Ballymoney (borough) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballymoney Borough
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 Boundaries 1973 to 2015 |
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| Area | 418 km2 (161 sq mi) Ranked 17th of 26 |
| District HQ | Ballymoney |
| Catholic | 31.8% |
| Protestant | 63.1% |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| Councillors | |
Ballymoney was a special area in Northern Ireland. It used to have its own local government, like a mini-state, called a borough. The main town and headquarters for this area was also called Ballymoney. Other towns in the borough included Dervock, Dunloy, Cloughmills, and Rasharkin. In 2011, about 31,224 people lived in the Ballymoney borough.
In May 2015, the Ballymoney borough joined with other nearby areas. These were the boroughs of Coleraine and Limavady, and the District of Moyle. Together, they formed a new, larger area called Causeway Coast and Glens.
Contents
How Ballymoney Borough Was Created
Ballymoney was one of 26 local areas created on October 1, 1973. It took over the areas that were once managed by the Ballymoney Urban District Council. It also included most of the surrounding Ballymoney Rural District in County Antrim. This change helped to organize local government better.
Understanding the Borough Council
The Ballymoney borough was split into three voting areas. These areas were Ballymoney Town, Bann Valley, and Bushvale. In total, 16 members were chosen to represent these areas. People voted using a system called proportional representation with a single transferable vote. This system makes sure that smaller groups can also get their voices heard. Elections for the whole council usually happened every four years.
An election planned for May 2009 was put on hold. This was because there were plans to create 11 new councils in 2011. However, these plans were stopped in 2010. So, the most recent local elections for the district council happened in 2011.
Who Was on the Council?
As of February 2012, the council had members from different political groups:
- 8 members from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
- 3 members from Sinn Féin
- 2 members from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
- 1 member from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
- 1 member from the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)
- 1 independent member (not part of a political party)
In 1977, the Ballymoney District Council asked for a special document called a royal charter. This charter officially made the district a borough. It gave the area special rights and a new status.
Meet the Mayor of Ballymoney
The royal charter also created the job of mayor. The mayor was chosen by the council members each year. They served for one year at a time.
| Year | Name | Political affiliation | Deputy | Deputy's affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–81 | Mary J. Holmes | Independent | Robert McComb | Independent | ||
| 1981–84 | Charles Steele | DUP | ||||
| 1985–86 | Charles Steele | DUP | Joe Gaston | UUP | ||
| 1986–87 | Joe Gaston | UUP | James Patterson | DUP | ||
| Robert Halliday | DUP | |||||
| 1988–89 | Cecil Cousley | DUP | William Logan | UUP | ||
| 1990–93 | Joe Gaston | UUP | Samuel McConaghie | DUP | ||
| Cecil Cousley | DUP | |||||
| Malachy McCamphill | SDLP | |||||
| 1994–95 | Cecil Cousley | DUP | Robert Wilson | DUP | ||
| 1996–97 | Joe Gaston | UUP | Samuel McConaghie | DUP | ||
| 1997–98 | Frank Campbell | DUP | William Logan | UUP | ||
| Samuel McConaghie | DUP | |||||
| 1999–00 | William Logan | UUP | Bill Kennedy | DUP | ||
| 2000–01 | Bill Kennedy | DUP | Samuel McConaghie | DUP | ||
| John Finlay | DUP | |||||
| 2002–03 | Frank Campbell | DUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2004–05 | Cecil Cousley | DUP | Ian Stevenson | DUP | ||
| 2006–07 | John Finlay | DUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2007 – 08 | John Finlay | DUP | Harry Connolly | SDLP | ||
| 2008 – 09 | John Finlay | DUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2009 – 10 | Frank Campbell | DUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2010 – 11 | Bill Kennedy | UUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2011 – 12 | Ian Stevenson | DUP | Thomas McKeown | UUP | ||
| 2012 – 13 | Evelyne L Robinson | DUP | Cecil Cousley | DUP | ||
| 2013 - | John Finlay | DUP | Ian Stevenson | DUP | ||
Source: Freedom of Information request to Ballymoney Borough Council
Freedom of the Borough Award
The "Freedom of the Borough" is a very special award. It is given to groups or people who have done great things for the area. It's like giving them the highest honor the borough can offer.
On February 22, 1997, the Ballymoney Branch of the Royal British Legion received this award. In 2012, two army regiments, the Royal Irish Regiment and the 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment, also got the award. To celebrate, these regiments held special marches through the town.
Other important people and groups who received this honor include:
- The Royal Ulster Constabulary (police force)
- The Northern Ireland Fire Brigade
- Famous motorcyclists Joey Dunlop and his brother Robert
- Ian Paisley, a former Member of Parliament for the area
Town Twinning and Sister Cities
Town twinning is when two towns or cities in different countries become partners. They share ideas, culture, and sometimes even student exchange programs. It helps people from different places learn about each other.
In 2000, Ballymoney Borough Council twinned with Vanves, a town in France. Since 2001, Ballymoney has also been a sister city with Benbrook in Texas, USA. Because of its history with motorcycling, Ballymoney also has a link with Douglas, Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is famous for its motorcycle races.
Local and National Representation
Ballymoney, along with the nearby areas of Ballymena and Moyle, forms a larger voting area. This area is called the North Antrim constituency. People in this constituency vote for members to represent them in two important places:
- The Westminster Parliament in London (the main UK government)
- The Northern Ireland Assembly (Northern Ireland's own government)
Some people who were once councillors in Ballymoney went on to become Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). These include Philip McGuigan, Mervyn Storey, and Daithi McKay.
About the People of Ballymoney
People in the Ballymoney area tend to live longer than in other parts of Northern Ireland. On average, men in Ballymoney live to be about 79 years old. Women, on average, live even longer, to about 82.6 years old. This shows it's a healthy place to live!
