Ballymoney
Encyclopedia
Ballymoney is a small town
in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census
. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council
.
The town hosts the Ballymoney Drama Festival, the oldest drama festival in Ireland, which was founded in 1933.
Ballymoney has expanded in recent years and a lot of new houses have been built. This is primarily as a result of high house prices in the Coleraine
/Portstewart
/Portrush
'Triangle' areas shifting first-time buyers to the less expensive Ballymoney area. Ballymoney is located on the main road
between Coleraine
and Ballymena
, with good road and rail connections to the main cities in Northern Ireland, Belfast
and Derry
.
The Ballymoney area has the highest life expectancy
of any area in Northern Ireland, with the average male life expectancy at birth being 78.0 years and 82.6 years for females.
The Ballymoney town holds both Protestant and Catholic areas. There is the Glebeside and Carnany Estates which are both predominantly Protestant, and the West Gate area which is predominantly Catholic. The Glebeside is the home of the Glebe Rangers football team.
. Sinn Féin
is the second largest party with the Ulster Unionist Party
, SDLP
and an independent making up the rest.
, which includes a list of incidents in Ballymoney during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service
Ballymoney is one of the oldest towns in Ireland
with many buildings of historic note in the town centre.
Garryduff primary school is for pupils aged 4-11, it is located on the Garryduff road approximately 3 miles out of Ballymoney it has got a new extension with a new multi-purpose hall and a new classroom. The current principal is Mrs I.Mckenzie
, Texas
Vanves
, France
Douglas
, Isle of Man
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council
Ballymoney Borough Council
Ballymoney is a local government district with borough status in Northern Ireland. It is headquartered in Ballymoney. Other towns in the borough include Dervock, Dunloy, Cloughmills and Rasharkin. The borough has a population of nearly 27,000.-Creation:...
.
The town hosts the Ballymoney Drama Festival, the oldest drama festival in Ireland, which was founded in 1933.
Ballymoney has expanded in recent years and a lot of new houses have been built. This is primarily as a result of high house prices in the Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
/Portstewart
Portstewart
Portstewart is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. Its harbour and scenic coastal paths form an...
/Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
'Triangle' areas shifting first-time buyers to the less expensive Ballymoney area. Ballymoney is located on the main road
A26 road (Northern Ireland)
The A26 is a road in Northern Ireland. It travels in a North-South direction from Coleraine, County Londonderry to Banbridge, County Down.The road is a primary route between Coleraine and its junction with the M1, and a secondary route between Lurgan and Banbridge...
between Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, with good road and rail connections to the main cities in Northern Ireland, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.
The Ballymoney area has the highest life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
of any area in Northern Ireland, with the average male life expectancy at birth being 78.0 years and 82.6 years for females.
The Ballymoney town holds both Protestant and Catholic areas. There is the Glebeside and Carnany Estates which are both predominantly Protestant, and the West Gate area which is predominantly Catholic. The Glebeside is the home of the Glebe Rangers football team.
Politics
The Council is dominated by the Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
. Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
is the second largest party with the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
, SDLP
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
and an independent making up the rest.
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in BallymoneyThe Troubles in Ballymoney
The Northern Irish Troubles resulted in 14 deaths in or near the County Antrim town of Ballymoney. Seven people were killed by various loyalist groups, four by the Irish Republican Army , and three by the British Army. Two IRA members and one British soldier were killed in a gun battle between...
, which includes a list of incidents in Ballymoney during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Demographics
Ballymoney is classified as a small town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 9,021 people living in Ballymoney. Of these:- 22.6% were aged under 16 years and 19.8% were aged 60 and over
- 47.3% of the population were male and 52.7% were female
- 17.3% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 79.8% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 3.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service
Buildings of note
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with many buildings of historic note in the town centre.
- An old church tower dating from 1637 is the town’s oldest surviving building.
- Another striking feature is the town clock and Masonic hall, built in 1775 by the 6th Earl and 2nd Marquis of Antrim. The hall was used as a market house, courthouse, town hall and school.
- The town hall was erected in 1866.
