Rasharkin
Encyclopedia
Rasharkin is a small village
and townland
in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
. It is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Ballymoney
, near Dunloy
and Kilrea
. It had a population of 864 people in the 2001 Census
, after 30 years of gradual decline from a peak of 1,000 in 1971.
.
. One was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC), and one a member of the Royal Irish Regiment
(RIR), both killed by the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) on separate occasions. The other was a member of the Irish Republican Army
(IRA), and was killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
of Sinn Féin
and Roy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP). The village forms part of the North Antrim
constituency and the elected MP is DUP party member Ian Paisley, Jr.
In recent years there has been opposition to Orange Order
parades in the village, from segments of the majority Catholic population. There have been sectarian attacks in the village. The local Orange Hall has been targeted 23 times in the last two years.
On 12 July 2009, three police officers were injured after being attacked at an Orange parade at Rasharkin, sustaining minor injuries from stones and bricks thrown by youths. Petrol bombs were also thrown and one man was arrested.
In September 2010 the home of Chris Baird
's mother was petrol bombed.
Karla Quinn (born 15 September 1988 in Rasharkin, Ballymoney) is a British figure skater. She has just been crowned as [British Junior Ice Skating Champion 2008] British junior silver medallist[1][2] and the 2006 British junior bronze medalist. She is the first ever female Northern Irish skater to take three British titles at Novice, Primary and Junior levels.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
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...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
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 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Ballymoney
Ballymoney
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....
, near Dunloy
Dunloy
Dunloy is a village and townland in the Borough of Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is between Ballymena and Ballymoney . It had a population of 1,071 people in the 2001 Census, a gain of 21 % since 1991.Dunloy's most striking building is the modern Roman Catholic church...
and Kilrea
Kilrea
Kilrea is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the River Bann, which marks the boundary between County Londonderry and County Antrim...
. It had a population of 864 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....
, after 30 years of gradual decline from a peak of 1,000 in 1971.
History
Historically Rasharkin was also spelt as Rosharkin and Rosarkin. Rasharkin also has a rich history and features in Ballymoney's involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
.
The Troubles
A total of 3 people were killed in the village of Rasharkin during the period known as The TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
. One was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC), and one a member of the Royal Irish Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
The Royal Irish Regiment is an infantry unit of the British Army.-1992 creation:With an antecedence reaching back to 1689, the regiment was formed in 1992...
(RIR), both killed by the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) on separate occasions. The other was a member of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA), and was killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
Politics
Rasharkin is in the Borough of Ballymoney and has two Councillors based in the village; Daithí McKayDaithí McKay
Daithí McKay, MLA is an Irish republican politician. He is the Education spokesperson for Sinn Féin and the deputy chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee in the Northern Irish Assembly...
of 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...
and Roy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic 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...
(DUP). The village forms part of the North Antrim
North Antrim
North Antrim can refer to:*The northern part of County Antrim*North Antrim *North Antrim *North Antrim...
constituency and the elected MP is DUP party member Ian Paisley, Jr.
Ian Paisley, Jr.
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Jr., MP is the Member of Parliament for North Antrim and member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Democratic Unionist Party and an author. He is the son of the DUP's founder and former leader, Ian Paisley.In 1990, he married Fiona, and they have four children...
In recent years there has been opposition to Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
parades in the village, from segments of the majority Catholic population. There have been sectarian attacks in the village. The local Orange Hall has been targeted 23 times in the last two years.
On 12 July 2009, three police officers were injured after being attacked at an Orange parade at Rasharkin, sustaining minor injuries from stones and bricks thrown by youths. Petrol bombs were also thrown and one man was arrested.
In September 2010 the home of Chris Baird
Chris Baird
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Baird is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham and the Northern Ireland national football team.-Southampton:...
's mother was petrol bombed.
Places of interest
- Craigs DolmenCraigs DolmenCraigs Dolmen is situated three miles north of Rasharkin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, close to a minor road, at a height of 200m on the Long Mountain...
is situated three miles north of Rasharkin and is a passage tombPassage gravethumb|250px|right|A simple passage tomb in [[Carrowmore]] near [[Sligo]] in IrelandA passage grave or passage tomb consists of a narrow passage made of large stones and one or multiple burial chambers covered in earth or stone. Megaliths are usually used in the construction of passage tombs, which...
featuring a big capstone on seven upright stones.
People
- Chris BairdChris BairdChristopher Patrick "Chris" Baird is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham and the Northern Ireland national football team.-Southampton:...
, a football player for both Fulham F.C.Fulham F.C.Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and the Northern Ireland teamNorthern 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...
is from the village.
Karla Quinn (born 15 September 1988 in Rasharkin, Ballymoney) is a British figure skater. She has just been crowned as [British Junior Ice Skating Champion 2008] British junior silver medallist[1][2] and the 2006 British junior bronze medalist. She is the first ever female Northern Irish skater to take three British titles at Novice, Primary and Junior levels.
Sport
- The local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
Club in Rasharkin is Naomh Mhuire (St. Mary's), and consists of hurlingHurlingHurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, camogieCamogieCamogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
and Gaelic footballGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
teams.
- Rasharkin United F.C.Rasharkin United F.C.Rasharkin United Football Club is an intermediate-level football club playing in the Premier division of the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League in Northern Ireland.-External links:...
compete in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate LeagueBallymena & Provincial Intermediate LeagueThe Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League is a regional intermediate league in Northern Ireland. The league is split into four divisions: the Premier Division and three junior divisions: Junior Divisions 1, 2 and 3.- Clubs in membership :...
and were crowned league champions in 2005. The club is currently run by Mr. Peter Baird (chairman) and Chris Peacock (manager).
2001 Census
Rasharkin 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 864 people living in Rasharkin. Of these:- 24.9% were aged under 16 years and 15.7% were aged 60 and over
- 48.4% of the population were male and 51.6% were female
- 73.5% 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 26.0% 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 - 6.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
External links
- Draft Northern Area Plan 2016
- Culture Northern Ireland
- Rasharkin Women's Group
- Rasharkin Community Association
- Naomh Mhuire