Ballybeen

Ballybeen, also known as Ballybeen Housing Estate, is the second largest housing estate in Northern Ireland. The modern estate is located on the outskirts of east Belfast, within the town of Dundonald and between the Newtownards and Comber Roads. Started in 1963, and mostly completed by 1971, the estate consists of some 2,400 dwellings. It lies within Castlereagh Borough Council and the Strangford Parliamentiary and Assembly constituency. In the 2001 census the area had a population of 9,170. [ [http://www.belfasthealthycities.com/admin/editor/assets/final%20draft%20of%20ballybeen%20profile.pdf Belfast Healthy Cities] ]

It is mainly a Protestant area, although before 1970 and the onset of The Troubles, approximately 20% of the population were Catholic. [Carr, P.A. "The Most Unpretending Of Places" (White Row Press Ltd: Dundonald, 1990) pp.214-215] During The Troubles the estate became a loyalist stronghold. Andy Tyrie, Ulster Army Council leader and commander of the Ulster Defence Association in the 1970s, was from the estate. [ [http://www.obrien.ie/TitleInfo.cfm?ExtractID=132 "Young Tigers and Mongrel Foxes", Paddy Harte] ]

The estate was named after the nearby townland of Ballybeen, home to the Robb family of farmers and landowners.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray is from the estate. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radioulster/2007/03/ Fame And Shame, Stuart Bailie] ]

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