People
- One of Ballymoney's most famous residents was Joey DunlopJoey DunlopWilliam Joseph "Joey" Dunlop, OBE , was a world champion motorcyclist from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, best known for road racing. Referred to throughout the sport as "Joey", in 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever by Motorcycle News...
, known as the "King of the Road". Joey Dunlop, MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was five time World Motorcycle Champion with twenty-four Ulster Grand Prix wins, thirteen North West 200North West 200The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
wins and twenty-six Isle of Man TTIsle of Man TTThe International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
wins. Joey was killed while racing in EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
during 2000. A statue in memory of Dunlop stands in the town. - Robert Dunlop, Joey Dunlop's Brother & Record holder for the most North West 200's - he won 15. He died on Thursday 15 May 2008 at the North West 200 2nd Practice.
- William McKinleyWilliam McKinleyWilliam McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, 25th President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, was born in OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the descendant of a farmer from Conagher, near Ballymoney. He was proud of his ancestry and addressed one of the national Scots-Irish Congresses held in the late 19th century. His second term as President was cut short by an assassin's bullet. - Thomas McKeanThomas McKeanThomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
, son of an emigrant from Ballymoney. Signer of the American Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War officer, drafter of original Delaware state constitution, "President" (later called Governor) of Delaware, Governor of Pennsylvania, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. - Bridget McKeeverBridget McKeeverBridget McKeever is a field hockey midfielder and defender from Northern Ireland, who made her international debut for the Ireland Women's National Team in 2003 against Japan.-International Senior Tournaments:...
, a field hockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player of the Irish National Women's Team, was born in Ballymoney. - John PinkertonJohn Pinkerton (politician)John Pinkerton was an Irish Protestant nationalist politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. As a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party he represented Galway Borough from 1886 to 1900.Born in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, the son...
, Home Ruler and Irish Parliamentary PartyIrish Parliamentary PartyThe Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. - Jim PlattJim PlattJames Archibald 'Jim' Platt is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Northern Ireland.-Playing career:...
, former MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football teamThe Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
goalkeeper. (Born 1952) - Jimmy YoungJimmy YoungJimmy Young may refer to:*Jimmy Young *Jimmy Young , singer -See also:*Jim Young *James Young...
, a successful comedian, was born in Ballymoney. - Ken McArthur, 1912 Olympic Gold Medalist, men's marathon.
- Samuel Robinson (1865-1958), emigrated to USA and became a multi-millionaire by founding Acme MarketAcme MarketAcme Markets is a supermarket chain in the mid-Atlantic, southern, and northeastern United States. Acme is owned by Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based corporation SuperValu. Acme has its headquarters in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, near Malvern, a Philadelphia suburb.Acme began in 1891, when...
. - George ShielsGeorge ShielsGeorge Shiels was an Irish dramatist whose plays were a success both in his native Ulster and at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. His most famous plays are The Rugged Path, The Passing Day, and The New Gossoon....
(1881-1949), Popular playwright of early 20th century. - George Macartney, 1st Earl MacartneyGeorge Macartney, 1st Earl MacartneyGeorge Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, KB was an Irish-born British statesman, colonial administrator and diplomat. He is often remembered for his observation following Britain's success in the Seven Years War and subsequent territorial expansion at the Treaty of Paris that Britain now controlled...
(1737-1806) of Lissanoure, First British Ambassador to China in 1772. - Rev. Dr. Peter B. Thompson- Served as an American pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in 1997.
- Stephen CarsonStephen CarsonStephen Carson is a Northern Irish footballer, currently playing for Glentoran in the Irish Premier League. He usually plays as a winger.-Career:...
, Northern Ireland International, Former Northern Ireland Under-21 international Footballer, who plays for Coleraine in the IFA Premiership - Chris TurnerChris Turner (footballer born 1987)Christopher Turner is a Northern Irish footballer playing for Shamrock Rovers. He has been capped at under-19 and under-21 level by Northern Ireland.- Club career :...
, Former Northern Ireland Under-21 international Footballer, currently plays for Shamrock Rovers in the League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Primary schools
- Ballymoney Primary School
- Ballymoney Primary School, also known as Ballymoney Model, is situated at the top of the North Road and holds approximately 360 pupils each year. The school is within the Northern Eastern Education Library Board area.
