Beautiful Bangor Castle

Bangor Castle

Bangor Castle is our grand old lady.

She sits on the parkland edge of Castle Park, gazing down over the train and bus station to Bangor Bay in the distance. Beside her, is the North Down Museum and further down the park paths, her Walled Garden.

It’s at least the third iteration of “Bangor Castle” and was almost derelict when it was acquired by the then Bangor Borough Council as their base in 1941. Now it’s the council chamber for Ards and North Down Borough Council.

But this isn’t an episode about local politics.

Bangor Castle contains undoubtedly the most beautiful council chamber in Northern Ireland – Ireland perhaps – and as well as the thunder of debates, it has heard thousands of voices affirming “I do” at civil weddings as well poets, choirs, story-tellers and musicians at cultural events.

So, I was delighted when former councillors Karen Douglas and Ian Sinclair agreed to wander round with me, sharing memories, explaining what it meant to them and recalling how so many - from royalty to rescue dogs -  have been made welcome under the beautiful stained-glass windows.

From left: Ian Sinclair and Karen Douglas……the stained glass windows in the Council Chamber….the rear of the Chamber where the Music Room gallery was situated…..the front entrance of Bangor Castle.

 Podcast music by Shane Ivers - Silvermansound.com

Bangor’s City Statute from King Charles III presented in 2022