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Joan O'Connor
Joan O'Connor, Sydney Nova Scotia Canada

Orla Small and Simon O'Connor I hope you will contact me at:

seashore2 at ns dot aliantzinc dot ca

Eric Aitken - Apr '07
I don't know if this link is still working, but anyways to Maggie Sutton comments about the article- I have been researching my wife's (Patricia Reid)family tree. She has a great grandfather John Reid who was born about 1812-14. We have little information and perhaps we could correspond to check out details.

Simon O'Connor (Leeds England) - Feb '07
This site is great; I believe from my Dad Kevin O'Connor that I could be related to Orla Small and Joan O'Connor.


Ard - Aug '06
My grandfather belonged to Ballynahinch my great grandfather had a farm there called Maghradroll Ive always wanted to go and see for myself where grandpa came from and where my descendant belonged to. Thank you for this site Ive learnt a lot about the town.

Maggie Sutton - May '06

About a year ago, my cousin was visiting other cousins in New Hampshire and was surprised when one of them brought down from the attic a box of papers with journals by our great-grandfather, Robert Reid. On the bottom of the page was just the word "Ballynahinch". Our great-grandfather was Robert Reid, born 1814 and we think that he was probably born in Ballynahinch. His father was James Reid, born about 1791 who was perhaps married in Downpatrick. We can find out nothing else about our Reid ancestors who came to Canada about 1827 we think. Robert had a brother, John, born 1812, and a brother William born 1820.

Howard, are you by any chance related to my Reid family??

Thank you,
Maggie Sutton

Anne Curran / McGrath - Mar '06.
Very interesting article about the Battle of Ballynahinch and the story of Betsy Gray.I went to Assumption Convent in the 60s where my best subject was History. I wrote an essay on the 1798 in County Down for the County Down Feis using information culled from books provided by the library there and I got first prize. It is great to see the interest in local history being highlighted .
Congratulations to the BBC for assisting in the promotion of this. I shall be telling my riends at home and especially abroad about this site.

Rex Morrow - March '06
I visited Montalto Estate in 1995 whilst researching my family history. I was just at the gatehouse,and the manager of the estate asked if he could help me. He drove me around the estate. There is sealed roading around the estate and this was done by the Americans when they barracked there during WW2.

My great grandfather met his wife in Ballynahinch... and my guess is that he probably did some of his courting in the grounds of the estate. He later named his farm in New Zealand... Montalto. His wife lived above the newsagent/bookshop that is now Brennans. The shopfront has been restored to the look of that of the 1830s.

Orla Small - Jan '06
Joan O'Connor - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. (see below ) My father is Colm O'Connor and lives in Drumanaquoile still along with his brothers Seamus, Daniel & Liam. It was really interesting to hear about other O'Connors in a place so far away! If you would like to contact us you can drop me an email.

Mr Graham
It's a real disgrace that the area at the spa wells is not restored to its oridinal beauty, surely there is some form of funding availiable for areas like this one or shall it end up looking like the maze?

Bill Gwynne
I would like to ask Joanne Patterson if she has ever heard of Sadie Pool, who had a pub opposite the old town hall. I lived in Ballynahinch for three years during the 1960's and had many a chat with Sadie, she could tell a story or two. I'm sure she is long dead now but a very interesting story could be written about Sadie Pool.

Hilary Nickell - November '05
I am at an early stage of investigating my family history and discovered that my Grandfather a certain Mark Alexander Nickell was from Ballynahinch. As a result also found this very helpful article about the town.

Are there any further historical records as sadly, we have little information on my Grandfathers ? We don't even have his a date of birth, but believe he had a brother Robert (Bob) who moved to Bootle and two sisters Jane and Liza . I do know the family moved to Bloomfield, Belfast probably around 1914 at a guess.

Samuel Bothwell Kernohan - October '05
Indeed the Battle of Ballynahinch forms strong links. I was born and brought up in Ballynahinch, where I lived above and behind the hardware shop S.W. Kernohan &Sons, in front of the square. I went to Croobe Park primary school with Horace Reid, who, together with another kid called Coulter, according to Jim Paisley, the headmaster, were the bane of his life. Sometime around 1956, I think, we went to live in the country between Ballynahinch and Dromara. Unbelievably I finally graduated with B.A. from Queen's.

