open it, they named it for the family, too. It must be quite something to know you have a pier in NI named after you…
• Visit Crawfordsburn Beach – If you do find yourself out at the little village with the big country park, then make sure you visit the beach.
• Visit the Eddie Irvine Sports Centre with the kids on the weekend and find them a club or game to get involved in.

So no matter what you like doing with your time, you will always be able to find things to do in Bangor, NI.

How to Get There?

But wait, how do you get to this wonderful oceanside city? We found out already, there’s no need for panic…

By Road

Head east – just straight east – out of Belfast. You will soon see signs for Bangor. You really can’t miss it.

By Rail

You have a choice of Bangor or Bangor West railway station, you can check journeys and times on this site.

By Air

Bangor is not far at all from Belfast George Best Airport.

By Sea

Aim for the Marina on the seafront. If you are lucky enough to own a boat, then you can park it there.

Still Stuck for Entertainment?

If you still feel that your need for entertainment hasn’t been filled yet, then allow us to direct you to Five Minutes Spare. We have all sorts of articles about all sorts of things, and a forum with all sorts of people. Come along and say hi, learn some stuff, and entertain yourself for a while. IT might even become your new favourite thing!