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County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. Adjoined to the north-east shore of
Lough Neagh Lough Neagh ( ) is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland and is the largest lake in the island of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the British Isles. It has a surface area of and supplies 40% of Northern Ireland's water. Its main inflows come ...
, the county covers an area of and has a population of about 618,000. County Antrim has a population density of 203 people per square kilometre or 526 people per square mile. It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, as well as part of the historic
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
of Ulster. The Glens of Antrim offer isolated rugged landscapes, the Giant's Causeway is a unique landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bushmills produces whiskey, and Portrush is a popular seaside resort and night-life area. The majority of
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...
, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is in County Antrim, with the remainder being in County Down. According to the 2001 census, it is currently one of only two counties of the Island of Ireland in which a majority of the population are from a
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
background. The other is County Down to the south.


Geography

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 , Slieveanorra ,
Trostan Trostan ( ga, Trostán, meaning 'pole/staff') is a mountain in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and at 551 metres (1,808 feet) is the highest point in the county. See also *Lists of mountains in Ireland *List of Irish counties by highest point ...
, Slemish , Agnew's Hill and Divis . 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 Cushendall (), formerly known as Newtownglens, is a coastal village and townland (of 153 acres) in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located in the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parish of Layd, and is part of Causewa ...
and Waterfoot on Red Bay, Carnlough and Glenarm, Larne on the
Sea of Moyle The North Channel (known in Irish and Scottish Gaelic as , in Scots as the ) is the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland. It begins north of the Isle of Man, where the Irish Sea ends, and runs north-west int ...
, and Whitehead on Belfast Lough. All are somewhat exposed to the easterly winds prevalent in spring. The only island of size is the L-shaped
Rathlin Island Rathlin Island ( ga, Reachlainn, ; Local Irish dialect: ''Reachraidh'', ; Scots: ''Racherie'') is an island and civil parish off the coast of County Antrim (of which it is part) in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's northernmost point. ...
, off Ballycastle, in total length by maximum breadth, 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 a peninsula separating Larne Lough from the North Channel. The valleys of the Bann and Lagan, with the intervening shores of
Lough Neagh Lough Neagh ( ) is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland and is the largest lake in the island of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the British Isles. It has a surface area of and supplies 40% of Northern Ireland's water. Its main inflows come ...
, 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 Lough Beg () is a small freshwater lake north of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. The lake is located on the border between County Londonderry and County Antrim. The Lower Bann flows into it from Lough Neagh at the southern end and continues o ...
, the "Small Lake", about 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 38 Brigade Flying Station Aldergrove, which otherwise has its own facilities. 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

The main Translink Northern Ireland Railways routes are the major line between Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and Derry, Belfast to Carrickfergus and Larne, the port for
Stranraer Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of ...
in Scotland and Coleraine to Portrush.


Sea

Two of Northern Ireland's main ports are in County Antrim, Larne and
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...
. Ferries sail from Larne Harbour to destinations including Cairnryan in Scotland. The Port of Belfast is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the
Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern ...
. 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.


Population

The population of County Antrim was 615,384 according to recent census information, making it the most populous county in Northern Ireland.


Irish language

Statistics for 2009–2010 show 1,832 students attending the twelve (Irish language primary schools) and one (Irish language secondary school).


Religion

County Antrim is one of two counties on the island in which the majority of people are
Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
, according to the 2001 census, the other being
Down Down most often refers to: * Down, the relative direction opposed to up * Down (gridiron football), in American/Canadian football, a period when one play takes place * Down feather, a soft bird feather used in bedding and clothing * Downland, a ty ...
. The strong Presbyterian presence in the county is due largely to the county's historical links with lowland Scotland, which supplied many immigrants to Ireland. Protestants are the majority in most of the county, whilst Catholics are concentrated in the northeast; on the shore of Lough Neagh; and in Belfast, particularly the west of the city.


