Carrowdore (from Irish Ceathrú Dobhair, meaning 'water quarter'[1]) is a small village on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the townland of Ballyrawer, the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower.[1] It lies within the Ards and North Down Borough. It had a population of 960 people in the 2011 Census.[2]
Strangford Integrated College in Carrowdore educates approx. 870 pupils.[3] There is also a primary school, Carrowdore Primary School, which educates approx. 170 pupils.[4] In the grounds of the primary school is a 'playgroup' nursery, which hosts approx. 30-40 young children.[5]
Louis MacNeice, the poet, is buried at the Church of Ireland church, Carrowdore.[6] He died on 4 September 1963, in London and is buried beside his mother (who died of TB when he was a child) and his grandfather.
Carrowdore was once renowned for the former Carrowdore 100 motorcycle Road Race which was started in 1927. It consisted of a 5½ mile road circuit which started on the Greyabbey to Millisle Road and continued down the coast road. After World War II, the Tourist Trophy race moved to Dundrod, but after a couple of years the race moved back to Carrowdore, with the start in the village and the course running to just outside Greyabbey and back to Carrowdore. The last race to be held at Carrowdore was in 2000, but it unfortunately resulted in the death of popular Tandragee rider Eddie Sinton.[7] The race course also hosts many cycling races on a regular basis.[8]
In the 2011 Census Carrowdore had a population of 960 people (382 households).[9]
Carrowdore is classified as a Small Village by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 816 people living in Carrowdore. Of these: