Ballybeen
Encyclopedia
Ballybeen also known as Ballybeen Housing Estate, is the second largest housing estate
in Northern Ireland
. It is within the townland
(s) of Ballybeen and Carrowreagh all inside the town of Dundonald
on the outskirts of east Belfast
— between the Newtownards Road
and Comber Road. Started in 1963, and mostly completed by 1971, the estate consists of some 2,400 dwellings. Most of the street names are Scottish in origin (Enler and Brooklands being the exception) as the architects who designed the estates layout, mostly came from Scotland. It lies within the Borough of Castlereagh and the Strangford Parliamentiary and Assembly constituency
. In the 2001 census the area had a population of 9,170.
It is mainly a Protestant area, although before 1970 and the onset of The Troubles
, approximately 20% of the population were Catholic. During The Troubles the estate became a loyalist
stronghold. Andy Tyrie
, Ulster Army Council
leader and commander of the Ulster Defence Association
in the 1970s, was from the estate.
The estate was named after the nearby townland of Ballybeen, home to the Robb family of farmers and landowners. The Robb family house , which then became the Housing Executive offices, was knocked down when the Housing Executive relocated to their new premises at the junction of Robbs road and Church Road in the late '80s. "Esker" the house that was built to accommodate the growing Robb family still stands today at the junction of Rank road and Church Road.
BBC Radio 1
DJ Colin Murray
lived in the estate for a few years in Enler Park.
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
(s) of Ballybeen and Carrowreagh all inside the town of Dundonald
Dundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
on the outskirts of east Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
— between the Newtownards Road
A20 road (Northern Ireland)
The A20 is a road in Northern Ireland. It runs from Belfast to Newtownards and on to Portaferry in County Down.Beginning as the Newtownards Road at the junction of Bridge End close to Belfast city centre, the road runs in an easterly direction through east Belfast...
and Comber Road. Started in 1963, and mostly completed by 1971, the estate consists of some 2,400 dwellings. Most of the street names are Scottish in origin (Enler and Brooklands being the exception) as the architects who designed the estates layout, mostly came from Scotland. It lies within the Borough of Castlereagh and the Strangford Parliamentiary and Assembly constituency
Strangford (UK Parliament constituency)
Strangford is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from parts of North Down...
. In the 2001 census the area had a population of 9,170.
It is mainly a Protestant area, although before 1970 and the onset of The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, approximately 20% of the population were Catholic. During The Troubles the estate became a loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
stronghold. Andy Tyrie
Andy Tyrie
Andrew "Andy" Tyrie is an Ulster loyalist and served as commander of the Ulster Defence Association during much of its early history...
, Ulster Army Council
Ulster Army Council
The Ulster Army Council was set up in 1973 as an umbrella group by the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force to co-ordinate joint paramilitary operations during the Loyalist strike...
leader and commander of the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
in the 1970s, was from the estate.
The estate was named after the nearby townland of Ballybeen, home to the Robb family of farmers and landowners. The Robb family house , which then became the Housing Executive offices, was knocked down when the Housing Executive relocated to their new premises at the junction of Robbs road and Church Road in the late '80s. "Esker" the house that was built to accommodate the growing Robb family still stands today at the junction of Rank road and Church Road.
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
lived in the estate for a few years in Enler Park.