New book shines light on people who shaped area

New book shines light on people who shaped area

4 October 2023

A NEW book about some notable former inhabitants of the Ardglass and Dunsford area has just published.  

Ardglass and Dunsford, County Down – Biographies has been written by Kevin Crangle and shines a light on the more interesting inhabitants who contributed to the history in that part of Lecale.  

The book records achievements made by these individuals locally, or elsewhere, before or after their association with the area.  

“I know readers from the locality or those connected with it will undoubtedly find this an appealing text,” said Kevin, who is from Ardglass.  

“There is much absorbing detail in the book from different eras and the material recorded for each individual was gleaned from a variety of sources.  

“The biographies, many with photos, not only give the subjects’ achievements, but identify their notable relatives and often contain background historical information,” he added.

“I also included as many significant local figures as possible.”

Over 600 wide-ranging biographies include landlords/gentry, the clerics, those who sailed, farmed, the men who served or were lost in war, academics and business people, also those talented in sport and arts.  

In terms of families, readers will be informed about the high-profile lives of the Fitzgeralds and Beauclerks, the sailing tradition within the Hughes from family from Ardglass and the inventive Chambers family from Tullynaskeagh, to name a few.  

Kevin has also created in appendices a variety of helpful maps and a number of original role-based lists, plus a time-saving index.

Certain themes recur throughout the book such as the skill or unfortunate loss of sailors and vessels in their earlier, perilous work around the world.  

Another is the former Ardglass rail connection which came into service in 1892, so allowing the port to boost its fishing industry and open up the wider area to visitors.  

The railway additionally facilitated the establishment of Ardglass Golf Club in 1896, of which the key figures and later development are also regularly referenced in the book. 

“For many years I have contributed items to the locality’s A Harvest of History publication, most of them having been biographic,” said Kevin.  

“Realising it would be useful to have a centralised set of biographies for the area, I started drafting a list of former individuals and gathering the information.  

“My substantial research of newspaper archives, journals, books and online resources revealed a considerable amount of new historical information and detail.

“I am aware previous historians didn’t have the advantage of today’s searchable Web facilities, hence my findings will add to existing knowledge and documentation.”

He continued: “With no significant other help doing the research, the book is a culmination of several years’ work carried out in my spare time, involving visits to the locality and many hours spent in the British Library.  

Readers will appreciate the level of research that went into the book from the detail and information presented in it.  

“I certainly learnt much more about the parishes’ past occupants, as well as a significant number of natives who were new to me and had notable lives in other places.” 

Kevin continued: “To my knowledge this is the first time so much biographical information has been researched and collated for a defined area of Lecale and I know the book will be enjoyed as both a record and celebration of many successful, inspiring or well-spent lives.

Copies of Ardglass and Dunsford, County Down – Biographies can be obtained online at £24 each using the web address paypal.me/ADBIOGSBK.