Islandmagee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Islandmagee
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 Cottages near Browns Bay, Islandmagee, in 2006 |
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| • Belfast | 18 mi (29 km) |
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| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LARNE |
| Postcode district | BT40 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament |
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| NI Assembly |
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Islandmagee is a peninsula located on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits between the towns of Larne and Whitehead. This area is part of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. It is a quiet, rural community with a very long history. People have lived here since the Mesolithic period, which was a long time ago! In the early medieval period, it was known as Semne.
Islandmagee is home to Northern Ireland's main power station, Ballylumford. It is also where the gas pipeline from Scotland ends.
History of Islandmagee
The name Islandmagee comes from Mac Aodha, which was a well-known Irish family in the area. An older Irish name for the place was Rinn Seimhne. This means "peninsula of Seimhne," which was an ancient tribal name.
In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, the Bissett family rented the peninsula. Their rent was to give the Queen goshawks every year. These are birds of prey that used to breed on the nearby white chalk cliffs.
During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, there was a period of conflict in the area. Some Catholic residents were killed by soldiers from Carrickfergus. While some old stories claim many thousands died, modern historians believe the number was much smaller, perhaps around two dozen people.
Islandmagee was also the location of a famous witch trial in 1710. Eight women were found guilty of witchcraft and sent to prison for a year. This was the last witch trial ever held in Ireland, happening in 1711. There are hopes to include these stories in a new historical tour.
In the 1800s, an exciting discovery was made near Islandmagee. The very first dinosaur fossil bones found in Ireland were discovered here!
Ancient Discoveries
- The Ballylumford Dolmen is a very old stone monument in Islandmagee. People sometimes call it the "Druid's Altar." This monument might be from the Early Bronze Age, around 2500 BC. It could also be the remains of an even older tomb from about 4000 BC. It has four tall stones with a heavy capstone on top. There's also a fallen stone inside, which might have blocked the entrance to the tomb.
- Neolithic houses have been found and dug up at Ballyharry on the Islandmagee peninsula. When archaeologists explored these sites, they found many interesting things. These included old pottery, sharp flint arrowheads, and parts of polished stone axes. They also found quernstones, which were used to grind grain.
- As mentioned, dinosaur bones were found here in the 19th and 20th centuries. These were the first dinosaur fossils ever discovered in Ireland!
Sports in Islandmagee
- The local football team is called Islandmagee F.C.. They play in the Northern Amateur Football League. Their home ground is Wilbourne Park.
