County Antrim

County Antrim (Contae Aontroma in ) is one of the six counties that form. It is the 9th largest of the 32 traditional of  in terms of area, and 2nd in terms of population behind. It is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, in the province of. It is bounded north and east by the narrow seas separating Northern Ireland from, the and , south by  and the  dividing it from , south-west by , dividing it from  and , and west by , the boundary with which is the. Covering an area of, it has a population of approximately 566,000, most of them in and around the area.

The offer isolated rugged landscapes, the  is a unique landscape and a UNESCO,  produces legendary whiskey, and  is a popular nightlife zone. The majority of the capital city of Northern Ireland,, is also in County Antrim, with the remainder being in.

Geology
A large portion of the county is hilly, especially in the east, where the highest elevations are attained, though these are nowhere great. The range runs north and south, and, following this direction the highest points are Knocklayd (1,695 feet), Slieveanorra (1,676 feet), Trostan (1,817 feet), Slemish (1,457 feet) and Divis (1,567 feet). The inland slope is gradual, but on the northern shore the range terminates in abrupt and almost perpendicular declivities, and here, consequently, some of the finest coast scenery in the world is found, widely differing, with its unbroken lines of cliffs, from the indented coast-line of the west. The most remarkable cliffs are those formed of perpendicular basaltic columns, extending for many miles, and most strikingly displayed in and the celebrated. From the eastern coast the hills rise instantly but less abruptly, and the indentations are wider and deeper. On both coasts there are several resort towns, including (with well-known golf links),  and ; on the east,  and Milltown on Red Bay,  and , , and  on Belfast Lough. All are somewhat exposed to the easterly winds prevalent in spring. The only island of size is, off Ballycastle, 6½ miles in length by 1½ in breadth, 7 miles from the coast, and of similar basaltic and limestone formation to that of the mainland. It is partially arable, and supports a small population. is in fact a peninsula separating from the North Channel.

The valleys of the Bann and Lagan, with the intervening shores of Lough Neagh, form the fertile lowlands. These two rivers, both rising in County Down, are the only ones of importance. The latter flows to Belfast Lough, the former drains Lough Neagh, which is fed by a number of smaller streams. The fisheries of the Bann and of Lough Neagh (especially for and ) are of value both commercially and to sportsmen, the small town of, at the outflow of the river, being the centre. Immediately below this point lies Lough Beg, the "Small Lake," about 15 feet lower than Lough Neagh.

Transport
County Antrim has a number of important air, rail and sea links.

Air
Northern Ireland's main Airport,, at Aldergrove is in County Antrim. Belfast International shares its runways with the base, which otherwise has its own facilities. It is the fifth largest regional air cargo centre in the UK. There are regular services to, and.

(The region is also served by, two kilometres east of Belfast on the Co. Down side of the city, which was renamed in 2006 in honour of  .)

Rail
The main  routes are the major line between Belfast, Antrim,,  and , Belfast to  and , the port for  in Scotland and Coleraine to.

See Also:


 * Railway Stations in County Antrim

Sea
Two of Northern Ireland's main ports are in County Antrim, and.

Ferries sail from Larne Harbour to destinations including and  in, and  in.

The is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland. It is a major centre of industry and commerce and has become established as the focus of logistics activity for Northern Ireland. Around two thirds of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade, and a quarter of that for Ireland as a whole, is handled at the port which receives over 9000 vessels each year.

Population
The population of County Antrim is 566,000 (estimate).

Religion
is the largest religious denomination, followed by.

Administration
The traditional county town is. More recently, was the seat of county government. (The counties of Northern Ireland ceased to be administrative entities in the, with the reorganization of local government.)

In Northern Ireland the county structure is no longer used in local government. Northern Ireland is split into. Those in County Antrim are administered by the following nine councils:



The county contains all of 5 :



Parts of the following constituencies are also in County Antrim:

Settlements
The principal towns are, , , , and. and are split between County Antrim and. ,, , and  are among the lesser towns. Belfast and Larne are the chief ports.

