Notable Natives
Newtownards is the home town of SAS co-founder Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne. A bronze statue of him stands outside the town hall. He attended Regent House Grammar School in the town and played rugby for Ireland and for the Lions in the 1938 British Lions tour to South Africa.
In sport, Motherwell and Northern Ireland defender Stephen Craigan is from the town, as are boxers Colin Moffett and John Lowey.
Radio 1 and Five presenter Colin Murray studied at Regent House Grammar School.
Novelist Nick Earls was born in the town in 1963, later moving to Brisbane, Australia. Dramatist and poet Celia de Fréine was born in the town 1948 before moving to Dublin and later Galway.
Read more about this topic: Newtownards
Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or natives:
“In one notable instance, where the United States Army and a hundred years of persuasion failed, a highway has succeeded. The Seminole Indians surrendered to the Tamiami Trail. From the Everglades the remnants of this race emerged, soon after the trail was built, to set up their palm-thatched villages along the road and to hoist tribal flags as a lure to passing motorists.”
—For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“From what I have said of the natives of New Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched people upon earth; but in reality they are far happier than we Europeans, being wholly unacquainted not only with the superfluous, but with the necessary conveniences so much sought after in Europe; they are happy in not knowing the use of them.”
—James, Captain Cook (1728–1779)