Antrim, County Antrim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Antrim Scots: Antrìm, Anthrim or Entrim Irish: Aontroim
Church of Ireland and bridge over the Six Mile Water
Antrim
Population	23,375 (2011 Census)
Irish grid reference	J1588
• Belfast	19 miles (31 km)
District	Antrim and Newtownabbey
County	County Antrim
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ANTRIM
Postcode district	BT41
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	South Antrim
NI Assembly	South Antrim
Website	[1]
List of places UK Northern Ireland Antrim 54°43′02″N 6°12′20″W / 54.7173°N 6.2055°W / 54.7173; -6.2055

Antrim (Irish: Aontroim meaning 'lone ridge') is a town and civil parish in County Antrim in the northeast of Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Six Mile Water, on the north shore of Lough Neagh. It had a population of 23,375 people in the 2011 Census. It is the county town of County Antrim and was the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council. It is 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Belfast by rail.

History

At the beginning of recorded history, the Antrim area was populated by Irish Gaels and was within the territory of Dál nAraidi. According to tradition, a monastery was founded near the present site of the round tower in 495, thirty years after the death of Saint Patrick, to take forward his ministry, and a small settlement grew up around it.

By 1596, an English settlement had grown up around a ford across the Sixmilewater River and All Saints Parish Church has a datestone of 1596 with the words 'Gall-Antrum' written on it meaning 'The Antrum of the English'. Hugh Clotworthy, father of the Anglo-Irish politician John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene, supervised the building of secure military quarters beside the old Norman motte. This later became the site of Antrim Castle. Hugh was knighted in 1617 and appointed High Sheriff of County Antrim.

A battle was fought near Antrim between the English and Irish in the reign of Edward III; 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 is the setting for the novel All The Little Guns Went Bang, Bang, Bang by author Neil Mackay.

The Troubles

See also the UDA South East Antrim Brigade

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 Ireland, 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 (20.1 °F) and 39 nights should register an air frost. The absolute minimum temperature of −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) was reported during the record cold spell of December 2010. In total during that month 10 nights fell to −10.0 °C (14.0 °F) or below, and the 21st recorded a daytime maximum of just −7.7 °C (18.1 °F)

Demography

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 23,375 people living in Antrim, accounting for 1.29% of the NI total, representing an increase of 16.9% on the Census 2001 population of 20,001. Of these:

• 21.47% were aged under 16 years and 13.33% were aged 65 and over;
• 48.72% of the usually resident population were male and 51.28% were female;
• 54.80% belong to or were brought up in a Protestant or other Christian related background and 34.12% were brought up in a Catholic background;
• 61.47% indicated that they had a British national identity, 30.76% had a Northern Irish national identity and 11.56% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity);
• 35 years was the average (median) age of the population.
• 8.43% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots and 5.20% had some knowledge of the Irish language.

Landmarks

Antrim round tower

Antrim masonic hall

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 Castle. There are also hidden gems, such as a 19th-century smithy (now a shop) on Bridge Street with a distinctive horseshoe entrance.

• Shane's Castle and Antrim Castle
• About a mile from the town is one of the most perfect of the round towers 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 linen 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 railway station on Northern Ireland Railways.

Antrim railway station was opened on 11 April 1848, and closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965. Served by passenger trains on the Belfast-Derry railway line run by Northern Ireland Railways.

Antrim's Aldergrove Airport known as Belfast International Airport is the largest airport in Northern Ireland, serving destinations in Britain, Europe and North America. However, Aldergrove does not have a proper Airport rail link connection.

Junction One Retail Park

People

• Mark Allen Snooker player

Sport

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club is Naomh Comhghall CLG (St. Comgalls Antrim). The association football club, Chimney Corner F.C., plays its home games in Allen Park on Castle Road. Other Antrim sports clubs include Antrim Hockey Club and Muckamore Cricket Club.

Education

Junior schools serving the area include Antrim Primary School, Ballycraigy Primary School, St Comgall's Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School, and several others.

Secondary and grammar schools include Antrim Grammar School, Parkhall College and St Benedict's College.

The Greenmount campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is near Antrim.

See also

In Spanish: Antrim para niños