Administration

The county was administered by Antrim County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973. The traditional county town is Antrim. More recently, Ballymena was the seat of county government. From 1973 Northern Ireland was split into districts, which were redrawn in 2015. County Antrim is part of the following districts: * Antrim and Newtownabbey *
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...
* Causeway Coast and Glens * Mid and East Antrim * Lisburn and Castlereagh *
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Ulster Scots: ''Airmagh, Bannbrig an Craigavon'' , settlement_type = District , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_type1 = Constituent country , subdivision_type2 = , subdivision_type3 = , ...
The county contains within it the whole of five parliamentary constituencies: * Belfast North * Belfast West * East Antrim * North Antrim * South Antrim Parts of the following five parliamentary constituencies are also in County Antrim: * Belfast East * Belfast South * East Londonderry *
Lagan Valley The Lagan Valley (, Ulster Scots: ''Glen Lagan'') is an area of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Lisburn. The River Lagan rises on Slieve Croob in County Down and flows generally northward discharging into Belfast Lough. For a section, the ...
* Upper Bann


Settlements


Cities

Places with official city status: *
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...
*
Lisburn Lisburn (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland. It is southwest of Belfast city centre, on the River Lagan, which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down. First laid out in the 17th century by English and Welsh settlers, with ...


Large towns

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census) * Antrim * Ballymena * Carrickfergus * Larne * Newtownabbey


Medium towns

(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census) * none


Small towns

(Population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census) * Ballycastle * Ballyclare * Ballymoney * Greenisland * Jordanstown * Portrush * Randalstown


Intermediate settlements

(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census) *
Ahoghill Ahoghill ( or ; ) is a large village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, four miles from Ballymena. It is located in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area. It had a population of 3,417 people at the 2011 Census. In early ...
* Broughshane * Crumlin * Cullybackey * Whitehead


Villages

(Population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census) * Bushmills * Carnlough * Cloughmills * Cogry & Kilbride *
Cushendall Cushendall (), formerly known as Newtownglens, is a coastal village and townland (of 153 acres) in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located in the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parish of Layd, and is part of Causewa ...
* Doagh * Dunloy * Glenavy * Kells * Portglenone * Templepatrick


Small villages or hamlets

(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census) * Aghagallon * Aghalee * Aldergrove * Armoy * Ballintoy * Ballycarry *
Ballyeaston Ballyeaston, formerly spelt Ballyistin (),Placenames Database of Ireland
(see archival records) is a smal ...
*
Ballygalley Ballygally or Ballygalley (, IPA: bˠalʲəˈɟɛhlʲiː is a village and holiday resort in County Antrim, Northern Ireland which lies on the Antrim coast, approximately north of Larne. It is also a townland of and is situated in the civil p ...
* Ballynure * Boneybefore *
Cairncastle Carincastle or Cairncastle (, and the English word "castle") is a small village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland near the town of Larne and inland from the village of Ballygally. It had a population of 66 people in the 2001 Cen ...
*
Carnalbanagh Carnalbanagh () is a small village and townland (of 1,628 acres) in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 13 km east-north-east of Ballymena. It is situated in the Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of Tickmacrevan and the historic Barony (Ir ...
* Cargan * Cushendun * Dervock * Glenarm * Glynn * Loughguile * Moss-Side * Newtown Crommelin * Parkgate * Portballintrae *
Rasharkin Rasharkin (),Placenames Database of Ireland
(see archival records)
is a small village, townla ...
*
Stranocum Stranocum () is a small village and townland in north County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The villages of Dervock and Armoy are nearby and the town of Ballymoney is about away. It had a population of 297 people (110 households) in the 2011 Census. ( ...
* Toome


Subdivisions

Baronies *
Antrim Lower Antrim Lower is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by six other baronies: Antrim Upper to the south; Toome Upper to the south-west; Toome Lower to the west; Kilconway to the north-west; Glenarm Lower to the north-e ...
*
Antrim Upper Antrim Upper is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by six other baronies: Antrim Lower to the north; Toome Upper to the west; Massereene Lower to the south-west; Belfast Upper to the south; Belfast Lower to the sout ...
* Belfast Lower * Belfast Upper * Carrickfergus * Cary * Dunluce Lower * Dunluce Upper * Glenarm Lower * Glenarm Upper * Kilconway *
Massereene Lower Massereene Lower is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. To its west lies Lough Neagh, and it is bordered by four other baronies: Massereene Upper to the south; Belfast Upper to the east; Antrim Upper to the north; and Toome Upper to the ...
*
Massereene Upper Massereene Upper is a barony in southwest County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It roughly matches the former district of Killultagh ().
*
Toome Lower Toome Lower is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by four other baronies: Toome Upper to the south; Antrim Lower to the east; Kilconway to the north; and Loughinsholin to the west. Toome Lower also formed part of the medi ...
* Toome Upper Parishes Townlands


