Eden, County Antrim
Encyclopedia
Eden is a residential settlement on the eastern edge of Carrickfergus
in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
, located within a larger electoral ward area
of the same name. It is intersected by the Larne Road, a small section of the extensive Antrim Coast Road
that connects Carrickfergus to Whitehead
and the major ferry port of Larne
.
established the Eden Allotments, a five hectare allotment
site intended to be a hub of community activity as well as promoting gardening activities and 'home-grown' cultivation of vegetables. It has been highly publicised in local newspapers and has received praise from local government for its environmentally friendly aims. It is currently believed to be the largest allotment site on the island of Ireland.
until 1977, when NI Railways
nationalised their services and closed many railway stations, including nearby Kilroot railway station
. There is now no station between Downshire
and Whitehead.
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
in County 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...
, 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...
, located within a larger electoral ward area
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
of the same name. It is intersected by the Larne Road, a small section of the extensive Antrim Coast Road
A2 road (Northern Ireland)
The A2 is a major road in Northern Ireland, a large section of which is often called the Antrim Coast Road because it follows the scenic coastline of County Antrim....
that connects Carrickfergus to Whitehead
Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead is a small seaside town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, lying almost midway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. It lies within the civil parishes of Island Magee and Templecorran, the barony of Belfast Lower, and is part of Carrickfergus Borough Council...
and the major ferry port of Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
.
Community projects
In April 2008, Carrickfergus Borough CouncilCarrickfergus Borough Council
Carrickfergus Borough Council is a district council in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. The council headquarters are in Carrickfergus and the council administers the town, on the north shore of Belfast Lough, and surrounding area, which extends from Greenisland in the south-west to Whitehead in...
established the Eden Allotments, a five hectare allotment
Allotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
site intended to be a hub of community activity as well as promoting gardening activities and 'home-grown' cultivation of vegetables. It has been highly publicised in local newspapers and has received praise from local government for its environmentally friendly aims. It is currently believed to be the largest allotment site on the island of Ireland.
Education
Eden is served by Eden Primary School. The school is located on a 3.4 acre plot of land within residential Eden and takes children from a larger surrounding catchment area which includes Carrickfergus and occasionally Whitehead.Transport
Eden was served by Eden railway stationEden railway station
Eden was a station located in the townland of Eden, in and around the town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. At one time it formed part of a tight cluster of stations, each located almost one minute from the other, from Mount through to Kilroot.The station closed in 1977 when Northern Ireland...
until 1977, when NI Railways
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...
nationalised their services and closed many railway stations, including nearby Kilroot railway station
Kilroot railway station
Kilroot was a station located in the village of Kilroot, close the town of Carrickfergus, in the shadow of Kilroot power station in Northern Ireland....
. There is now no station between Downshire
Downshire railway station
Downshire railway station serves eastern Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.This station opened on 1 April 1925 and was known for most of its early life as Downshire Park. Northern Ireland Railways renamed the halt in the late 1970s...
and Whitehead.
Notable residents
- International footballer Willie IrvineWillie IrvineWilliam John "Willie" Irvine is a former professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Born in Eden, County Antrim, into a large family, he grew up in the nearby town of Carrickfergus. He did well at school, but chose to pursue a career in professional football and initially played for...
(and most likely his brother BobbyBobby Irvine (footballer born 1942)Bobby Irvine was a former football player for Linfield and Stoke.His younger brother Willie was a star striker for Burnley in the sixties.He shares the same name as Bobby Irvine, who played for Everton and represented Ireland.-Linfield:...
) was born in Eden before moving to the Sunnylands estate in Carrickfergus. - Top Bucket Smoker Lee Welsh
In popular culture
- The short film In Case I Disappear which won a competition held in conjunction with the release of the 2007 surrealistic film My WinnipegMy WinnipegMy Winnipeg is a feature film directed by Guy Maddin. Starring Ann Savage, the film is a surrealist-inflected pseudo-documentary about Winnipeg, Maddin's home town...
, primarily features footage of Eden, which was director Simon Aeppli's hometown. The short film can be found on YouTube and as an extra on the My Winnipeg DVD.