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County Antrim
Contae Aontroma
Motto: Per angusta ad augusta (Latin)
"Through Trial to Triumph"
Location
Statistics
Province: Ulster
County seat: Antrim
Area: 2,844 km2 (1,098 sq mi)
Population (est.) 616,384[citation needed]
County Antrim (Irish: Contae Aontroma or simply Aontroim) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of Northern Ireland. It was named after the town of Antrim.
Covering an area of 2,844 km², it has a population of approximately 616,000, most of them in and around the Belfast area. The Glens of Antrim offer isolated rugged landscapes, the Giant's Causeway is a unique landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bushmills produces legendary whiskey, and Portrush is a popular seaside resort and night-life area. The majority of the capital city of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is also in County Antrim, with the remainder being in County Down.
Geology
A large portion of Antrim is hilly, especially in the east, where the highest elevations are attained. The range runs north and south, and, following this direction the highest points are Knocklayd (1,695 ft), Slieveanorra (1,676 ft), Trostan (1,817 ft), Slemish (1,457 ft) and Divis (1,567 ft). 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 Fair Head and the celebrated Giant's Causeway. 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 Portrush (with well-known golf links), Portballintrae and Ballycastle; on the east Cushendun, Cushendall and Waterfoot on Red Bay, Carnlough and Glenarm, Larne on the Sea of Moyle, and Whitehead on Belfast Lough. All are somewhat exposed to the easterly winds prevalent in spring. The only island of size is Rathlin Island, 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. Islandmagee is in fact a peninsula separating Larne Lough 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 salmon and eels) are of value both commercially and to sportsmen, the small town of Toome, at the outflow of the river, being the centre. Immediately below this point lies Lough Beg, the "Small Lake," about fifteen feet lower than Lough Neagh.
Transport
County Antrim has a number of air, rail and sea links.
Air
Northern Ireland's main airport, Belfast International Airport, at Aldergrove is in County Antrim. Belfast International shares its runways with the Royal Air Force base RAF Aldergrove, which otherwise has its own facilities.[citation needed] It is the fifth largest regional air cargo centre in the UK. There are regular services to Great Britain, Europe and North America.
The region is also served by George Best Belfast City Airport, a mile east of Belfast city centre on the County Down side of the city, which was renamed in 2006 in honour of footballer George Best.
Rail
See also: Category:Railway stations in County Antrim
The main Translink Northern Ireland Railways routes are the major line between Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and Londonderry, Belfast to Carrickfergus and Larne, the port for Stranraer in Scotland and Coleraine to Portrush.
Sea
Two of Northern Ireland's main ports are in County Antrim, Larne and Belfast.
Ferries sail from Larne Harbour to destinations including Cairnryan and Troon in Scotland, and Fleetwood in England.
The Port of Belfast 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 6,000 vessels each year[1].
Population
The population of County Antrim was 616,384 according to recent census information. It is one of two counties of Northern Ireland to presently have a majority of the population from a Protestant community background, according to the 2001 census (the other being County Down), and it is the most populous county in Northern Ireland.
Religion
Presbyterianism is the largest religious denomination, followed by Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism. County Antrim is one of two counties in Ireland in which the majority of people are Protestant, the other being Down. The strong Presbyterian presence in the county is due largely to the county's historical links with Scotland.
Administration
The traditional county town is Antrim. More recently, Ballymena was the seat of county government. The counties of Northern Ireland ceased to be administrative entities in 1973, with the reorganization of local government.
In Northern Ireland the county structure is no longer used in local government. Northern Ireland is split into districts. The majority of County Antrim residents are administered by the following nine councils:
- Antrim Borough Council
- Ballymena Borough Council
- Ballymoney Borough Council
- Belfast City Council
- Carrickfergus Borough Council
- Larne Borough Council
- Lisburn City Council
- Moyle District Council
- Newtownabbey Borough Council
Small portions of the county are administered by councils that are based in neighbouring counties, notably the village of Aghagallon in the Craigavon Borough and the town of Portrush in the Coleraine Borough.
The county contains all of five parliamentary constituencies:
Parts of the following constituencies are also in County Antrim:
Settlements
Large towns
(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)[2]
- Antrim
- Ballymena
- Carrickfergus
- Larne
- Lisburn (has city status)
- Newtownabbey
Medium towns
(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)[2]
- none
Small towns
(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)[2]
Intermediate settlements
(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)[2]
Villages
(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)[2]
Small villages or hamlets
(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)[2]
- Aghagallon
- Aghalee
- Armoy
- Ballintoy
- Ballycarry
- Ballygalley
- Ballynure
- Boneybefore
- Cushendun
- Dervock
- Glenarm
- Glynn
- Portballintrae
- Rasharkin
- Toome
Subdivisions
Baronies
- Antrim Lower (Aontroim Íochtarach)
- Antrim Upper (Aontroim Uachtarach)
- Belfast Lower (Béal Feirste Íochtarach)
- Belfast Upper (Béal Feirste Uachtarach)
- Carrickfergus (Carraig Fhearghais)
- Cary (Cathraí)
- Dunluce Lower (Dún Libhse Íochtarach)
- Dunluce Upper (Dún Libhse Uachtarach)
- Glenarm Lower (Gleann Arma Íochtarach)
- Glenarm Upper (Gleann Arma Uachtarach)
- Kilconway (Coill Chonmhaí)
- Massereene Lower (Mása Ríona Íochtarach)
- Massereene Upper (Mása Ríona Uachtarach)
- Toome Lower (Tuaim Íochtarach)
- Toome Upper (Tuaim Uachtarach)
Parishes