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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, Groomsport’s 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?

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