Author Kevin recognised for book on local people

8 May 2024

AN Ardglass man has received a prestigious award for his new book.

Local history enthusiast Kevin Crangle won an Alan Ball Award for Ardglass and Dunsford, County Down – Biographies.

Kevin (57) is the first author from Northern Ireland to have won this award, which is administered by the Local Studies Group and Library Services Trust.

“I’m really proud that my effort to record the local history of Ardglass and Dunsford has been acknowledged with this award, which certainly puts these parish areas on the map,” he said.

“I am honoured to have won an Alan Ball award as it recognises my diligent work which revealed so many notable occupants, natives and stories from the area.

“The time spent in libraries, archives, record offices and online at home was worth it and being the author of an award-winning text is a great accolade.”

One judge said: “Kevin’s book was brilliantly researched and written, representing a huge amount of work and providing an important record of the many people who have contributed to the heritage of Ardglass and Dunsford and indeed to our wider history.

“It is a tremendous piece of work that should become a go-to reference.”

The Alan Ball Award scheme was established in 1986 and each year serves to encourage and recognise outstanding local history book or website publications.

Those nominated could be from heritage and community organisations or individuals who have self-published.

The award is named after Alan W Ball, the former Chief Librarian of the London Borough of Harrow, who wrote and published many local history books over the period 1972–2003.

Details of how to obtain copies of Ardglass and Dunsford, County Down – Biographies, can be found on the internet and on Facebook.

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