Ardkeen Crescent
First recorded: 1951 Belfast Street Directory
Location: Just off the Castlereagh Road, East Belfast
Postcode: BT6 9NW
Townland: Lisnasharragh
Background
Ardkeen Crescent was laid out during Belfast’s postwar suburban expansion and first appears in the 1951 Belfast Street Directory, which lists residents such as Chas. I. Keepe (teacher) at No. 60. It does not appear in pre-war records, confirming that the street was likely constructed and named around 1950.
It lies within the historic townland of Lisnasharragh, County Down — an area that saw significant housing development in the mid-20th century, particularly along the Castlereagh Road corridor.
Origin of the Name
The name Ardkeen derives from the Irish “Ard Caoin”, meaning “pleasant height” or “beautiful hill.” It is also the name of a townland in County Down, near Strangford Lough.
There is no record of a house or estate named Ardkeen in this part of East Belfast.
Conclusion
Ardkeen Crescent reflects a postwar Belfast trend of using Irish placenames to shape the identity of emerging suburban streets. While no local historical namesake has been identified, the choice of Ardkeen aligns with the era’s preference for poetic, topographically inspired names. Its location within Lisnasharragh and its first appearance in 1951 firmly place it within this chapter of the city’s urban development story.