Ballymoney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballymoney
|
|
|---|---|
 Ballymoney Town Hall |
|
 Ballymoney
|
|
| Population | 11,048 (2021 census) |
| • Belfast | 48 mi (77 km) |
| District |
|
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BALLYMONEY |
| Postcode district | BT53 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament |
|
| NI Assembly |
|
Ballymoney (Irish: Baile Monaidh [ˌbˠalʲə ˈmˠɔnˠə], meaning 'townland of the moor') is a town and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. The civil parish of Ballymoney is situated in the historic baronies of Dunluce Upper and Kilconway in County Antrim, as well as the barony of North East Liberties of Coleraine in County Londonderry. It had a population of 11,048 people at the 2021 census.
Ballymoney is located on the main road between Coleraine and Ballymena, with good road and rail connections to the main cities in Northern Ireland, Belfast and Derry.
The Ballymoney area has the highest life expectancy of any area in Northern Ireland, with the average male life expectancy at birth being 79.9 years and 83.8 years for females in years between 2010 and 2012. Conversely, it was revealed in 2013 that Ballymoney residents are more likely to die from heart disease than anywhere else in Northern Ireland.
The town hosts the Ballymoney Drama Festival, the oldest drama festival in Ireland, which was founded in 1933. The town also hosts the Ballymoney Show, which is one of the oldest agricultural shows in Northern Ireland and was founded in 1902.
Contents
History
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in Ballymoney, which includes a list of incidents in Ballymoney during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Demographics
2021 census
On census day (21 March 2021) there were 11,048 people living in the town of Ballymoney. Of these:
- 71.9% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' faith and 16% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.
- 68.9% indicated that they had a British national identity, 37.8% had a Northern Irish national identity and 7.3% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).
2011 census
At the time of the 2011 census, 27 March 2011, there were 10,402 people living in the town of Ballymoney (in 4,354 households), an increase of 15.3% on the 2001 census population of 9,021. Of these:
- 19.75% were aged under 16 years and 16.91% were aged 65 and over.
- 52.84% of the usually resident population were female and 47.16% were male.
- 76.23% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' faith and 17.17% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith.
- 73.34% indicated that they had a British national identity, 28.11% had a Northern Irish national identity and 6.78% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).
- 39 years was the average (median) age of the population.
- 32.05% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 4.01% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaelic).
Buildings of note
There are a number of buildings of historic note in Ballymoney's town centre. These include:
- An old church tower, dating from 1637, which is the town's oldest surviving building.
- The town clock and masonic hall, commissioned by Randal William MacDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim in 1775. The hall was used as a market house, courthouse, town hall and school.
- Ballymoney Town Hall, which was erected in 1866.
Education
Primary schools
- Ballymoney Primary School, also known as Ballymoney Model, is on North Road and has approximately 360 pupils. The school is within the Northern Eastern Education Library Board area. Historically, Ballymoney Primary has been a predominately protestant school, but was scheduled to be integrated in September 2009 following a very narrow vote in favour of the idea.
- Garryduff Primary School, for pupils aged 4–11, is located on the Garryduff road approximately 3 miles outside of Ballymoney. It has got a new extension with a new multi-purpose hall and a new classroom.
- Landhead Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 years on the Kilraughts Road.
- Leaney Primary School is located near Ballymoney High School on Intermediate Road approximately 1 mile from the town centre. The school, for children aged 4 to 11, is part of the Eco-Schools programme which aims to raise pupils awareness of sustainable development issues.
- Lislagan Primary School is about three miles from Ballymoney in a rural location. It is a controlled school for girls and boys aged from 3 to 11 and is within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area. As of 2006, enrollment stood at 94.
- St. Brigid's Primary School is located in Castle Street.
Secondary schools
- Ballymoney High School
- Dalriada School
- Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Ballymoney
College
- Northern Regional College, Ballymoney campus
Sport
Association football clubs in the area include Ballymoney United F.C. and Glebe Rangers F.C.
Transport
Ballymoney railway station opened on 4 December 1855, and was closed to goods traffic on 4 January 1965. The refurbished railway station was opened in May 1990. It was one terminus of the Ballycastle Railway, a narrow gauge railway which ran 17 miles connecting Ballycastle to Ballymoney, on the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), later Northern Counties Committee (NCC), main line to Derry, and closed in July 1950.
Economy and media
Maine Soft Drinks Ltd is based in the area.
The Ballymoney Chronicle was established in 1844. It is the largest selling weekly newspaper in the North Coast and the second largest weekly newspaper in Northern Ireland.
People
Arts and Media
- Patrick Boyle (1905–1982), novelist.
- George Shiels (1881–1949), Popular playwright of early 20th century.
- James Young (1918–1974), comedian.
Sports
- Adrian Archibald (born 1969), motorcycle racer.
- Stephen Carson (born 1980), former Northern Ireland Under-21 international footballer, who plays for Coleraine in the IFA Premiership.
- Peter Chambers (born 1990), rower; Silver medal in the men's lightweight four at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Karen Corr (born 1969), pool and snooker player.
- Stephen Dooley (born 1991), professional footballer.
- Michael Dunlop (born 1989), motorcycle racer, Robert Dunlop's son
- Joey Dunlop (1952–2000), known as the "King of the Road", won at the Isle of Man TT a record 26 times.
- Robert Dunlop (1960–2008), motorcycle racer, Joey Dunlop's brother
- William Dunlop (1985–2018), motorcycle racer, Robert Dunlop's son
- Mabel Harrison (1886–1972), golfer, died at Ballymoney
- James Hopkins (1901–1943), professional footballer.
- Gary Kelly (born 1989), Bowls World Cup Singles champion
- Gareth McAuley (born 1992), sport shooter
- Bridget McKeever (born 1983), a former Ireland women's field hockey international.
- Dino Morelli (born 1973), racing driver
- Jim Platt (born 1952), former Middlesbrough and Northern Ireland goalkeeper.
- Damien Quinn (born 1980), captain of the Antrim senior hurling team.
- Chris Turner (born 1987), former Northern Ireland Under-21 international footballer.
- Davy Tweed (1959–2021), rugby player, Unionist politician
Town twinning
- Benbrook, Texas, United States
- Vannes, France
- Douglas, Isle of Man
See also
In Spanish: Ballymoney para niños
