Antrim, County Antrim
Encyclopedia
Antrim is a town in County Antrim
in the northeast of Northern Ireland
, on the banks of the Six Mile Water
, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh
. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census
. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council. It is 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Belfast
by rail
, and was, until recently, also served by the railway line from Lisburn
.
; and in 1642 a naval engagement took place on Lough Neagh, for Viscount Massereene and Ferrard (who founded Antrim Castle in 1662) had a right to maintain a fighting fleet on the lough.
The Society of United Irishmen launched a rebellion in 1798
, which began in Leinster
and quickly spread to Ulster
. The United Irishmen had been founded in 1791 by liberal Protestants in Belfast
. Its goal was to unite Catholics and Protestants and make Ireland an independent republic
. Although its membership was mainly Catholic, many of its leaders and members in northeast Ulster were Protestant Presbyterians. On 7 June 1798, about 4000 United Irishmen led by Henry Joy McCracken
attacked the town. The rebels were on the verge of taking the town until British reinforcements arrived. Thanks to a rebel band led by James Hope
, most of the United Irishmen were able to withdraw safely. This is known as the Battle of Antrim
.
Before the Act of Union
, Antrim returned two members to parliament by virtue of letters patent granted in 1666 by Charles II.
, Antrim experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official Met Office
weather station
for which online records are available is at Aldergrove, under 4 miles to the south of the town centre.
In a typical year the warmest day should reach a temperature of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) and 2.1 days should attain a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above in total.
The coldest night of the year averages -6.6 C and 39 nights should register an air frost. The absolute minimum temperature of -14.2 C was reported during the record cold spell of December 2010. In total during that month 10 nights fell to -10.0 C or below, and the 21st recorded a daytime maximum of just -7.7 C
(NISRA) (i.e. with population between 18,000 and 75,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 20,001 people living in Antrim. Of these:
For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service
. There are also hidden gems, such as a 19th century smithy
(now a shop) on Bridge Street with a distinctive horseshoe entrance.
Antrim railway station
was opened on 11 April 1848, and closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965.
Snooker player Mark Allen
who made his crucible debut in 2007 with a first round win over former champion Ken Doherty
is from Antrim Town. In 2009 Mark Allen
made it to the semi finals of the World Snooker Championships were he lost to eventual winner John Higgins. Maurice Jennings Author of "The Lazarus Legacy" grew up and still lives in Antrim.
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
in the northeast of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, on the banks of the Six Mile Water
Six Mile Water
The Six Mile Water is a river in southern County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was historically called the Ollar and is known in Irish as Abhainn na bhFiodh. The Six Mile Water is an indirect tributary of the River Bann, via Lough Neagh...
, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council. It is 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
by rail
Northern Ireland Railways
NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
, and was, until recently, also served by the railway line from Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
.
History
A battle was fought near Antrim between the English and Irish in the reign of Edward IIIEdward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
; and in 1642 a naval engagement took place on Lough Neagh, for Viscount Massereene and Ferrard (who founded Antrim Castle in 1662) had a right to maintain a fighting fleet on the lough.
The Society of United Irishmen launched a rebellion in 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
, which began in Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
and quickly spread to Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. The United Irishmen had been founded in 1791 by liberal Protestants in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Its goal was to unite Catholics and Protestants and make Ireland an independent republic
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. Although its membership was mainly Catholic, many of its leaders and members in northeast Ulster were Protestant Presbyterians. On 7 June 1798, about 4000 United Irishmen led by Henry Joy McCracken
Henry Joy McCracken
Henry Joy McCracken was an Irish industrialist and a founding member of the Society of the United Irishmen.-History:...
attacked the town. The rebels were on the verge of taking the town until British reinforcements arrived. Thanks to a rebel band led by James Hope
James Hope (Ireland)
James Hope was an United Irishmen leader who fought in the 1798 and 1803 rebellions against British rule in Ireland.-Background:...
, most of the United Irishmen were able to withdraw safely. This is known as the Battle of Antrim
Battle of Antrim
The Battle of Antrim was fought on 7 June 1798, in the county Antrim in Ulster, Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 between British troops and Irish insurgents led by Henry Joy McCracken...
.
Before the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
, Antrim returned two members to parliament by virtue of letters patent granted in 1666 by Charles II.
Geography
Divisions and suburbs of Antrim include Ballycraigy, Carnbeg, Caulside, Dublin Road, Greenvale, Greystone, Islandbawn, Meadowlands, Muckamore, Newpark, Niblock, Parkhall, Rathenraw, Riverside, Belmont Heights, Springfarm, Steeple, Stiles, The Folly, Townparks, Massereene.Climate
As with the rest of the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, Antrim experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
weather station
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
for which online records are available is at Aldergrove, under 4 miles to the south of the town centre.
In a typical year the warmest day should reach a temperature of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) and 2.1 days should attain a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above in total.
The coldest night of the year averages -6.6 C and 39 nights should register an air frost. The absolute minimum temperature of -14.2 C was reported during the record cold spell of December 2010. In total during that month 10 nights fell to -10.0 C or below, and the 21st recorded a daytime maximum of just -7.7 C
Demography
Antrim is classified as a large town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research AgencyNorthern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency is an executive agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. The organisation is responsible for the collection and publication of statistics related to the economy, population and society of Northern Ireland...
