Editing Newtownards (section)

==Notable natives/residents==
{{See also|Category:People from Newtownards}}
* [[Christine Bleakley]], television presenter known for her work on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], was raised in Newtownards<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DzqtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT72|title=Presenting Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley: The True Story of the Hottest Team on Television|first= Henry |last=Lightfoot|year=2011|publisher=John Blake|isbn=978-1843584391}}</ref>
* [[Harry Cavan]], senior VP of FIFA (1980–90), and president of the Irish Football Association from 1958 to 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/cavan-harry-henry-hartrick-a9776|title=Cavan, Harry (Henry Hartrick)|publisher=Dictionary of Irish Biography|access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
*Sir [[Robert Colville (Irish MP)|Robert Colville]] (died 1697), politician and landowner, owned much property in and near Newtownards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/colville-sir-robert-a1894|title=Colville, Sir Robert| publisher=Dictionary of Irish Biography|access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Jason Dunkerley]], [[Canadians|Canadian]] five-time [[paralympic]] medalist, was born and raised in Newtownards. His family emigrated to Canada when he was 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jasondunkerley.wordpress.com/about|title=About &#124; WinningTrack|website=Jasondunkerley.wordpress.com|date=30 December 2010 |access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
* [[Nick Earls]], a novelist born in 1963 in the area; he later moved to [[Brisbane, Queensland|Brisbane, Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwf.cz/rubriky/nick-earls_1201.html|title=Nick Earls|publisher=Prague Writers' Festival| access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Celia de Fréine]], dramatist and poet, was born in the town in 1948 before later moving to [[Dublin]] and [[Galway]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAxaAAAAMAAJ|title=Jumping the Bus Queue: The Older Women's Network Poetry Collection|first=Mary Rose |last=Callaghan|year=2000|page=35|publisher=Older Women's Network|isbn=978-1900578165}}</ref>
* [[Eddie Irvine]], racing driver and runner-up in the [[1999 Formula One World Championship]] for [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], was born and lived in Conlig, near Newtownards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motor-sport/formula1/eddie-irvine-formula-1-is-now-embarrassing-29847974.html|title=Eddie Irvine: Formula 1 is now embarrassing|date=18 December 2013|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[William Jackson (journalist)|William Jackson]] (1737–1795), political journalist, secret contact between the [[Society of United Irishmen|United Irishmen]] and the [[French First Republic|French Republic]].
* [[Martyn Irvine]], former World Cycling Champion and two-time silver medalist, is from the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/cycling/martyn-irvine-retires-from-competitive-cycling-to-take-up-new-role-36280206.html|title=Martyn Irvine retires from competitive cycling to take up new role|date=1 November 2017|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Steven Kane]], racing driver
* [[Michael Legge (comedian)|Michael Legge]], stand-up comedian, was born and raised in the town.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/legge-gets-helping-hand-with-some-alternative-comic-moments-29884863.html|title=Legge gets helping hand with some alternative comic moments|date=3 January 2014| newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Alex Lightbody]], former Northern Ireland, Irish and British open lawn bowls singles champion<ref>{{cite web|title=Singles Winners |work=British Isles Bowls Council|url=http://britishislesbowls.com/previous-winners/singles-winners|access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref>
* [[Paddy Mayne|Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne]], [[Special Air Service|SAS]] co-founder, was born and lived in Newtownards and attended [[Regent House Grammar School]]. A bronze statue of him stands outside the town hall. He played rugby for [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and for the [[British and Irish Lions|Lions]] in the [[1938 British Lions tour to South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lt Col. Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne DSO Freemason|url=http://www.irishmasonichistory.com/lt-col-robert-blair-paddy-mayne-dso-freemason.html|website=Irish Masonic History and the Jewels of Irish Freemasonry|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
* [[Barry McClements]], Commonwealth Games para swimming medallist<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/health/co-down-teenager-barry-mcclements-11098644|title=Co Down teenager Barry McClements chasing Paralympic glory after "never letting his disability hold him back"|date=26 March 2016|newspaper=Belfast Live|  access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Rhys McClenaghan]], Irish international gymnast, 2020 Tokyo Olympic pommel horse finalist, 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist, was born and lives in Newtownards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Commonwealth Games: NI secretary calls for ban on gymnasts to be lifted |publisher=BBC News |date=31 May 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61637189 |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>
* [[Colin Nixon]], former football player who managed [[Ards F.C.|Ards]], is from Newtownards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/billy-on-the-box/billy-weir-colin-nixons-dismissal-from-ards-was-a-classless-way-to-end-the-reign-of-an-irish-league-class-act-37836962.html|title=Billy Weir: Colin Nixon's dismissal from Ards was a classless way to end the reign of an Irish League class act|date=21 February 2019| newspaper=Belfast Telegraph| access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Ricky Warwick]], best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty, is from the town.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/newtownards-musician-ricky-warwick-releases-new-single-3124922|title=Newtownards musician Ricky Warwick releases new single|date=5 February 2021|newspaper=News Letter|  access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Watters]], British diplomat and scholar