See Also:


 * Towns in County Antrim
 * Villages in County Antrim

History
At what date the county of Antrim was formed is not known, but it appears that a certain district bore this name before the reign of (early ), and when the shiring of Ulster was undertaken by Sir  in the, Antrim and Down were already recognized divisions, in contradistinction to the remainder of the province. The earliest known inhabitants were of origin, and the names of the  or subdivisions, supposed to have been made in the, are all of Gaelic derivation. Antrim was exposed to the inroads of the Danes, and also of the northern Scots, who ultimately effected permanent settlements. In ancient times, it was inhabited by a Celtic people called the Darini. In the early Middle Ages, southern County Antrim was part of the Kingdom of Ulidia, ruled by the Dál Fiatach clans O'Haughey/O'Hoey and MacDonlevy/McDunlavey; the north was part of Dal Riada, which stretched into western Scotland over the Irish Sea. Dal Riada was ruled by the O'Lynch clan, who were vassals of the Ulidians. Besides the Ulidians and Dal Riada, there were the Dal nAraide of lower County Antrim, and the Cruithne, who were not Gaelic Celts but Picts. In the late Middle Ages, it was divided into three parts: northern Clandeboy, the Glynnes and the Route. The Cambro-Norman s were powerful in the Route. A branch of the O'Neills of Tyrone migrated to Clandeboy in the 1300s, and ruled it for a time. Their family was called O'Neill Clannaboy. A galloglass sept, the MacDonnells, became the most powerful in the Glynnes in the 1400s.

Antrim is divided into 16 baronies. Lower Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboy, was settled by the sept O'Flynn/O'Lynn. Upper Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboy, was the home of the O'Keevans. Belfast was part of Lower Clandeboy and was held by the O'Neill-Clannaboys. Lower Belfast, Upper Belfast, and Carrickfergus were also part of Lower Clandeboy. Cary was part of the Glynnes; ruled originally by the O'Quinn sept, the MacDonnell galloglasses from Scotland took power here in the late Middle Ages and some of the O'Haras also migrated from Connaught. Upper and Lower Dunluce were part of the Route, and were ruled by the MacQuillans. Upper and Lower Glenarm was ruled by the O'Flynn/O'Lynn sept, considered part of the Glynns. In addition to that sept and that of O'Quinn, both of which were native, the Scottish gallowglass septs of MacKeown, MacAlister, and MacGee, are found there. Kilconway was originally O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory, but was held by the MacQuillans as part of the Route, and later by the gallowglass sept of MacNeill. Lower Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboy and was ruled by the O'Flynns and the O'Heircs. Upper Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboy, ruled by the O'Heircs. Upper and Lower Toome, part of the Route, were O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory. Misc was first ruled by the MacQuillans. Later, the Scottish gallowglass MacDonnells and MacAlisters invaded. The MacDonnells were a branch of the Scottish Clan MacDonald; the MacAlisters traced their origin back to the Irish Colla Uais, eldest of the Three Collas. Islandmagee had, besides antiquarian remains, a notoriety as a home of witchcraft, and was the scene of an act of reprisal against the Catholic population during the for the  massacre of, by the Scottish  soldiery of Carrickfergus.

Historic Monuments
The antiquities of the county consist of s, mounts or forts, remains of ecclesiastical and military structures, and s. The principal cairns are: one on Colin mountain, near Lisburn; one on, near Carrickfergus; and two on Colinward. The s most worthy of notice are: one near, to the north-east of the old road from Belfast to ; the large cromlech at , near ; and one at the northern extremity of Islandmagee. The mounts, forts and entrenchments are very numerous.

There are three round towers: one at Antrim, one at, and one on in Lough Neagh, only that at Antrim being perfect. There are some remains of the ecclesiastic establishments at, where the earls of Antrim are buried, , Glenarm, , and Whiteabbey.

The noble castle of Carrickfergus is the only one in perfect preservation. There are, however, remains of other ancient castles, as, Cam's, Shane's, Glenarm, Garron Tower and Red Bay, but the most interesting of all is , remarkable for its great extent and romantic situation.

The, the , is in Antrim.

See Also:


 * Castles in County Antrim

Saint Patrick
, about 8 miles east of Ballymena, is notable as being the scene of St Patrick's early life. According to tradition was a slave for seven years, near the hill of Slemish, until he escaped back to.

Linen
manufacturing was previously an important industry in the County. At the time Ireland produced a large mount of. Cotton-spinning by was first introduced by to Belfast by industrialists Robert Joy and Thomas M'Cabe in ;  an Twenty-three years later it was estimated that more than 27,000 people were employed in the industry within 10 miles of Belfast. Women were employed in the working of patterns on.

Notable residents

 * , (1709-1783), born in County Antrim, explorer, trader, and historian
 * , (1899-1983), general practitioner born in and suspected of killing 163 patients while practising in,.
 * , (1797-1875), born in Ballymena, noted antiquitarian and  in the.
 * , (1883-1972), chorister, pioneer, and hostess in
 * , (1847-1885), born in Antrim, physician and noted author.

Flora
Records of the of Co. Antrim were brought together and published in 1907 by J. Adams who notes that the list contains 211 species. Batter's list, of 1902, contained 747 species from the and.

See Also:


 * People from County Antrim