Ravara

Coordinates: 54°29′12″N 5°48′1″W / 54.48667°N 5.80028°W / 54.48667; -5.80028
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Ravara
Ravara fields 2011
Ravara is located in County Down
Ravara
Ravara
Location within County Down
Area1.94 sq mi (5.0 km2)
• Belfast8 mi (12.9 km)
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNEWTOWNARDS
Postcode districtBT23
Dialling code028
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Down
54°29′12″N 5°48′1″W / 54.48667°N 5.80028°W / 54.48667; -5.80028

Ravara (from Irish Ráth Bhearach 'fort of heifers')[1] is a rural townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It has an area of 1242.98 acres (5.03 km2). It is situated in the civil parish of Killinchy and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower, located just south of Ballygowan. It lies within the Ards and North Down Borough Council.[2]

Demography[edit]

1659 Census[edit]

In 1659 the population of Ravara was 12.[3]

  • 100%(12) were Irish

1901 Census[edit]

On Census Day (Sunday 31 March 1901) the population of Ravara was 269 from 63 households.[4]

  • 47.2%(127) Male
  • 52.8%(142) Female


  • 31.2%(84) reported Catholic
  • 66.5%(179) were Protestant
  • 0.4%(1) reported as attending the Church of Ireland or the Irish Church
  • 66.2%(178) reported Presbyterian
  • 2.2%(6) reported as other


1911 Census[edit]

On Census Day (1 May 1911) the population of Ravara was 331 from 70 households(excluding 4 uninhabited houses).[5][6]

  • 52.9%(175) Male
  • 47.1%(156) Female


  • 19.3%(64) reported Catholic
  • 78.3%(259) reported Presbyterian
  • 2.4%(8) reported as other

1951 Census[edit]

On Census Day (Midnight of 8–9 April 1951) the population of Ravara was 372 from 104 households.[7]

  • 50.5%(188) Male
  • 49.5%(184) Female

Religion[edit]

Ravara Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church
Ravara Road displayed with Loyalist flags 2010

According to the 1911 Census of the Religious professions of the inhabitants of Ravara are as follows:


There is just one church in the townland of Ravara, this being the Ravara Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church. This church, both congregation and building, was founded in 1837. The church building is located just 0.5 miles south of Ballygowan along the Saintfield Road(A21). The current Minister is Rev. Alistier Bell.[8]

The Manse of Ballygowan Presbyterian Church was Ravara House from around 1865-1980.[9] The road which the Manse was once on is still called the 'Manse Road' despite the Manse of Ballygowan Presbyterian Church now being The Burn Road in Magherascouse.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ravara". Place Names NI. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Ravara". townlands.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  3. ^ "1659 Census of Ireland" (PDF).
  4. ^ "1901 Census national archives".
  5. ^ "1911 Census national archives".
  6. ^ "NISRA 1926 & 1911 Census Population Ravara" (PDF).
  7. ^ "NISRA 1951 Census Population Ravara" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Ravara Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church". Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Ros Davies, Ballygowan History". Retrieved 17 December 2023.