, subdivision_type =

Sovereign state A sovereign state or sovereign country, is a political entity represented by one central government that has supreme legitimate authority over territory. International law defines sovereign states as having a permanent population, defined te ...

, subdivision_type1 = Constituent country , subdivision_type2 = , subdivision_type3 = , subdivision_type4 = Status , subdivision_type5 = Admin HQ , subdivision_name =

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, subdivision_name1 =

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

, subdivision_name2 = , subdivision_name3 = , subdivision_name4 = District , subdivision_name5 = Bangor , government_type = District council , leader_title = Leadership , leader_title1 = , established_title1 = Incorporated , population_density_km2 = auto , blank3_name = Ethnicity , blank3_info = 97.7%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

"Main statistics for Northern Ireland Statistical bulletin - Ethnic group"
ONS. Retrieved 22 September 2022 , blank1_name = ONS code , blank2_name = Irish grid reference , official_name = Ards and North Down , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_alt = , image_caption = , image_shield = , shield_size = , shield_alt = , shield_link = , image_map = Ards and North Down district in Northern Ireland.svg , mapsize = 150px , map_alt = , map_caption = , established_date1 = 1 April 2015 , governing_body =

Ards and North Down Borough Council Ards and North Down Borough Council is a local authority in Northern Ireland that was established on 1 April 2015. It replaced Ards Borough Council and North Down Borough Council. The first elections to the authority were on 22 May 2014 and it ...

, leader_party = , leader_name = , leader_name1 = , area_total_km2 = , area_rank = , population_total = , population_as_of = , population_rank = , population_blank1 = , blank1_info = , blank2_info = , website = http://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/ Ards and North Down is a

local government district The districts of England (also known as local authority districts or local government districts to distinguish from unofficial city districts) are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. As the st ...

. It was created on 1 April 2015 by merging the Borough of Ards and the Borough of North Down. The local authority is

Geography

The new district is in the East of Northern Ireland, covering the

Ards Peninsula The Ards Peninsula () is a peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland, on the north-east coast of Ireland. It separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea. Towns and villages on the peninsula include Donaghadee, Milli ...

, most of

Strangford Lough Strangford Lough (from Old Norse ''Strangr Fjörðr'', meaning "strong sea-inlet"PlaceNames N ...

and the southern shore of

Belfast Lough Belfast Lough is a large, intertidal sea inlet on the east coast of Northern Ireland. At its head is the city and port of Belfast, which sits at the mouth of the River Lagan. The lough opens into the North Channel and connects Belfast to ...

. It has an estimated population of . The original name of the new district was recommended on 17 September 2008.

Council

Ards and North Down Borough Council replaces Ards Borough Council and

North Down Borough Council North Down Borough Council was a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. It merged with Ards Borough Council in May 2015 under local government reorganisation in Northern Ireland to become North Down and Ards District Council. Its m ...

. The first election for the new district council was originally due to take place in May 2009, but on April 25, 2008,

Shaun Woodward Shaun Anthony Woodward (born 26 October 1958) is a British politician who was the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for St Helens South from 2001 to 2015. He served in the cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for North ...

, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until 2011. The first elections took place on 22 May 2014 and the council acted as a shadow authority until 1 April 2015. At a meeting of the shadow authority on 15 December 2014, councillors voted in favour of changing the council's name to ''East Coast Borough Council'', and to submit an application to the Department of the Environment to change the name with effect from 1 April 2015. However, the council's website launched on 1 April 2015 refers to the new council as "Ards and North Down Borough Council", and this name has continued in use.

Freedom of the Borough

The following have received the

Freedom of the Borough The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...

of Ards and North Down.

Individuals

Gary Lightbody Gareth John Lightbody (born 15 June 1976) is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol. He has also founded the musical supergroups The ...

: 30 August 2022.

Military Units

* The

Irish Guards ("Who Shall Separate s") , colors = , identification_symbol_2 Saffron (pipes), identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition F ...

: 24 June 2022.

Organisations and Groups

* The

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) is a health organisation in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kin ...

: 1 September 2018.

References

{{NI districts Districts of Northern Ireland, 2015-present County Down