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With mass emigration from Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries, millions of people around the world can now claim at least partial Irish descent. Many want to trace their ancestors, and learn more about their family history. The contacts listing below could help you find out more, but please remember, genealogical research can be a challenge.
Armagh Ancestry
Association of Ulster Genealogists & Record Agents (AUGRA)
Banbridge Genealogy Services
Centre for Migration Studies
centremigstudies@ni-libraries.net
General Register Office
Irish World Family History Services
North of Ireland Family History Society
North of Ireland Tourist Board
www.discovernorthernireland.com
Presbyterian Historical Society
Public Record Office N.Ireland (PRONI)
Society of Genealogists N. Ireland
Ulster Historical Foundation
Groomsport is classified as a settlement within Belfast Metropolitan
Urban Area (BMUA) by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 873 people living in
Groomsport. Of these: 11.7% were aged under 16 years and 41.6%
were aged 60 and over 45.7% of the population were male and 54.3%
were female 2.6% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed. The village
now has a population of approximately 3,000, and continues to
grow.
Click to make CoveBay.net your Homepage
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Welcome to CoveBay.net
The Community Website for Groomsport,
Northern Ireland.
Local house sales are down dramatically, but house prices have not collapsed. North Downs average of £251.526 was down by a relatively modest 2.3% over a year, according to the latest survey published 6th August 2008 CLICK FOR MORE
Local Police Contacts
The Community Beat Officer for Groomsport is Constable Anne Hiles stationed at Bangor PSNI Tel Number 02891474983
"I may not always be on duty but someone will always pass a message on" - Ann Hiles
Click on photo for a 1950's view of Cockle Row
Cockle Row Cottages are open daily (June-August) 11.30am-5.30pm Information T: 0289127 0069 Email: tic@northdown.gov.uk During opening hours contact Cockle Row on 028 9145 888


View BBC Newsline's exclusive footage of Titanic and learn about the science and history behind this extraordinary journey to the bottom of the Atlantic.
The Lagan
Boat Company
The World's ONLY provider of authentic Titanic Boat Tours around
the shipyards of Harland & Wolff in Belfast.
S.S. NOMADIC the last White Star Line vessel afloat
(courtesy Captain Wood collection)
The SS NOMADIC is one of the less well known survivors of the Titanic. The tender, SS NOMADIC, was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Launched on April 25, 1911 and delivered to White Star Line on May 27. She attended the departure of the RMS OLYMPIC for Liverpool on May 31, 1911. That same day the RMS TITANIC was launched.
NOMADIC and her sister TRAFFIC were built to ferry passengers and freight to and from the White Star Liners calling at Cherbourg, France, which at that time, was too small a harbour to accommodate the massive ocean liners of the day. TRAFFIC would ferry the third class passengers and mail, while NOMADIC, with her plush interiors, brought first and second class to TITANIC and OLYMPIC. NOMADIC and TRAFFIC both arrived in Cherbourg on June 3, 1911 (the NOMADIC was commanded by Captain Boitard), the vessels served OLYMPIC on September 14, 1911 when she called at Cherbourg on her maiden voyage to New York.
On the April 10, 1912 NOMADIC sailed out from port with 142 first class and 30 second class passengers to meet TITANIC on her maiden voyage. Onboard her that evening were many of the most famous passengers. Among her compliment that night were Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon, Colonel John Jacob Astor and his wife Madeline, Benjamin Guggenheim and Molly Brown. This was the NOMADIC's last delivery to TITANIC before her maiden voyage sinking, five days later, which was to shock the world.
For Nomadic Picture Gallery - CLICK HERE
SS NOMADIC returns to Birthplace
26 June 2008
Hamilton Graving Dock, located at Abercorn Basin behind the Odyssey, hasnt been used commercially in over 15 years. The work will focus on providing a temporary new dock gate which will hold back up to 12ft of sea water. Its expected that the Nomadic will return home before the end of the year.
At present the Nomadic is currently berthed at Barnett Dock within an operational area of the Port. While it will not be possible to open her to the public this year, it is believed that the move to Hamilton Graving Dock will significantly boost the programme of work on the ship and facilitate her re-opening at some stage next year.
