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
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