Editing County Down (section)

==Notable people==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}
{{See also|Category:People from County Down}}
* [[Ash (band)|Ash]], rock band, from [[Downpatrick]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Cormac |last=Campbell |title=Ash at 30: The Downpatrick rock band still shining |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62460128 |work=BBC |date=2022-08-08}}</ref>
* [[Paddy Ashdown]], former [[Liberal Democrats (UK)]] leader, brought up near [[Comber]]
* [[Joseph Barcroft]], scientist, [[Newry]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunn|first=Peter M.|date=2000-01-01 |title=Sir Joseph Barcroft of Cambridge (1872–1947) and prenatal research |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition|volume=82|issue=1|pages=F75–F76|doi=10.1136/fn.82.1.F75|issn=1359-2998|pmid=10634847|pmc=1721043 |url=https://fn.bmj.com/content/82/1/F75}}</ref>
* [[George Best]], Northern Ireland footballer
* [[Colin Blakely]], actor, [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 May 1987|title=Actor Colin Blakely is Dead at 56|work=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/d6fa12533c7a7478dd0ea6a5b65107ce|access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref>
* [[Patrick Brontë]], father of the authors [[Charlotte Brontë|Charlotte]], [[Emily Brontë|Emily]], and [[Anne Brontë]], [[Rathfriland]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reverend Patrick Brontë|url=https://www.bronte.org.uk//the-brontes-and-haworth/family-and-friends/rev-bronte|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.bronte.org.uk}}</ref>
* [[James Dawson Burn]], author and activist<ref>{{Citation |last=Lunney |first=Linde |title=Burn, James Dawson |date=2009-10-01 |work=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]] |editor-last=Quinn |editor-first=James |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/burn-james-dawson-a1202 |access-date=2025-04-02 |publisher=[[Royal Irish Academy]] |doi=10.3318/dib.001202.v3}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Campbell (minister)|Thomas Campbell]], co-founder of the Christian religious movement that led to a Protestant church in the United States, the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]]
* [[Comgall]], saint and founder of the great monastery at [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Online|first=Catholic|title=St. Comgall – Saints & Angels|website=Catholic Online |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2710 |access-date=2021-12-26}}</ref>
* [[Stephen Craigan]], Motherwell and Northern Ireland defender, from [[Newtownards]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Club|first=Motherwell Football|date=2021-10-29|title=Stephen Craigan to join Hall of Fame |url=https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2021/10/29/stephen-craigan-to-join-hall-of-fame/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Motherwell Football Club}}</ref>
* [[Jamie Dornan]], actor in [[50 Shades of Grey (film)|50 Shades of Grey]] is from [[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rotten Tomatoes: Movies {{!}} TV Shows {{!}}|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jamie_dornan|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref>
* [[Garth Ennis]], comic books author of [[Preacher]] and [[The Boys (comics)|The Boys]], brought up in [[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]{{citation needed|date=May 2022|reason=reference needed for his Holywood connection}}
* [[Harry Ferguson]], inventor of modern tractor, [[Dromore, County Down|Dromore]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Traynor|first=Jessica|title=Harry Ferguson, the 'Mad Mechanic' who invented the modern tractor |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/harry-ferguson-the-mad-mechanic-who-invented-the-modern-tractor-1.3804555|access-date=2021-12-26|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>
* [[Brian Faulkner]], Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, [[Helen's Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Faulkner, (Arthur) Brian Deane {{!}} Dictionary of Irish Biography |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/faulkner-arthur-brian-deane-a3021|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.dib.ie}}</ref>
* [[Patricia Ford (politician)|Patricia Ford]], first female MP from Northern Ireland, [[Donaghadee]]
* [[Charlie Gallogly]], Irish professional footballer for Huddersfield Town, Watford and Bournemouth.
* [[Keith Gillespie]], former Manchester United & Newcastle professional footballer grew up in [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Craig Gilroy]], [[Ulster Rugby]] winger, raised in [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Betsy Gray]], heroine of the 1798 rebellion, Gransha, [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Betsy Gray Cafe|url=https://www.bangorhistoricalsocietyni.org/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000027/002799.shtml|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.bangorhistoricalsocietyni.org}}</ref>
* [[Bear Grylls]], Chief Scout and TV personality, was raised in [[Donaghadee]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bear Grylls Biography – Everything You Need To Know|url=https://mpora.com/camping/bear-grylls-biography-everything-need-know/ |access-date=2021-12-26|website=Mpora}}</ref>
* [[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava]], Governor-General of Canada, Viceroy of India, [[Clandeboye Estate]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st marquess of Dufferin and Ava {{!}} British diplomat |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Temple-Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood-1st-Marquess-of-Dufferin-and-Ava|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.britannica.com}}</ref>
* [[Henry Harrison (Irish politician)|Henry Harrison]], Parnellite Member of Parliament, [[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Celebrating the life of 'Home Rule Harrison', a forgotten British war hero and Parnell lieutenant|url=https://belfastmedia.com/celebrating-the-life-of-home-rule-harrison-a-forgotten-british-war-hero-and-parnell-lieutenant|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Belfast Media Group}}</ref>
* [[Sarah Cecilia Harrison]], artist and first woman councillor to serve on Dublin Corporation, [[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Neill|first=Marie|date=1989|title=Sarah Cecilia Harrison: Artist and City Councillor|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30087190|journal=[[Dublin Historical Record]]|publisher=[[Old Dublin Society]]|volume=42| issue = 2|pages=66–81|jstor=30087190 }}</ref>
* [[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]], Northern Ireland record goalscorer from [[Killyleagh]]<ref>{{cite news|title=David Healy will target Northern Ireland manager's job, believes Linfield legend Peter Thompson |last=Luney|first=Graham|date=8 November 2021|work=Belfast Telegraph|issn=0307-1235 |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/david-healy-will-target-northern-ireland-managers-job-believes-linfield-legend-peter-thompson-41028986.html|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
* [[Eddie Irvine]], racing driver, [[Newtownards]]
* [[E. Neville Isdell]], former chair and CEO of [[The Coca-Cola Company]], [[Downpatrick]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Businessman Neville Isdell: Money is not a motivator, but it is how you keep score in life |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/businessman-neville-isdell-money-is-not-a-motivator-but-it-is-how-you-keep-score-in-life-34680622.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=independent}}</ref>
* [[Pat Jennings]], former NI goalkeeper, is from [[Newry]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=NI Hall of Fame: Pat Jennings|url=http://www.irishfa.com/news/2020/june/ni-hall-of-fame-pat-jennings|access-date=2021-12-28|website=IFA}}</ref>
* [[Patrick Kielty]], comedian and television presenter, [[Dundrum, County Down|Dundrum]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Patrick Kielty – Popular Northern Irish cutting edge comedian and presenter |url=https://www.performingartistes.co.uk/artistes/patrick-kielty|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.performingartistes.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Christine Lampard]] née Bleakley, TV Presenter was born in [[Newry]] and lived in [[Newtownards]]
* [[Gary Lightbody]], lead singer of [[Snow Patrol]], [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol: Intimate Podcast Interview|website=Best Of Belfast |url=https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/gary-lightbody-snow-patrol |access-date=2021-12-28}}</ref>
* [[Kathleen Isabella Mackie]] (1899– 1996) painter and glider pilot
* [[Elizabeth McLaughlin (sculptor)|Elizabeth McLaughlin]], sculptor
* [[Josh Magennis]], Professional footballer currently for [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.]] from [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[James Martin (engineer)|James Martin]], inventor of the ejector seat, from [[Crossgar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Martin|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zfkcscw/articles/z4cbhbk|access-date=2021-12-28|website=BBC Bitesize}}</ref>
* [[Robert Blair Mayne]], [[lieutenant colonel]] and [[commanding officer]] of the 1st [[Special Air Service|SAS]] Regiment, [[Newtownards]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=September 2021|first=Zita Ballinger Fletcher|date=2021-08-17 |title=Irish SAS Hero: Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne|website=HistoryNet |url=https://www.historynet.com/robert-blair-paddy-mayne.htm|access-date=2021-12-28}}</ref>
* [[Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil]], Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, [[Saul, County Down]]
* [[Rhys McClenaghan]] – International gymnast from [[Newtownards]]
* [[Edward McGarry (Wisconsin politician)|Edward McGarry]], [[Wisconsin]] politician
* [[Rory McIlroy]], major champion golfer, from [[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]
* [[Deirdre McKay]], composer
* [[F. E. McWilliam]], sculptor, [[Banbridge]]
* [[Colin Middleton]], Irish artist and surrealist, lived in [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[John Mitchel]], Irish nationalist, Young Ireland movement, [[Newry]]
* [[Colin Murray]], sports TV Presenter, is from [[Dundonald, County Down|Dundonald]]
* [[Richard Murray (mathematician)|Richard Murray]], Provost of Trinity College Dublin 1795–1799, born in County Down
* [[Kristian Nairn]], portrayed [[Hodor (character)|Hodor]] in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' is from [[Lisburn]]
* [[Lembit Öpik]], former Liberal Democrat MP and Shadow Welsh and Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Paul Rankin]], TV chef, grew up in [[Ballywalter]], Ards Peninsula
* [[Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings]], Governor-General of India, 1813–1823, [[Moira, County Down|Moira]]
* [[Margaret Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick]], former leader of [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] and MP, [[Downpatrick]]
* [[Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen]], first Roman Catholic Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, [[Newry]]
* [[Zoe Salmon]], TV presenter and Miss UK contestant is from [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Neil Shawcross]], artist, lives in [[Hillsborough, County Down|Hillsborough]]
* [[Hans Sloane]], founder of the British Museum, [[Killyleagh]]
* [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh]], British Foreign Secretary and diplomat at [[Congress of Vienna]], brought up in family seat [[Mount Stewart]]
* [[David Trimble]], former First Minister of Northern Ireland, former [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leader, [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Foy Vance]], singer-songwriter, [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]]
* [[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry]], Secretary of State for Air, Leader of the House of Lords, [[Mount Stewart]]
* [[Martin Waddell]], author of children's books, lives in [[Newcastle, County Down]]
* [[Paddy Wallace]], rugby union footballer for Ulster and Ireland, [[Dundonald, County Down|Dundonald]]
* [[Daniel Wiffen]], swimmer, Olympic Gold Medalist for Ireland, [[Magheralin]]
* [[Thomas L. Young]], U.S. politician, 33rd Governor of the State of Ohio, [[Killyleagh]]