Click on Photo to Enlarge
Groomsport enjoyed a great family get together on
4th July. The music at the harbour was fantastic, with the backdrop
of a wonderful summer sunset. As a grand finale we had a superb
firework display. Picture by Michael McMullan
Browsealoud will read our website pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online. Reading large amounts of text on screen can be difficult for those with literacy and visual impairments
Click on the Logo above for a video demonstration, and Free Download
Groomsport Village Association
Chair : Rev.Duncan Pollock,
Vice-Chair : Ian Parsley
Hon. Secretary : Ann Sanderson
Tel: 91463145
Treasurer : Walter Burke
Members : Lynda Anderson, John Crockard, Miriam Gibson, and Tricia Reid.
The members of the GVA committee are elected on an annual
basis. The AGM is usually held during the Autumn months
(usually in the boat-house), when villagers meet, to elect
a new committee and to air their views about village affairs
in general. This meeting can be lively!!
Communications
The Committee can be contacted via the link above to their
website or via a postbox in the local Spar shop. These
messages will be directed to the Hon. Secretary who will
bring their contents to the attention of the committee.
A newsletter published every four months
is distributed to every house in the village, and can
also be viewed online CLICK
HERE
Groomsport Village History
By the 17th century the village was known as Gilgroomsport
and at this time, before Donaghadee became the main port
for embarkation for Scotland, Groomsports harbour
was significant enough to have its own Customs House.
Groomsport narrowly missed out on New World fame when the ship Eagle Wing set out from the port, with 140 men, women and children, to attempt an early trip to North America in 1636 only to be defeated by bad weather after eight weeks at sea.
On 13 Aug 1689, the English Fleet with Duke Schomberg
and an army of 10,000 came ashore in Groomsport. In 1659
there were 25 English/Scots & 8 Catholic families
here. The population in 1910 was 264 people.
By the mid 1800s Groomsport had a relatively large fishing fleet and housed a lifeboat station in its sheltered bay. The population of the village was employed mainly in agriculture, fishing and loom weaving. Whilst living conditions were hard, the coming of the railway from Holywood to Bangor in 1865 made the village much more accessible and the standard of living improved. Groomsport had its own halt on the Newtownards to Donaghadee line and the village became a popular destination for visitors.
The population was only 360 in the 1951 Census but this has increased substantially in the last few years with the construction of new housing developments. The harbour has found new popularity, with a sailing club and a collection of pleasure craft. Two former fishermen's cottages by the harbour have been restored as an attraction for visitors. Nowadays, caravanners and trippers are attracted by the beautifully landscaped picnic and play areas around the harbour, the sandy beaches, quality pubs, restaurants and the picture-postcard beauty of the place.
Living in Groomsport area?
Help us to keep you, and all your neighbours informed,
entertained, and up to date with local information. Our
website www.covebay.net can only work if YOU contribute,
comment, criticise etc.
Do you have any photographs of the area before the houses
were built? Have you something you want to get off your
chest?
Want to publicise a local event? If you are a Church,
group, club, etc, please tell us (by email) about your
organisation, events, people, and contact details.
We are waiting to hear from YOU.
You can contact us at:
editor@covebay.net
Be in the audience at BBC One Northern Ireland's
live television broadcast. BBC NI ticket line on 0870 333
1918 , BBC NI textphone 08000 153350
A Tour of BBC, Broadcasting House, Ormeau
Avenue, Belfast, will provide you with a unique opportunity
to take a look "behind the scenes" at BBC Northern
Ireland. Possible tour areas will include*:
BBC Newsline Studio Floor, BBC NI Newsroom, Television Gallery
and more, CLICK
HERE for details
Diary of Events in Groomsport
Ulster travellers are spoilt for choice now that the expansion plans of Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Ryanair have come to fruition. At Aldergrove Aer Lingus has chosen Belfast for its UK base. A code share with British Airways will also give Aer Lingus a direct flight to Heathrow, and eight other destinations. George Best City airport now has Europe's largest no-frills airline Ryanair. Also at City Airport, Flybe has revealed plans for a number of new direct routes to Europe.