Glengormley

Glengormley
Irish: Gleann Ghormlaithe[1]
Glengormley
 Glengormley shown within Northern Ireland
Population 2,413 (2001 Census)
DistrictNewtownabbey
CountyCounty Antrim
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode district BT36
Dialling code 028
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK ParliamentNorth Belfast
NI AssemblySouth Antrim
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Antrim

Coordinates: 54°40′41″N 5°57′47″W / 54.678000°N 5.963000°W

Glengormley (from Irish: Gleann Ghormlaithe, meaning "Gormlaith's valley")[1] is the name of a townland (of 215 acres)[2] and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Glengormley is within the urban area of Newtownabbey and the Newtownabbey Borough Council area. It is also situated in the civil parish of Carnmoney and the historic barony of Belfast Lower.[2]

Location

The original settlement grew up in the mid-19th century, around a junction of the roads linking Belfast with Antrim and Ballyclare.

The wider suburban area of Glengormley borders North Belfast, Carnmoney and Mallusk. It is a popular residential area, include developments in 1995 - 2005 which have seen an expansion upwards from the village to the Hightown Road.

Glengormley is approximately six miles from Belfast; the sixth milestone from the city centre is located on the Ballyclare Road beside Glengormley High School.

Geography

As the lowest pass through the Belfast hills from the northern prospect, Glengormley is also traversed by major communication arteries including the Belfast to Derry railway line (served by Mossley West halt) and the M2 motorway.

As a main conduit for commuters, the townland experiences chronic congestion problems during peak times of the day, particularly on the A6 or Antrim Road. The M2 motorway runs close-by and is accessible from the Sandyknowes Roundabout located at the end of the A6 with slip roads to the M2 northbound and southbound carriageways. The A8(M) motorway and the main road into the Mallusk and Hydepark Industrial Estates as well as many other B roads are accessible from Sandyknowes.

Despite being technically a glen (the area is in the valley between Cave Hill and Carnmoney Hill), Glengormley sits at 700 feet above sea level, and is noted for a climate noticeably colder than the adjacent Lagan valley area. The cold and windy weather may be explained by the 'tunnel' of natural features running from the Antrim coast to the edge of Glengormley on the Hightown Road. The 'tunnel' can be seen from the Cavehill Country Park entrance at Hightown Road, as one looks north towards Slemish.

History

From Victorian times to the 1930s, Glengormley was often the final destination on the leisure trail for working class Belfast citizens escaping the city grime. The three main stops on the trail were Belfast Castle, Belfast Zoo. There is also a dance hall in Glengormley, opposite the present day Glen Inn. Over the years, The journey was made by tram or trolley bus or train. The Belfast Street Tramway Company replaced carts with horse-drawn trams and the Cavehill and Whitewell Tramway company ran a steam tramway from Glengormley into Belfast.

Sentry Hill is an early 19th-century farmhouse on the hill above Glengormley and Corr's Corner in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. It was the home of William Fee McKinney - a prosperous farmer and meticulous collector of farming, church and other records and artefacts. He was a member of the Linen Hall library and the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society. He was secretary of Carnmoney Presbyterian Church for 62 years.

Leisure

Glengormley is within walking distance of the Cavehill Country Park and Belfast Zoo. The expansive Valley Park provides a safe cycling route to the North Shore coastal cycle path and onwards to central Belfast.

At the Southern end of Glengormley there is an 6 screen cinema, 10 pin bowling alleys, three snooker halls (two at the southern end and one at the northern end) and some commercial premises.

Sports

Glengormley also hosts a Gaelic Athletic Association club in St Enda's, and Hillview A.B.C., an amateur boxing club.

Commercial

Glengormley hosts major commercial complexes in the Mallusk Enterprise Park, including Royal Mail and Marks and Spencer. At peak times, Translink Metro and Ulsterbus buses to Belfast pass through Glengormley approximately every ten minutes, and take approximately twenty to thirty minutes to reach the city centre via the A6 Antrim Road, A2 Shore Road and the M2 motorway with Translink's express service. Belfast is accessed by car via the Antrim Road or M2 motorway.

Transport

Translink Metro Route 1 and Routes 2A/B pass through the village as well as Ulsterbus Route 120[3] to Ballymena via Antrim Route 153 to Ballyclare[4] and Newtownabbey town service 367[5] From Northcott Shopping centre to Greenisland Estate via Glengormley village and O'Neill road which connects to the Abbeycentre and Whiteabbey village.

Demographics

At the time of the 2001 UK census:[11]

21.4% were under 16 years old and 21.7% were aged 60 and over;

47.1% of the population were male and 52.9% were female;

40.3% were from a Catholic community background and 56.1% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background;

29.4% of persons aged 16 and over were single (never married);

37.8 years was the average age of the population; and the population density was 60.3 persons per hectare.

At the 2011 census:[12]

19.93% were aged under 16 years and 17.94% were aged 65 and over;

46.88% of the usually resident population were male and 53.12% were female; and

37 years was the average (median) age of the population.

43.78% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 47.89% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)'

Points of interest

The Crown and Shamrock pub on the Antrim Road in Glengormley is one of the oldest pubs in County Antrim and has been made famous by the film "Middletown" where many of the scenes were filmed. The Glen Inn and the Bellevue Arms are the most popular bars within Glengormley. The Bellevue Arms is also a licensed restaurant and includes pool tables and a host of large televisions to enjoy watching sports.

Famous inhabitants

References