Portballintrae
Encyclopedia
Portballintrae is a small seaside village
in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
. It is four miles east of Portrush
and two miles west of the Giant's Causeway
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 734 people, a decline of 10% compared to 1991. It lies within the Coleraine Borough Council
area.
Portballintrae has undergone fast growth since the 1970s. However, there has been a steady change in its character, with almost all the recent dwellings completed acquired as second homes, and a considerable proportion of the older housing changing also to second homes. Considerably less than half of the dwellings in the village remain as permanent residences. House prices are high; a modest three bedroom bungalow
would be expected to realise anything up to £300,000, those with sea views realise considerably more than this. It is thought that the majority of the housing and development issues were caused by overzealous local developers. In the summer of 2009, a new village hall was constructed by the sea-front car park complete with conference suite, IT facilities and a newsagents.
.
divers brought up the greatest find of Spanish Armada
treasure ever recovered from a wrecked ship. The Girona’s
recovered gold jewellery is on show in the Ulster Museum
, Belfast
.
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 734 people living in Portballintrae. Of these:
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
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 is four miles east of 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....
and two miles west of the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
. 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 had a population of 734 people, a decline of 10% compared to 1991. It lies within the Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council is a local council mainly in County Londonderry and partly in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters are in the town of Coleraine. Small towns in the area include Garvagh, Portrush, Portstewart and Kilrea...
area.
History
Portballintrae was originally a fishing village; a cluster of whitewashed cottages nestled around the horse shoe-shaped Ballintrae Bay. Many of its earlier buildings have been restored and maintained. The original village houses were built in a line along the seashore and many old cottages still stand on the shore.Portballintrae has undergone fast growth since the 1970s. However, there has been a steady change in its character, with almost all the recent dwellings completed acquired as second homes, and a considerable proportion of the older housing changing also to second homes. Considerably less than half of the dwellings in the village remain as permanent residences. House prices are high; a modest three bedroom bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
would be expected to realise anything up to £300,000, those with sea views realise considerably more than this. It is thought that the majority of the housing and development issues were caused by overzealous local developers. In the summer of 2009, a new village hall was constructed by the sea-front car park complete with conference suite, IT facilities and a newsagents.
Donald Trump
Portballintrae was considered as a location for a proposed £1 billion golf course complex by American tycoon Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
.
Armada
Off the coast of Portballintrae a team of BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
divers brought up the greatest find of Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
treasure ever recovered from a wrecked ship. The Girona’s
Girona (ship)
La Girona was a galleass of the 1588 Spanish Armada which foundered and sank off Lacada Point, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the night of 26 October 1588 after making its way eastward along the Irish coast...
recovered gold jewellery is on show in the Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
, 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...
.
Places of interest
- The ruins of Dunluce CastleDunluce CastleDunluce Castle is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim , and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland...
sit on the edge of a cliff between Portballintrae and PortrushPortrushPortrush 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....
. The castle was the main stronghold of the MacDonnell chiefsEarl of AntrimEarl of Antrim is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of Ireland and both times for members of the MacDonnell family, originally of Scottish origins. This family descends from Sorley Boy MacDonnell, who established the family in County Antrim...
of Antrim.
- Much of Portballintrae and its surrounding area is owned by the Macnaghten familyMacnaghten BaronetsThe Workman-Macnaghten, later Macnaghten Baronetcy, of Bushmills House in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 16 July 1836 for Francis Workman-Macnaghten, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Madras between 1809 and 1815 and of Calcutta between...
of Dundarave HouseDundarave HouseDundarave is a country house in the village of Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is currently the home to the Macnaghten family which is the chiefly family of Clan Macnaghten....
and Runkerry House. Runkerry, once the home of Lord MacnaghtenEdward Macnaghten, Baron MacnaghtenEdward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten, Bart., GCB, GCMG was an Anglo-Irish rower, barrister, Conservative-Unionist politician and one of seven Lords of Appeal in Ordinary.-Early life and rowing:...
has since been converted into a series of apartments.
- The Giant's Causeway TramwayGiant's Causeway TramwayThe Giant's Causeway Tramway, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush and the Giant's Causeway on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
runs through the sand dunes above the largest beach in Portballintrae, commonly known as Runkerry Strand, and Bushfoot Golf Club. This railway, popular with tourists runs between The Giants Causeway and BushmillsBushmillsBushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine...
.
2001 Census
Portballintrae is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people).On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 734 people living in Portballintrae. Of these:
- 12.0% were aged under 16 years and 33.4% were aged 60 and over
- 48.9% of the population were male and 51.1% were female
- 1.0% 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 96.5% 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. - 2.1% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed