Troon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Troon | |
  Troon shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 14,766 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | South Ayrshire |
| Lieutenancy area | Ayrshire and Arran |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Troon |
| Postcode district | KA10 |
| Dialling code | 01292 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Central Ayrshire |
| Scottish Parliament | Ayr |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on the west coast, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services — the P&O Express to Larne and a yacht marina. In May 2006, a ferry service to Campbeltown was added.
In the 2001 census the population of Troon, not including the nearby village of Loans but including the Barassie area, was estimated at 14,766 — a 4.77% increase on the 1991 estimate of 14,094 [1].
Troon is famous for its Royal Troon golf course, one of the hosts to the Open Golf Championship. The course is chosen to host this annual event roughly every seven years.
Troon Harbour played a notable part in the development of the town for many years. It was home to the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, which constructed many vessels for worldwide customers but mainly small passenger and various merchant vessels. The fishing fleet from Ayr moved to Troon Harbour and a revitalisation of the abandoned section of the harbour started. An approach road was constructed to connect to a P&O terminal which operates a service to Ireland. The Seacat high speed ferry service briefly operated from Troon Harbour but has now ended.
The name 'Troon' is derived from the Gaelic An t-Sron, meaning 'The Nose' or 'The bill' and a look at a map shows how it got this name. This could equally, however, have derived from Old Welsh. In various deeds, the spelling is given as "Trune", "Trone", "Truyn", and "Trwyn".Nevertheless, the Scots Gaelic etymology is consistent with that of Stranraer (An t-Sròn Reamhar - The Fat Nose) located further south on the coast.[2]
The town is served by Troon railway station. Troon has its own secondary school, Marr College.
Troon is also the birthplace of C.K. Marr, who left a considerable fortune upon death to the people of Troon.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Notable residents
- Johnny Adair, loyalist paramilitary and former member of the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters[4]
- Ronni Ancona, actress
- Alan Hutton, footballer
- Richard McTaggart, boxer
[edit] Further reading
- McPherson, I (2000) Old Troon
- Wylie, Stewart C. and Wilson, James (1991) Troon in Old Picture Postcards
- MacIntosh, I.M. (1969) Old Troon
[edit] References
- ^ General Register Office for Scotland
- ^ I.M. McIntosh, Old Troon, 1969
- ^ Marr Educational Resources Centre
- ^ 'I'm no threat to anyone.' Why the war is over for Mad Dog Adair — The Guardian newspaper article, 19 February 2006.
[edit] External references
Visit [1] www.welcometotroon.uk.com and [2] www.troononline.net for information in the town.
[edit] See also
- Colin Montgomerie - Golfer
- Gordon Brown (rugby player) - the legendary "Broon frae Troon"
- James Logan (footballer) - Footballer
- Laigh Milton viaduct - the Kilmarnock and Troon rail-way or tramway.
