Moneyreagh
# Moneyreagh

Moneyreagh or Moneyrea (from Irish: Mónaidh Riabhach, meaning 'grey bog or moor') is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is just off the main road between Belfast and Ballygowan. It is situated in the civil parish of Comber and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower. It had a population of 1,594 people in the 2021 Census.

## History

On the 26 May 1942 a Royal Air Force, Bristol Beaufighter (X7573) crashed near village shortly after taking off from RAF Ballyhalbert, killing all Three crew.

## Demography

### 2011 Census

On Census Day, 27 March 2011, the usual resident of the Moneyreagh Settlement was 1,384 (519 households).

* 17.92% were aged under 16 years and 13.37% were aged 65 and over
* 50.29% of the usually resident population were male and 49.71% were female
* 44 was the average (median) age of the population
* 99.71% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group
* 2.24% belong to or were brought up as Catholic
* 90.39% belong to or were brought as 'Protestant and other Christian (including Christian related)' religion
* 83.31% indicated that they had a British national identity, 2.53% had an Irish national identity and 29.77% had a Northern Irish national identity.

Respondents could indicate more than one national identity.

**Language**

* 1.04% had some knowledge of the Irish Language
* 9.07% had some knowledge of the Ulster Scots Language
* 0.30% did not have English as their first language

## Education

### Primary

Moneyreagh has one primary school locally, seen at the top of the table below.

Other schools nearby have been added also.

| School Name | Location | Distance outside |
| - | - | - |
| Moneyrea PS | Moneyreagh | 0 mi (0 km) |
| Alexander Dickson PS | Ballygowan | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) |
| Loughview Integrated PS | Castlereagh | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
| Andrews Memorial PS | Comber | 4 mi (6.4 km) |

### Secondary

Moneyreagh does not have any secondary schools locally.

Those located nearby (<10 mi (16 km) away) are shown in the table below:

| School Name | Location | Distance outside | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| Lagan College | Castlereagh | 4 mi (6.4 km) | |
| Grosvenor Grammar School | Castlereagh | 4.7 mi (7.6 km) | Accessible by public bus route 12/512 |
| Saintfield High School | Saintfield | 6.4 mi (10.3 km) | |

## Notable People

Golfer, Rory McIlroy, lived near the village until March 2013.

## Transport

Moneyreagh is connected to Belfast City Centre by the 12/512 bus route ran by Translink. This route also connects Moneyreagh to the neighbouring small town of Ballygowan.