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 Edward II (early 14th century), and when the shiring of Ulster was undertaken by Sir John Perrot in the 16th century, Antrim and Down were already recognised divisions, in contradistinction to the remainder of the province. The earliest known inhabitants were
Mesolithic The Mesolithic (Greek: μέσος, ''mesos'' 'middle' + λίθος, ''lithos'' 'stone') or Middle Stone Age is the Old World archaeological period between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic. The term Epipaleolithic is often used synonymous ...
hunter-gatherer A traditional hunter-gatherer or forager is a human living an ancestrally derived lifestyle in which most or all food is obtained by foraging, that is, by gathering food from local sources, especially edible wild plants but also insects, f ...
s of pre- Celtic origin, but the names of the townlands or subdivisions, supposed to have been made in the 13th century, are all of Celtic derivation. In ancient times, Antrim was inhabited by a Celtic people called the Darini. In the early Middle Ages, southern County Antrim was part of the Kingdom of
Ulidia ''Ulidia'' is a genus of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae. Species *'' Ulidia albidipennis'' Loew, 1845 *'' Ulidia apicalis'' Meigen, 1826 *'' Ulidia atrata'' Loew, 1868 * '' U. atrovirens'' * '' U. bipunctata'' * '' U. clausa'' ...
, ruled by the Dál Fiatach clans Keenan and MacDonlevy/McDunlavey; the north was part of Dál Riada, which stretched into what is now western Scotland over the Irish Sea. Dál Riada was ruled by the O'Lynch clan, who were vassals of the Ulidians. Besides the Ulidians and Dál Riada, there were the Dál nAraide of lower County Antrim, and the Cruthin, who were pre-Gaelic Celts and probably related to the Picts of Britain. Between the 8th and 11th centuries Antrim was exposed to the inroads of the
Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
. In the late 12th century Antrim became part of the Earldom of Ulster, conquered by Anglo-Norman invaders. A revival of Gaelic power followed the campaign of Edward Bruce in 1315, leaving Carrickfergus as the only significant English stronghold. In the late Middle Ages, Antrim was divided into three parts: northern Clandeboye, the Glynnes and the Route. The Cambro-Norman MacQuillans were powerful in the Route. A branch of the O'Neills of Tyrone migrated to Clandeboye in the 14th century, and ruled it for a time. Their family was called O'Neill Clannaboy. A Gallowglass sept, the MacDonnells, became the most powerful in the Glynnes in the 15th century. During the Tudor era (16th century) numerous adventurers from Britain attempted to colonise the region; many Scots settled in Antrim around this time. In 1588 the Antrim coast was the scene of one of the 24 wrecks of the Spanish Armada in Ireland. The Spanish vessel '' La Girona'' was wrecked off Lacana Point, Giant's Causeway in 1588 with the loss of nearly 1,300 lives. Antrim is divided into sixteen baronies. Lower Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was settled by the sept O'Flynn/O'Lynn. Upper Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was the home of the O'Keevans. Belfast was part of Lower Clandeboye and was held by the O'Neill-Clannaboys. Lower Belfast, Upper Belfast, and Carrickfergus were also part of Lower Clandeboye. 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 Clandeboye and was ruled by the O'Flynns and the O'Heircs. Upper Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboye, 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 during the
Irish Rebellion of 1641 The Irish Rebellion of 1641 ( ga, Éirí Amach 1641) was an uprising by Irish Catholics in the Kingdom of Ireland, who wanted an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and to partially or fully reverse the plantatio ...
was the scene of an act of reprisal (for the massacre of
Protestants Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
) against the Catholic population by the Scottish Covenanter soldiery of Carrickfergus. In 1689 during the Williamite War in Ireland, County Antrim was a centre of Protestant resistance against the rule of the Catholic
James II James II may refer to: * James II of Avesnes (died c. 1205), knight of the Fourth Crusade * James II of Majorca (died 1311), Lord of Montpellier * James II of Aragon (1267–1327), King of Sicily * James II, Count of La Marche (1370–1438), King C ...
. During the developing crisis James' garrison at Carrickfergus successfully repulsed an attempt by local Protestants to storm it. After the advance of the Irish Army under Richard Hamilton, all of County Antrim was brought under
Jacobite Jacobite means follower of Jacob or James. Jacobite may refer to: Religion * Jacobites, followers of Saint Jacob Baradaeus (died 578). Churches in the Jacobite tradition and sometimes called Jacobite include: ** Syriac Orthodox Church, sometimes ...
control. Later in the year a major expedition from England under Marshal Schomberg landed in Belfast Lough and successfully laid siege to Carrickfergus. Having captured most of the largest towns of the area, they then marched southwards towards Dundalk.