- The school is one of the largest within Ballymoney, housing eleven classrooms running from P1 to P7. It also has a large dinner hall, assembly hall, and a computer room. The school has a library and a classroom for special needs children.
- Historically, Ballymoney Primary has been a predominately protestant school, but is scheduled to be integrated in September 2009 following a very narrow vote in favor of the idea.
- Ballymoney Primary's principal is Mr. G. McVeigh, while the vice principal is Mrs. Herron.
- Garryduff Primary School
Garryduff primary school is for pupils aged 4-11, it is located on the Garryduff road approximately 3 miles out of Ballymoney it has got a new extension with a new multi-purpose hall and a new classroom. The current principal is Mrs I.Mckenzie
- Landhead Primary School
- Landhead Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 years, located on the Kilraughts Road, close to Ballymoney Rugby Club.
- In 2004 the Sunday MirrorSunday MirrorThe Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
reported on the school's cat "Tigger". The cat has since featured on local news and radio programmes.- Leaney Primary School
- Lislagan Primary School
- Lislagan Primary School is located about three miles from Ballymoney, in a rural location. It is a controlled school for girls and boys aged from 3 to 11. Enrollment has risen steadily over the last five years and currently stands at 94. It is within the North Eastern Education and Library BoardNorth Eastern Education and Library BoardThe North Eastern Education and Library Board is an organisation providing education and library services for the north-eastern Local Government Districts, Northern Ireland, in County Antrim and eastern County Londonderry...
area.- St. Brigid's Primary School
Secondary schools
- Ballymoney High SchoolBallymoney High SchoolBallymoney High School is a secondary school located in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It has 716 pupils and takes in some 140 new pupils each year. It is within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area....
- Dalriada SchoolDalriada SchoolDalriada School is a mixed voluntary grammar school in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. The school draws its pupils from a wide geographical area and a range of social, religious and cultural backgrounds. In 2008 the school won the Northern Ireland State Secondary School of the Year award from The...
- Our Lady of Lourdes High School, BallymoneyOur Lady of Lourdes High School, BallymoneyOur Lady of Lourdes High School is a secondary school located in Castle Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.The Principal of the school is Dr. Laim O'Cuinneagan.- References :...
Sport
- Ballymoney United F.C.Ballymoney United F.C.Ballymoney United is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1944, hails from Ballymoney, County Antrim and currently plays its home matches at the Riada Stadium in Ballymoney, which is shared with Glebe Rangers. Club colours are all blue...
- Glebe Rangers F.C.Glebe Rangers F.C.Glebe Rangers F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. They hail from Ballymoney, County Antrim.-Admission to the League:...
- Setanta's GAC
- Ballymoney Blaze Volleyball Club
Transport
- Ballymoney railway stationBallymoney railway stationBallymoney railway station serves Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The refurbishment of the railway station was completed in May 1990.Ballymoney station opened on 4 December 1855, and was closed to goods traffic on 4 January 1965...
opened on 4 December 1855, and was closed to goods traffic on 4 January 1965. The refurbished railway station was opened in May 1990. It was one terminus of the Ballycastle RailwayBallycastle RailwayBallycastle Railway was a narrow gauge railway line which ran from Ballycastle to Ballymoney, both in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.-History:...
, a narrow gauge railway which ran 17 miles connecting BallycastleBallycastle, County AntrimBallycastle is a small town in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its population was 5,089 people in the 2001 Census. It is the seat and main settlement of Moyle District Council....
to Ballymoney, on the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), later Northern Counties CommitteeNorthern Counties CommitteeThe Northern Counties Committee was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of narrow gauge lines...
(NCC), main line to DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, and closed in July 1950.
Town twinning
BenbrookBenbrook, Texas
Benbrook is a city located in the southwestern corner of Tarrant County, Texas, in Texas's 12th congressional district, and a suburb of Fort Worth...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Vanves
Vanves
Vanves is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe and the tenth in France -History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
See also
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- Market Houses in Northern IrelandMarket Houses in Northern IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Northern Ireland towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper...