About the GVA
We’re a group of local residents who care about Groomsport and the people who live here. As the Groomsport Village Association, our goal is to bring the community together while helping to look after the place we all call home.
We work with other local groups, Ards and North Down Borough Council, and a range of organisations to support village life and keep Groomsport thriving.
In the past we distributed quarterly newsletters to every household, keeping everyone in the loop. Now though we tend to share most of our news here on our website and on our Facebook page.
Throughout the year, we organise, fund and advertise alsorts of community events—like beach litter-picks, sandcastle competitions, and more—where everyone’s invited to join in and get involved.
We are always keen to connect with residents, especially those that are interested in volunteering, so please do reach out to us by email, Facebook message, our contact form, or come along to our next event and introduce yourself!
Some handy info for a pub quiz
Groomsport’s history
Groomsport is a picturesque village situated within the Ards and North Down Borough Council area, approximately 4 miles from Bangor town centre. The area around the village is steeped in history. It is located at the mouth of Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland.
In pre-historic times, the rich fertile land with fresh water wells, sheltered coves for fishing and forests in which to hunt, made the area around Groomsport an ideal place to live. Stone Age axe and arrow heads found nearby have been dated as older than 4000BP. Three swords, found locally in 1949, indicate a settlement at around 2500BP.
The origin of the name “Groomsport” is obscure but it could come from the ancient Irish – ‘Dart-a-gheolla Ghruma’ or perhaps Graham’s Port, or of Scandinavian origin and written as Grimsport. This latter suggestion is in keeping with traditional beliefs that the Vikings first built the pier in Groomsport. Large boulders found at its base date back over 1000 years.
In 1603, James Hamilton was given land (and a knighthood), in what is now North Down by King James, as a reward for his faithful service. Part of this large estate was occupied by the followers of the O’Neill’s – a Gaelic family called O’Mulcrevey. In his will dated December 1616, Sir James Hamilton wrote ‘Owen O’Mulcrevey this towne is requisite for sea faring men and fishers at Gilgroome’s Port, and may be let at very good rate…’
In 1636 a ship called ‘The Eagle Wing’ set sail from Groomsport with 140 passengers and four ministers, for a new life in America. Unfortunately it was forced to turn back to Belfast Lough without ever reaching New England!
It is claimed that the Duke of Schomberg, Commander in Chief of King William III’s Advance party of 10,000 soldiers, used Groomsport as a landing point on 13th August, 1689.
By the harbour, we have a traditional fisherman’s thatched cottage, now used as a museum and tourist information centre. During the summer months, at weekends, many entertainment events are held here.
Today, Groomsport consists of 700 households. Despite the name Groomsport meaning ‘the place of the gloomy servant’, our local businesses cheerfully provide us with meals, drinks, groceries, wine, haircuts and community spaces.
Interested in finding out more?
Join us!
We are a social group, come along to our next event and join in!