Historic monuments

The antiquities of the county consist of cairns, mounts or forts, remains of ecclesiastical and military structures, and
round towers Round or rounds may refer to: Mathematics and science * The contour of a closed curve or surface with no sharp corners, such as an ellipse, circle, rounded rectangle, cant, or sphere * Rounding, the shortening of a number to reduce the number ...
. There are three round towers: one at Antrim, one at Armoy, and one on Ram's Island in Lough Neagh, only that at Antrim being perfect. There are some remains of the ecclesiastic establishments at
Bonamargy Bonamargy ( en, foot of the Margy River) is located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, off the Cushendall Road on the approach to Ballycastle at the foot of the Margy River. The ruins of Bonamargy Friary Bonamargy Friary is situated in County ...
, where the earls of Antrim are buried, Kells, Glenarm, Glynn, Muckamore and Whiteabbey. The castle at Carrickfergus, dating from the Norman invasion of Ireland, is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. There are, however, remains of other ancient castles, as Olderfleet, Cam's, Shane's, Glenarm, Garron Tower, Red Bay, and Dunluce Castle, notable for its dramatic location on a rocky outcrop. The principal cairns are: one on Colin mountain, near Lisburn; one on
Slieve True Slieve True or Slievetrue () is a hill in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is near Knockagh Monument and Monkstown, about north of Belfast. Slieve True derives its name from three standing stones (known as "The Three Brothers") about sout ...
, near Carrickfergus; and two on Colinward. The cromlechs most worthy of notice are: one near Cairngrainey, to the north-east of the old road from Belfast to Templepatrick; the large cromlech at Mount Druid, near Ballintoy; and one at the northern extremity of Islandmagee. The mounts, forts and entrenchments are very numerous. The natural rock formations of Giant's Causeway on the Antrim coast are now designated a
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...
World Heritage Site.


Saint Patrick

Slemish, about east of Ballymena, is notable as being the scene of St Patrick's early life. According to tradition
Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British culture, Romano-British Christian missionary and Archbishop of Armagh, bishop in Gaelic Ireland, Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is t ...
was a slave for seven years, near the hill of Slemish, until he escaped back to Great Britain.


Linen

Linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also ...
manufacturing was previously an important industry in the county. At the time Ireland produced a large amount of
flax Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...
. Cotton-spinning by jennies was first introduced to Belfast by industrialists Robert Joy and Thomas M'Cabe in 1777; and twenty-three years later it was estimated that more than 27,000 people were employed in the industry within of Belfast. Women were employed in the working of patterns on muslin.