For the last 34 years I have been living, working and procreating in Argentina, mostly as a cattle manager, then as an English teacher, an agricultural consultant, a market gardener, and finally as a translator, and an aspiring writer, of some of my extraordinary experiences in this amazing country.
I can clearly remember the town, especially the Thursday fairs, when we were happily invaded by the most outrageous characters who set up stalls in the square, selling everything you could name, and some stuff you couldn't.
It is a memory I cherish the more the older I get. Mrs Poole's ice cream with a Cadbury's chocolate flake stuck in it, for some bizarre reason called a "99". As a Boy Scout, having the free run of the Clanwilliam Estate. The Bauran drums making a hell of a racket, the parades on the 12th. I have often been tempted to tell the English, "If it wasn't for us you'd be still groaning under the Stuart yoke." Please make contact, especially Horace.

Cheers, and keep up the good work.

E. Heath - July '05
Please do you know any of the history of the old houses called Mountcaper which sit back from the main Grove Road, Spa and are said to date back to 1790 ?

Ros Peters (nee Creeney) - June 05
I stumbled across your website when searching for Church Street, Ballynahinch. Imagine my surprise when I also came across a photo of said street. It is mentioned in Griffith's Valuation as the address of one of my ancestors, Catherine Creeney. Finding out more than just a name is always a bonus, so thanks a bunch for your welcome information.

Rachel Crawford-Tanham - June '05
Great article thank you. My Great Grandfather is from there and my father, John Crawford, has been researching the history of the Crawford Family. We traveled there in 2002 and visited the town and the grave yards in the area and found Thomas Crawford's grave. This was very emotional for my Father to be able to trace his family roots. Would love to find a book on the town but so far no luck...any suggestions?

Irene - April 05
great reading, thankyou for putting this on the web, I am curious why the name "Rawdon" has not been used as a Street name or place name in the town of Ballynahinch, e.g. Rawdon Trail, Rawdon Crescent, Rawdon Mews, Rawdon Square, or Rawdon Circle, etc. Local history is fascinating and captivating, after hearing or reading a little one wishes to know a lot, these old names should never die. Thanks once again, I'll return to your site.

Glenna Morrison - Mar 05
Beautifully done and a fascinating piece of history. One of my ancestors is Valentine Swail of Loughkeelan, Ballyculter. I have read about a Dr. Valentine Swail who was involved in the Battle and have to believe he is connected to my family, but I haven't been able to prove it ... yet. The article stated "Munro’s second adjutant, Dr. Valentine Swail, was from Ballynahinch. It was he who advised Munro to attack the army during the night, while the Monaghans were busy drinking and plundering the town. Following the battle, Swail hid successfully on the Montalto demesne for several weeks. His family knew where he was concealed, but dared not go near his hiding place, though a faithful old servant, Shulah Durnin, managed to supply him with food and necessities. Eventually Swail obtained the government’s permission to remove himself and his family to America, and local people did not forget Shulah Durnin’s heroic constancy."

Ros Davies - Mar 05
I am very impressed by the information contained in this article and especially liked the audio/visual story of Betsy Gray. Isn't technology wonderful!

Joan O'Connor - Mar 05
Rory, if you see them, please tell them I'd like to make contact with them. My father and brother were in Ireland in 1996, but at that time, we thought we came from an area farther south, so they were searching in the wrong parish ( which had its records destroyed by fire, anyway)

Joan O'Connor - Mar 05
Thanks so much Rory. That will give me a place to beging the Ireland search, so kind of you to post this.

Rory O'Neill - Mar 05
There are still O'Connor's living in Drumnaquoile Close to Castlewellan, Co.Down. Danial, Seamus, Colm, and Liam I know them all quite well so maybe that would help you

David Ker - Jan 05
Tony Ker is directly descended from David Ker who purchased Montalto from Lord Moira about 1800. Unfortunately this interesting website contains a number of innacuracies ! Madelena Guardi never visited Montalto when it was owned by her son,she died in july 1785. For a good account of the story see Peter Carr's book PORTAVO,an Irish townland and it's people.For his own ancestry see Burkes Irish Landed gentry 1958 or Burkes Irish family records 1976.

Anthony David Ker - Jan 05
This is a very interesting article. It prompted me to look at a family tree record that my great grandfather pasted on to me and I wonder if it might not be the same David and Madelina Ker. This is an extract:

• David Ker Merchant of London Died 1770 age 60
• Married Martha McPheadrie Born 1719 died 1767
• Begat David Ker of Portavo & Montalto Co Down married Madelina Guardi daughter of Francesco Guardi - Painter
• Begat David Ker of Portavo & Montalto Co Down b 1814 d 30/12/1844
• Married Selina Stewart b 1786 d 1871
• Son David Stewart Ker of Portavo & Montalto Co Down
• Married - no record
• Begat Rev. Hamilton Chichester Ker B 1861 D 1944
• Married Emily Maud Bateman
• Begat Edward Hamilton Ker b 1900 d 1984
• Married Dorothy Lillian Huges
• Begat David Edward Ker b 1929
• married Sheila Snape B 1929
• Begat Anthony David John Ker B 1956 - This is me.
• Married Yasmin Bhatia
• Begat Bianca Ker

This is some of the data I have. Do you have any information to indicate if there is a connection to the David Ker in the above web site article? Regards Anthony (Tony) Ker

Joan O'ConnorCape Breton, Nova Scotia - Dec 04
Great story! I think my forefathers might have come from that town. My great great gandfather came from ireland, but there is little history of him....of his brother daniel O'Connor, there is more. In 1811 Daniel was shipwrecked off Cape Breton Island , Nova Scotia, Canada. he stayed and eventually was granted land and two of his brotehrs came to join him. We think they came from Ballynahinch because he named his land, ""Drumna Quoile". .....and we know he came from County Down. can you tell us if there are other O'Connors in the area?

SADIE HANNA ( NEE CARLISLE) - Nov 04
SAW THE ARTICLE ABOUT BALLYNAHINCH IN MOURNE OBSERVER AND AS THERE WAS NO WEB ADDRESS GIVEN I STILL MANAGED TO FIND IT VIA THE BBC. ENJOYED READING ALL ABOUT THE TOWN OF BALLYNAHINCH AND ALSO SPA WELLS. i LIVED AT THE SPA MANY YEARS AGO AND MOVED ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY TO DROMARA AFTER AFTER I GOT MARRIED. VERY INTERESTED TO LEARN MANY THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT

John Smyth, Vancouver - Nov 04
A beautifully told story that brought back childhood memories. When I was a small boy my father, who had an interest in local history, wrote an article for the Down Recorder with an accompanying photo of my sister and I at the ruined memorial. My next visit home will have to include a return visit to the site.

David Carlisle - Nov 04
Read the article with great interest, well done. I spent many a visit to the site as my family come from Ballycreen. I intend to take my children there on our next visit home, therefore i must remember to pack the boots as the place is always wet! I still believe however that she still lies there, just a feeling you get when attending the grave.

James Anderson - Nov 04
An easy to read piece of work well informed & of immence interest to anyone from Ballynahinch. It has answered questions that I have often wondered about such as , why was a maze built at the spa & why erect a monument to Betsy Gray in the back of beyond to mention but a few. Best wishes to Joanne & Horace and well done.

Gerard Sloan - Nov 04
A most interesting article.Perhaps you might like to add this snippet of information to it?(Check with Horace Reid first) The annual St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City was started in 1776 by the Officers of British regiments stationed in the city. These Officers were from the 16th Regiment of Foot and the Volunteers of Ireland,most of them Irish Protestants! They thought that a parade through the city would be a good way to win recruits to the British cause from the emigrant Irish. Lord Francis Rawdon,leader of the Volunteers,became Grand Marshal,leading the parade through New York. A contempory account says the sight of marching soldiers , all 'natives of Ireland' had 'a striking effect' on the population and 'many of their countrymen joined them'. Lord Rawdon then presided over a banquet for his new charges 'consisting of 500 covers'.( Leonard Doyle)

Donald Gray Jamieson - Oct 04
It was good to hear that Horace Reid has made the internet, telling of the history of Ballynahinch. Since my Jamison ancestors came from just north of Ballynahinch, the article was most interesting. Horace has told me many of these things when in the area during the past six years. The last time was last August, 2004 His slide presentation on Betsy Gray which I saw a couple years ago at The Temple gold course is very graphic and moist interesting. Horace has been most helpful to me in a variety of ways, and his gracious, quiet and humble spirit is appreciated. It is through Horace that I have come to know about 14 Jami[e]son cousins who still live in County Down. My interests have been in family history and presbyterian history. Horace has helped immeasureably in both area of concern. He has given his time without mention of any fees and driven his car five or six times taking me, family and friends as far as the North Antrim Coast A year and a half ago he gave a !
one hour lectureat the Ballynahinch Market House on presbyterians in Co. Down to a group of six American.

Battle of Ballynahinch