Local Ardglass history book written by Kevin Crangle gains major award
The publication Ardglass and Dunsford, Co. Down – Biographies by Kevin Crangle has recently lifted a national prize by becoming a 2023 Alan Ball Award Winner for local history books.
Ardglass man Kevin self-published his text just last October and is the first author from Northern Ireland to have won this award, which is administered by the Local Studies Group & Library Services Trust.
Kevin obtained the prize for his publication in one of only two hardcopy categories in this annual award.
The judges said: “This 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 publication.
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.
Award winner Kevin Crangle researched and wrote the book in his spare time. It contains over 600 life stories of former Ardglass and Dunsford occupants, many of which were known throughout Ireland or internationally.
Kevin said: “I’m really proud that my effort to record the local history of Ardglass and Dunsford has been acknowledged with this national award, which certainly puts these affiliated parish areas on the map.
“I am honoured and most pleased to have won an Alan Ball Award. It recognises my research 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 well worth it, and being the author of an award-winning text is a great accolade.”
The other 2023 Alan Ball Award book category winners were Scotland’s Lascar Heritage: Investigating the Lives of South Asian Mariners by Saif Khan, et al and Lavenham House Histories by Paula Stevens.
Kevin will be joining the 2023 winners from the other award categories in July to receive his certificate and is planning to deliver a talk on some of those biographied in his book at Ardglass later that month.
Details of how to obtain copies of the award-winning Ardglass and Dunsford, Co. Down – Biographies, a useful local reference book, can be found on the web and Facebook.
Order a copy here:
