The townland of Ballymorran is located on the western shore of Strangford Lough, in County Down. In May 2015 I drove there through Balloo and Killinchy.
The narrow, winding, picturesque roads in this area are also popular with cyclists. Click here for a guide to the route published by CycleNI. You won’t meet much traffic, just the odd cow.
The landscape of fields, hedges and drumlins rolling down to Ballymorran Bay is impressive…….
…..unless you are a sheep, in which case you don’t pay much attention to the view.
According to the PLACENAMESNI website, the name Ballymorran comes from the Irish Baile Morainn meaning “St. Morann’s townland”. Who was the saint? Probably Morand, bishop of Nendrum, who died in AD 684. The site of Nendrum Monastery is located in the townland of Mahee Island, a short distance north of Ballymorran.
I was back in Ballymorran Bay in October, on a calm sunny day after the harvest.
It’s a good place to sit and reflect.
There’s a great description of Ballymorran bay from a canoeist’s point of view on the Song of the Paddle website. Click here for a link to Neil’s quest to visit every island in Strangford Lough.
more information
Which other townlands border Ballymorran? To the north, Killinakin. To the west, Killinchy. To the south, Tullycore and Quarterland. To the east, Strangford Lough and the island townland of Conly Island.
Which civil parish is Ballymorran in? Killinchy
Which county is Ballymorran in? County Down.
Click here to see my photographs of gravestones related to Ballymorran.
Click here to see a map of Ballymorran on TOWNLANDS.IE
Finally, click here for the PLACENAMESNI website to see a map of the townland of Ballymorran and to read more about the origin of the name.
Townlands of Ulster 
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This has been very enjoyable. My 2nd and 3rd greatgrandparents were from Quarterland, Ballymoran and Tullamore. I have a cousin who has visited the church in Killinchy to copy records of the marriages as well as see gravestones. I have yet to make it to Ireland but surely intend to get there in the next few years.
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I hope you get the chance to visit Ireland, and to see the areas where your family came from – this is a beautiful part of the world.
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