County Down Societies

Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

Regional Societies
North of Ireland Family History Society Research Centre & Office Unit C4 Valley Business Centre 67 Church Road Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 7LS UK Email: [mailto:nquire@nifhs.org nquire@nifhs.org] Website: North of Ireland Family History Society


 * To promote and encourage the public and personal study of world-wide family history, genealogy, heraldry, and local history with particular reference to the North of Ireland.

NIFHS - Killyleagh Branch Killyleagh Masonic Hall 50 High Street Killyleagh BT30 9QF UK Email: [mailto:Killyleagh@nifhs.org Killyleagh@nifhs.org] Website: Killyleagh Branch Website #2: Killyleagh Branch


 * The society has a repository and reference centre in premises at Newtownabbey, where a wide collection of records can be accessed and research carried out to assist in tracing family members from days gone by.

Oral History Society (Northern Ireland) Riddel Hall Queen’s University Belfast 185 Stranmillis Road Belfast BT9 5EE UK Email: [mailto:annecgulland@yahoo.co.uk annecgulland@yahoo.co.uk] Website: Oral History Society


 * Network representatives actively encourage and support the development and use of oral history in their own locality, and contribute an overview of this to an Annual Report. Covers Belfast and Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone.

Ulster Archaeological Society School of Natural and Built Environment Queen's University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN UK Email: [mailto:ulsterarchaeolsoc@gmail.com ulsterarchaeolsoc@gmail.com] Email #2: [mailto:newsletter.ulsterarcsoc@gmail.com newsletter.ulsterarcsoc@gmail.com] Website: Ulster Archaeological Society Website #2: Ulster Archaeological Society


 * The Ulster Archaeological Society is a charitable organisation open to anyone interested in archaeology and the wider study of our heritage particularly with regard to Ulster. Our members come from all walks of life and from all sections of the community, encompassing all ages from students to retirees; amateurs and professionals.  We warmly welcome new members from Ireland and further afield.

Ulster Historical Foundation The Corn Exchange 31 Gordon Street Belfast BT1 2LG UK Telephone: 028 9066 1988 Email: [mailto:enquiry@uhf.org.uk enquiry@uhf.org.uk] Website: Ulster Historical Foundation


 * Ulster Historical Foundation is a not-for-profit educational charity, founded in 1956, with the simple yet important mission to tell the story of the people of the nine counties of Ulster. The Foundation seeks to disseminate heritage and cultural knowledge and to generate and provide the research and educational resources necessary to support individuals, families, groups, educators, and global diasporas in understanding the history of Ulster.

Down Societies
Auld Bangor Historical and Cultural Society Fealty's Lounge 35 High Street Bangor BT20 5BE UK Telephone: 28 9146 0088 Website: Auld Bangor Historical and Cultural Society


 * A friendly society of people interested in local historical and cultural events and visits.

Banbridge Historical Society Banbridge Old Town Hall 1 Scarva Street Banbridge BT32 3DA UK Telephone: 07718820851 Website: Banbridge Historical Society


 * The purpose of the organisation is to encourage and develop an interest in and awareness of all aspects of history. The beneficiaries of the organisation's purpose are people of the local area who wish to become more informed about the history of the area.

Bangor Historical Society Good Templar Hall 1A Hamilton Rd Bangor BT20 4JP UK Email: [mailto:info@bangorhistoricalsocietyni.co.uk info@bangorhistoricalsocietyni.co.uk] Website: Bangor Historical Society Website #2: Bangor Historical Society


 * Bangor Historical Society was founded in November 1976 by the late Karl Smyth to encourage the study of and to promote public interest in local history. Between September and April of each year we run a programme of regular Lectures and Visits on aspects of History, Folklore, Archaeology, and Antiquities with a special reference to our local area of Bangor, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Carryduff Historical Society Lough Moss Centre Hillsborough Road Carryduff BT8 8HR UK Website: Carryduff Historical Society Website #2: Carryduff Historical Society


 * The society was formed in 2000 and its objectives are the study and encouragement of public interest in the history, folklore, archaeology, and antiquities, of the region in and around Carryduff, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK.

Comber Historical Society Comber Learning Centre 1 Park Way Comber BT23 5AR UK Telephone: 028 97521014 Email: [mailto:comberhistory@hotmail.co.uk comberhistory@hotmail.co.uk] Website: Comber Historical Society


 * The Society was formed in 2000 and aims to preserve and record information relating to Comber and to make it available to all those with an interest in our town.

Lecale & Downe Historical Society Down County Museum The Mall Downpatrick BT30 6AH UK Telephone: 028 4483 131 Email: [mailto:smpcross@yahoo.co.uk smpcross@yahoo.co.uk] Email #2: [mailto:info@lecalehistory.co.uk info@lecalehistory.co.uk] Website: Lecale & Downe Historical Society Website #2: Lecale & Downe Historical Society


 * The Society is established for exclusively charitable purposes to encourage public interest in, and promote the study of, local histories and environments and, in particular, those of the Barony of Lecale and adjacent areas in County Down.

Saintfield Heritage Society Woodrow Room Parish Church Hall 45 Main Street Saintfield BT24 7AB UK Email: [mailto:info@discoversaintfield.com info@discoversaintfield.com] Website: Saintfield Heritage Society


 * The principal object of the Society is to advance the public education in all aspects of the history of Saintfield and its surrounding districts, including the geography, folklore, customs, dialects, place names, etc. of the area.

Upper Ards Historical Society Ballyphilip Parish Centre High Street Portaferry Email: [mailto:upperardshistory@hotmail.co.uk upperardshistory@hotmail.co.uk] Website: Upper Ards Historical Society Website #2: Upper Ards Historical Society


 * The Upper Ards Historical Society was formed with the aim of researching and recording the history of the Ards Peninsula in County Down. The name is taken from the area which is known as The Barony of Upper Ards.