| Antrim | |
| Scots: Antrìm,[1] Anthrim[2] or Entrim[3] | |
| Irish: Aontroim | |
All Saints Church and bridge over the Sixmilewater |
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Antrim
Antrim shown within Northern Ireland |
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| Population | 20,001 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| Irish grid reference | J1588 |
| - Belfast | 19 miles (31 km) |
| District | Antrim Borough |
| County | County Antrim |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ANTRIM |
| Postcode district | BT41 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | South Antrim |
| NI Assembly | South Antrim |
| Website | [1] |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Antrim | |
Antrim (from Irish: Aontroim meaning "solitary dwelling") is a town in County Antrim in the northeast of Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Six Mile Water, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council. It is 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Belfast by rail, and was, until recently, also served by the railway line from Lisburn.
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A battle was fought near Antrim between the English and Irish in the reign of Edward III; and in 1642 a naval engagement took place on Lough Neagh, for Viscount Massereene and Ferrard (who founded Antrim Castle in 1662) had a right to maintain a fighting fleet on the lough.
The Society of United Irishmen launched a rebellion in 1798, which began in Leinster and quickly spread to Ulster. The United Irishmen had been founded in 1791 by liberal Protestants in Belfast. Its goal was to unite Catholics and Protestants and make Ireland an independent republic. Although its membership was mainly Catholic, many of its leaders and members in northeast Ulster were Protestant Presbyterians. On 7 June 1798, about 4000 United Irishmen led by Henry Joy McCracken attacked the town. The rebels were on the verge of taking the town until British reinforcements arrived. Thanks to a rebel band led by James Hope, most of the United Irishmen were able to withdraw safely. This is known as the Battle of Antrim.
Before the Act of Union, Antrim returned two members to parliament by virtue of letters patent granted in 1666 by Charles II.
See also the UDA South East Antrim Brigade
Divisions and suburbs of Antrim include Ballycraigy, Carnbeg, Caulside, Dublin Road, Greenvale, Greystone, Islandbawn, Meadowlands, Muckamore, Newpark, Niblock, Parkhall, Rathenraw, Riverside, Belmont Heights, Springfarm, Steeple, Stiles, The Folly, Townparks, Massereene.
As with the rest of the British Isles, Antrim experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official Met Office weather station for which online records are available is at Aldergrove,[4] under 4 miles to the south of the town centre.
In a typical year the warmest day should reach a temperature of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F)[5] and 2.1 days[6] should attain a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above in total.
The coldest night of the year averages −6.6 °C (20.1 °F)[7] and 39 nights should register an air frost.[8] The absolute minimum temperature of −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) was reported during the record cold spell of December 2010.[9] In total during that month 10 nights fell to −10 °C (14.0 °F) or below, and the 21st recorded a daytime maximum of just −7.7 °C (18.1 °F)
| Climate data for Aldergrove 63m asl, 1971-2000, Extremes 1926- (Weather Station 3.8 Miles South of Antrim) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) |
14.9 (58.8) |
20.2 (68.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
26.1 (79.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.4 (84.9) |
28.0 (82.4) |
25.6 (78.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
16.4 (61.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
29.4 (84.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
7.3 (45.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.7 (58.5) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
12.8 (55.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) |
1.6 (34.9) |
2.6 (36.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.3 (43.3) |
9.1 (48.4) |
11.4 (52.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.8 (44.2) |
3.5 (38.3) |
2.3 (36.1) |
5.8 (42.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.8 (9.0) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
2.2 (36.0) |
1.1 (34.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 86.9 (3.421) |
59.7 (2.35) |
68.1 (2.681) |
56.9 (2.24) |
56.3 (2.217) |
60.8 (2.394) |
66.2 (2.606) |
76.5 (3.012) |
80.1 (3.154) |
88.0 (3.465) |
79.6 (3.134) |
83.3 (3.28) |
862.4 (33.953) |
| Avg. rainy days | 15.3 | 11.9 | 14.5 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 11.2 | 12.2 | 13.0 | 12.9 | 13.9 | 14.1 | 14.3 | 155.7 |
| Sunshine hours | 45.6 | 64.4 | 93.3 | 150.6 | 189.4 | 166.5 | 151.9 | 146.0 | 117.6 | 90.5 | 58.5 | 39.4 | 1,313.7 |
| Source: Met Office[10] | |||||||||||||
Antrim is classified as a large town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)[11] (i.e. with population between 18,000 and 75,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 20,001 people living in Antrim. Of these:
For more details see: Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service[12]
There are many buildings of historic note in the town, especially in and around High Street. The courthouse sits at the end of the street, near the Barbican Gate, the old gateway to Antrim Castle. There are also hidden gems, such as a 19th century smithy (now a shop) on Bridge Street with a distinctive horseshoe entrance.
Antrim's Aldergrove Airport is the second largest airport in Ireland serving destinations in Britain, Europe and North America. Antrim railway station was opened on 11 April 1848, and closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965.[13]
Antrim was home to author and poet Dr. Alexander Irvine who contrary to popular belief was not born in Pogues Entry in the town but rather in a small house nearby and was raised in Pogues Entry. He later wrote My Lady of the Chimney Corner. This was a reference to his mother. Snooker player Mark Allen who made his crucible debut in 2007 with a first round win over former champion Ken Doherty is from Antrim Town. In 2009 Mark Allen made it to the semi finals of the World Snooker Championships were he lost to eventual winner John Higgins. Maurice Jennings Author of "The Lazarus Legacy" grew up and still lives in Antrim.
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