Notable residents

* James Adair (1709–1783), explorer, trader, and historian * William Aiken (1779–1831), founder of South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company *
John Bodkin Adams John Bodkin Adams (21 January 18994 July 1983) was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster, and suspected serial killer. Between 1946 and 1956, 163 of his patients died while in comas, which was deemed to be worthy of i ...
(1899–1983), general practitioner born in Randalstown and suspected of killing 163 patients while practising in England * Joey Dunlop,
OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(1952–2000), from Ballymoney, five-time World Motorcycle Champion * Sir John Jamison (1776–1844), physician and naval surgeon from Carrickfergus who became a constitutional reformer in
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
, Australia * George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney (1737–1806), from Ballymoney, first British Ambassador to China *
Eva McGown Eva McGown (née Montgomery) (1883–1972), the "hostess of Fairbanks," was best known for her three decades helping newcomers, military wives, construction workers, students, and visitors to find shelter in Fairbanks, Alaska during periods of ti ...
(1883–1972), chorister, pioneer, and hostess in Alaska *
John O'Kane Murray John O'Kane Murray (12 December 1847 – 30 July 1885) was a physician and author. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1847. He came with his family to the United States in 1856. He attended St. John's College (now Fordham University), ...
(1847–1885), physician and author * James Nesbitt (b.1965), from Broughshane, lived near Coleraine, actor * Liam Neeson (b.1952), from Ballymena, actor * Geoff Wylie (b.1956), from Ballymena, darts player * Tony McCoy (b.1974), from Moneyglass, jockey * Hugh Boyle (1897–1986), from Dunloy, Catholic Bishop of Port Elizabeth and of Johannesburg * General Sir James Steele (1894–1975), senior
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...
officer who served in both
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
*
Wayne Boyd Wayne Boyd (born 25 October 1990) is a British racing driver from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Boyd won the British Formula Ford Championship in 2008 with Jamun Racing. He won 13 out of 25 championship races. Sat on the pole for 15 races ...
(b. 1990), racing driver *
Josh Rock Joshua Rock (born 13 April 2001) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. In his debut year at the international level, he won the 2022 PDC World Youth Championship. He is the first p ...
(b. 2001), darts player


Flora and fauna

Records of the
seaweed Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. The term includes some types of '' Rhodophyta'' (red), ''Phaeophyta'' (brown) and ''Chlorophyta'' (green) macroalgae. Seaweed species such as ...
s of County Antrim were brought together and published in 1907 by J. AdamsAdams, J.1907. The Seaweeds of the Antrim Coast. ''Scient. Pap. Ulster Fish. Biol. Ass.'' Vol.1: 29 – 37 who notes that the list contains 211 species. Batter's list, of 1902,Batters, E.A.L. 1902. A catalogue of the British marine algae being a list of all the species of seaweed known to occur on the shores of the British Islands, with the localities where they are found. ''J. Bot., Lond.'' 40 (suppl.): (2) + 107. contained 747 species in his catalogue of British marine algae. Of the freshwater algae there are 10 taxa in the Charophyta ( Charales) recorded from Co. Antrim: ''Chara aspera'' var. ''aspera''; ''Chara globularis'' var. ''globularis''; ''Chara globularis'' var. ''virgata'' ( Kütz.) R.D.; ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''vulgaris''; ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''contraria'' (A. Braun ex Kütz.) J.A.Moore; ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''longibracteata'' (Kütz.) J. Groves & Bullock-Webster; ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''papillata'' Wallr. ex A. Braun; ''Nitella flexilis'' var. ''flexilis''; ''
Nitella translucens ''Nitella translucens'' is a species of stonewort belonging to the family Characeae. It has cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the wor ...
'' (Pers.) C.A. Ag. and ''Tolypella nidifica'' var. ''glomerata'' (Desv.) R.D. Wood.Hackney, P. ed. ''Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland.'' Third edition Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University of Belfast.


Sport


See also

* Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Antrim) *
List of townlands in County Antrim In Ireland Counties are divided into Civil Parishes and Parishes are further divided into townlands. The following is a list of townlands in County Antrim, Northern Ireland: __NOTOC__ A Acravally, Aganlane (also known as Parkmore), Agha ...
*
List of civil parishes of County Antrim In Ireland Counties are divided into civil parishes and parishes are further divided into townlands. The following is a list of civil parishes in County Antrim, Northern Ireland: __NOTOC__ A Aghagallon, Aghalee, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ardclinis, ...
* Lord Lieutenant of Antrim * High Sheriff of Antrim


References


External links

*
County Antrim on the interactive map of the counties of Great Britain and Ireland
– Wikishire
County Antrim in 1900

The Northern Ireland Guide: For information and reviews for locals and tourists alike

Local Antrim Guide
{{Authority control Antrim