County Antrim

County Antrim is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located in the historic province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Antrim, which comes from the Irish word Aontroim, meaning 'lone ridge'. The county covers an area of 3,086 square kilometres and had a population of 651,321 as of the 2021 census.

The area is known for its beautiful landscapes, such as the Glens of Antrim and the famous Giant's Causeway, which is a World Heritage Site. Bushmills is a well-known place for making whiskey, and Portrush is a popular seaside town.

Most of Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, lies within County Antrim, with some parts in nearby County Down. According to recent censuses, County Antrim is one of only two counties in Ireland where most people have a Protestant background, the other being County Down.

Geography

County Antrim has many hills, especially in the eastern part, with some of the highest points being Knocklayd, Slieveanorra, Trostan, Slemish, Agnew's Hill, and Divis. The landscape changes quickly near the northern shore, creating beautiful coastlines. Famous spots like Fair Head and the Giant's Causeway show amazing rock formations.

The area also has several seaside towns such as Portrush, Portballintrae, Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Waterfoot, Carnlough, Glenarm, Larne on the Sea of Moyle, and Whitehead. The only large island nearby is Rathlin Island, which is shaped like an L and has a small number of people living there.

The lower, flatter areas are found in the valleys of the Bann and Lagan rivers near Lough Neagh. These rivers are important for fishing, especially for salmon and eels, and the town of Toome is a key spot for this activity. Nearby is Lough Beg, a smaller lake.

Transport

County Antrim has many ways to travel by air, train, and sea.

Airports

The biggest airport in Northern Ireland, Belfast International Airport, is located in County Antrim. It offers flights to places in Great Britain, Europe, and North America.

The area is also served by George Best Belfast City Airport, close to Belfast city centre.

Rail

Major train routes connect Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine, and Derry.

Sea

Two important ports in Northern Ireland, Larne and Belfast, are in County Antrim. Ferries leave from Larne Harbour to Cairnryan in Scotland.

The Port of Belfast is a key place for trade and business, handling much of Northern Ireland’s sea trade.

Demographics

As of the 2021 census, County Antrim had a population of 651,321, making it the most populous county in Northern Ireland and the second-largest by population on the island of Ireland, just after County Dublin.

The county has seen changes in its community background and religion over time. Historically, it had more people from Protestant and Other Christian backgrounds. However, the 2021 census showed this group made up 47.0% of the population, down from 75.2% in 1861. This shift is due to growth in the Catholic population, especially in Belfast and nearby areas, as well as people moving in from other parts of the world after The Troubles ended and more people not identifying with any religion.

In terms of languages, 12.77% of people in County Antrim know some Irish, with 3.64% able to fully use it. About 12.09% know some Ulster Scots, and 1.39% can fully use it. In schools, around 1,832 students attended Irish language primary schools, and one secondary school taught in Irish during 2009–2010.

Administration

County Antrim was managed by a group called Antrim County Council from 1899 until 1973. After that, Northern Ireland was divided into different areas called districts. County Antrim is now part of several districts, including Antrim and Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast and Glens, and Mid and East Antrim.

The county includes five main areas for elections, such as Belfast North and North Antrim. Parts of five other election areas are also in County Antrim.

Settlements

County Antrim has many places to live in, from big cities to tiny villages.

Cities

Places with official city status in County Antrim are:

• Belfast
• Lisburn

Large towns

These towns have between 18,000 and 75,000 people:

• Antrim
• Ballymena
• Carrickfergus
• Larne
• Newtownabbey

Medium towns

This town has between 10,000 and 18,000 people:

• Ballymoney

Small towns

These towns have between 4,500 and 10,000 people:

• Ballycastle
• Ballyclare
• Crumlin
• Greenisland
• Jordanstown
• Portrush
• Randalstown

Intermediate settlements

These places have between 2,250 and 4,500 people:

• Ahoghill
• Broughshane
• Cullybackey
• Glenavy
• Whitehead

Villages

These villages have between 1,000 and 2,250 people:

• Aghagallon
• Ballycarry
• Bushmills
• Carnlough
• Cloughmills
• Cogry & Kilbride
• Cushendall
• Doagh
• Dunloy
• Kells
• Portglenone
• Templepatrick

Small villages or hamlets

These are the smallest places, with fewer than 1,000 people:

• Aghagallon
• Aghalee
• Aldergrove
• Armoy
• Ballintoy
• Ballycarry
• Ballyeaston
• Ballygalley
• Ballynure
• Boneybefore
• Cairncastle
• Carnalbanagh
• Cargan
• Cushendun
• Dervock
• Glenarm
• Glynn
• Loughguile
• Moss-Side
• Newtown Crommelin
• Parkgate
• Portballintrae
• Rasharkin
• Stranocum
• Toome

Subdivisions

Baronies

Main article: Barony (Ireland)

• Antrim Lower
• Antrim Upper
• Belfast Lower
• Belfast Upper
• Carrickfergus
• Cary
• Dunluce Lower
• Dunluce Upper
• Glenarm Lower
• Glenarm Upper
• Kilconway
• Massereene Lower
• Massereene Upper
• Toome Lower
• Toome Upper

Parishes

Main article: List of civil parishes of County Antrim

Townlands

Main article: List of townlands in County Antrim

History

The history of County Antrim is very old. People lived there as far back as 7000 BC, making it one of the earliest places in Ireland where humans lived. The county has many names from ancient Celtic tribes who lived there long ago.

In the early Middle Ages, different groups of people lived in Antrim. Some were from a place called Ulidia, and others were from Dál Riada, which also included parts of what is now Scotland. Later, Vikings came and tried to take over the area.

During the late 1200s, Antrim became part of a place called the Earldom of Ulster after people from England and France came to live there. Over time, different families and groups, like the O’Neills and the MacDonnells, helped shape the history of the county.

County Antrim has many old buildings and places of interest. There are tall stone towers called round towers in Antrim, Armoy, and on Ram’s Island in Lough Neagh. There are also old castles such as Carrickfergus Castle, which still stands today and is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in Ireland.

The Giant’s Causeway, a special natural rock formation on the coast, is now a place that people from all over the world visit. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saint Patrick

Near the town of Ballymena, there is a hill called Slemish. It is said that Saint Patrick, a very important religious figure, grew up near this hill when he was young.

Linen

Making linen cloth was a big industry in County Antrim in the past. The county grew lots of flax, which is used to make linen. In the late 1700s, people in Belfast began using machines to spin cotton, and soon many people were working in factories making cloth.

Notable residents

County Antrim has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some well-known figures include explorer and historian James Adair, racing driver Wayne Boyd who was born in 1990, and five-time World Motorcycle Champion Joey Dunlop from Ballymoney.

Other famous residents are actor Liam Neeson from Ballymena, actor James Nesbitt who lived near Coleraine, and darts player Josh Rock born in 2001. The county has also produced notable individuals like fitness trainer and YouTuber Caroline Girvan and jockey Tony McCoy from Moneyglass.

Flora and fauna

Scientists have studied the plants and tiny organisms that live in County Antrim's waters. In 1907, a person named J. Adams collected records of seaweeds and found 211 different kinds. Another list made in 1902 by someone named Batter included 747 types of sea plants found around Britain.

In fresh water, scientists found 10 different kinds of green algae. These include several types of Chara and Nitella, which are small plants that grow in water.

Sport

Further information: Antrim GAA

County Antrim has a rich tradition in sports, especially in games like Gaelic football and hurling. The county's teams often compete in important matches, bringing excitement to fans and players alike.