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County Antrim

County Antrim is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the United Kingdom. Antrim's capital is the town of Antrim, although most of the city of Belfast is located in the county, with a small portion being located in County Down. Antrim has a population of 618,108 people, with Protestant Ulster Scots making up the majority of the population; in 1865, 84% of the population consisted of Ulster Scots and Anglo-Irish people.

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 514 m (1,690 ft), Slieveanorra 508 m (1,670 ft), Trostan 550 m (1,800 ft), Slemish 437 m (1,430 ft), Agnew's Hill 474 m (1,560 ft) and Divis 478 m (1,570 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 the L-shaped Rathlin Island, off Ballycastle, 11 km (6.8 mi) in total length by 2 km (1.2 mi) maximum breadth, 7 km (4.3 mi) 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, 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 4.5 m (15 ft) lower than Lough Neagh.

Transport[]

County Antrim has a number of air, rail and sea links.

Airports[]

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 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 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. 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.

Notable residents[]

  • James Adair (1709–1783), explorer, trader, and historian
  • John Bodkin Adams (1899–1983), general practitioner born in Randalstown and suspected of killing 163 patients while practising in England
  • William Aiken (1779–1831), founder of South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company
  • Wayne Boyd (born 1990), racing driver
  • Hugh Boyle (1897–1986), from Dunloy, Catholic Bishop of Port Elizabeth and of Johannesburg
  • Joey Dunlop (1952–2000), from Ballymoney, five-time World Motorcycle Champion
  • Caroline Girvan (born 1984), fitness trainer and YouTuber
  • William Magee Hunter (1834–1868), New Zealand soldier, born in County Antrim
  • Sir John Jamison (1776–1844), physician and naval surgeon from Carrickfergus who became a constitutional reformer in New South Wales, Australia
  • George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney (1737–1806), from Ballymoney, first British Ambassador to China
  • Tony McCoy (born 1974), from Moneyglass, jockey
  • Eva McGown (1883–1972), chorister, pioneer, and hostess in Alaska
  • John O'Kane Murray (1847–1885), physician and author
  • Liam Neeson (born 1952), from Ballymena, actor
  • James Nesbitt (born 1965), from Broughshane, lived near Coleraine, actor
  • Josh Rock (born 2001), darts player
  • George Cassidy (1936 - 2023), jazz musician, teacher of Van Morrison
  • General Sir James Steele (1894–1975), senior British Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II
  • Geoff Wylie (born 1956), from Ballymena, darts player

Flora and fauna[]

[edit] Records of the seaweeds of County Antrim were brought together and published in 1907 by J. Adams who notes that the list contains 211 species. Batter's list, of 1902, contained 747 species in his catalogue of British marine algae.

Of the freshwater algae there are 10 taxa in the Charophyta (Charales) recorded from County 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 (Pers.) C.A. Ag. and Tolypella nidifica var. glomerata (Desv.) R.D. Wood.

Gallery[]

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