- Colin Bateman: Born in Bangor, County Down 1962–living) A novelist and screenwriter, Bateman is known for his darkly humorous crime novels, such as Divorcing Jack (1995), which won the Betty Trask Award, and the Dan Starkey series. His works often depict gthe troubles with wit and satire. A former journalist, he has also written for television, including Murphy’s Law. His Bangor roots inform his vivid portrayals of county Down life.
- Anna Burns: Born in Belfast, County Antrim; lived in Ardoyne, North Belfast, and associated with County Down (born 1962) Burns won the 2018 Man Booker Prize for her novel Milkman (2018), a powerful exploration of the Troubles set in an unnamed Irish city, likely Belfast. Her other novels, No Bones (2001) and Little Constructions (2007), also tackle trauma and community dynamics. Though born in Belfast, her work reflects broader Irish experiences, including County Down’s cultural context.
- Forrest Reid: Born in Belfast, County Antrim; lived in Warrenpoint, County Down 1875–1947) Labelled the “first Ulster novelist of European stature,” Reid wrote novels like Following Darkness (1912), often compared to James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. His works, including the Tom Barber trilogy, explore Protestant Belfast and rural Ulster life with a lyrical, mystical style. His residence in Warrenpoint shaped his depictions of County Down’s landscapes.
Novelists
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Poets
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Writers
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Down:
Ireland’s county Down offers a mix of historic sites and scenic landscapes, with Downpatrick’s Saint Patrick Centre and cathedral providing insights into Ireland’s patron saint. The Mourne Mountains offer hiking trails with sweeping views, while Strangford Lough provides kayaking and wildlife spotting. Other attractions include the historic Tollymore Forest Park. Down is Ireland’s 12th largest county by size (2,447 square km) and fourth largest by population (553,261). Population peaked at 361,446 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 204,303, in 1911. In terms of hospitality, Down is Ireland’s 18th most visited tourist county with around 127,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – New – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
