town and seat, Ards district (established 1973), formerly in County Down, Northern Ireland, 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). It is now a manufacturing centre, with linen, hosiery, and engineering industries. Pop. (2001) 27,821.