(NISRA) (i.e. with population between 18,000 and 75,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 20,001 people living in Antrim. Of these:
- 23.1% were aged under 16 years and 15.7% were aged 60 and over
- 48.6% of the population were male and 51.4% were female
- 32.9% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 61.5% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 3.8% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service
Landmarks
There are many buildings of historic note in the town, especially in and around High Street. The courthouse sits at the end of the street, near the Barbican Gate, the old gateway to Antrim CastleAntrim Castle
Antrim Castle or Massereene Castle was a castle in Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was erected in stages between 1610 and 1666. It was destroyed in 1922 and finally demolished in the 1970s.- History:...
. There are also hidden gems, such as a 19th century smithy
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
(now a shop) on Bridge Street with a distinctive horseshoe entrance.
- Shane's CastleShane's CastleShane's Castle is a ruined castle near Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The castle is on the north-east shores of Lough Neagh. Built in 1345 by a member of the O'Neill dynasty, it was originally called Eden-duff-carrick...
and Antrim Castle - About a mile from the town is one of the most perfect of the round towerIrish round towerIrish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
s of Ireland, 93 feet high and 50 feet in circumference at the base. It stands in the grounds of Steeple, where there is also the "Witches' Stone", a prehistoric monument. - There was a Castle, near the Six Mile Water, which was destroyed in a fire in 1922. All that remains is an octagonal tower.
- The river allowed the linenLinenLinen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
industry to be established. The linen industry has been replaced by a Technology Park, the only one in Northern Ireland. - Antrim Market House is a 2–story building, nine bays long, three deep built in 1726. Formerly a Court House, it is currently being renovated and will house Antrim Information Centre, which is transferring from its existing premises in High Street, and a new multi-purpose auditorium on the first floor providing space for a range of functions including theatre and music promotions.
- The Castle Grounds, that is beside the Antrim Castle.
- The Springfarm Rath
Transport
Antrim's Aldergrove Airport is the second largest airport in Ireland serving destinations in Britain, Europe and North America.Antrim railway station
Antrim railway station
Antrim railway station serves Antrim in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.Antrim station was opened on 11 April 1848, and was closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965...
was opened on 11 April 1848, and closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965.
Education
- Antrim Grammar SchoolAntrim Grammar SchoolAntrim Grammar School is the newest grammar school in Northern Ireland. It is situated in County Antrim, within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.- History :...
- Parkhall CollegeParkhall CollegeParkhall Integrated College is a secondary school in Antrim, County Antrim.The school has two campuses: one at the existing site on Parkhall Road beside Antrim Grammar School, and the other on the former site of Massereene Community College. The school has five year groups and each group have...
- Antrim Primary School
- St Comgall's Primary School
- Greystone Primary
- Ballycraigy Primary SchoolBallycraigy Primary SchoolBallycraigy Primary School is situated in the Ballycraigy Estate, Bracken Avenue, Antrim, Northern Ireland. The school occupies a greenfield site on the A6 Belfast to Antrim Road, which the school moved to in 1969. The Principal is Mrs Hazel Edwards ....
- Parkhall Primary School
- St Joseph's Primary School
- Rathenraw Primary School
- Round Tower Primary School
Sport
- Antrim Hockey ClubAntrim Hockey ClubAntrim Hockey Club is a hockey club based at Muckamore Cricket Club, Moylena, Nursery Park, Belfast Road, Muckamore. Home fixtures are played on the sand-filled artificial surface at the Local Council owned Antrim Forum in Antrim town. The Club was founded in 1894 and was one of the founding...
- Antrim Rugby Football Club
- Antrim Forum leisure centre
- Chimney Corner F.C.Chimney Corner F.C.Chimney Corner is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1952, hails from Antrim and plays its home matches at Allen Park. Club colours are red and white. The current manager is Stephen Hughes. They have a reserve team which was founded in...
- Muckamore Cricket ClubMuckamore Cricket ClubMuckamore Cricket Club is a cricket club in Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, playing in the Premier League of the NCU Senior League.The club was formed by John Joseph Robinson, a member of the staff of the York Street Flax Spinning Company, who played for Massereene in the late 1860s...
- Antrim Mixed Martial Arts Academy
- Ballymena and Antrim Athletics Club
- St Comgall's Gaelic Athletic Club
Notable Antrimers
Antrim was home to author and poet Dr. Alexander Irvine who contrary to popular belief was not born in Pogues Entry in the town but rather in a small house nearby and was raised in Pogues Entry. He later wrote My Lady of the Chimney Corner. This was a reference to his mother.Snooker player Mark Allen
Mark Allen (snooker player)
Mark Allen is a Northern Irish professional snooker player. He won the World Amateur Championship in 2004. The following year he turned professional and took only three seasons to reach the elite top 16...
who made his crucible debut in 2007 with a first round win over former champion Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
is from Antrim Town. In 2009 Mark Allen
Mark Allen (snooker player)
Mark Allen is a Northern Irish professional snooker player. He won the World Amateur Championship in 2004. The following year he turned professional and took only three seasons to reach the elite top 16...
made it to the semi finals of the World Snooker Championships were he lost to eventual winner John Higgins. Maurice Jennings Author of "The Lazarus Legacy" grew up and still lives in Antrim.