Newtownards, town, Ards and North Down district, eastern Northern Ireland, situated at the northern end of Strangford Lough (inlet of the sea), just east of Belfast. It was founded by Sir Hugh Montgomery in 1608 at the site of a ruined Dominican friary (established 1244 by Walter de Burgh, earl of Ulster). Pop. (2001) 27,795; (2011) 28,039.