Monkstown, County Antrim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monkstown, County Antrim
electoral ward and townland
Monkstown, County Antrim Location in Northern Ireland

Monkstown (in Irish: Baile na Manach) is a small area in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It's known as both a townland and an electoral ward. A townland is a traditional small piece of land, and Monkstown covers about 811 acres. An electoral ward is an area used for voting in local elections.

Monkstown is part of the larger urban area called Newtownabbey. It falls under the local government of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Long ago, this area was called Ballynamanagh, which means "townland of the monks" in Irish. It's also located in the historic area known as the civil parish of Carnmoney and the barony of Belfast Lower.

Monkstown has a long history. Some stories say it's where Fergus Mor Mac Eirc, an ancient king of Dal Riata, was buried. This suggests that a religious building, like a monastery, might have been here as early as the 5th century CE. Later, it might have become a "grange," which was a farm managed by a monastery. It could have been connected to a monastery at Woodburn in Carrickfergus.

Getting Around Monkstown

Train Station

Monkstown once had its own train station, called Monkstown railway station. It was part of the Belfast-Derry railway line, which is run by Northern Ireland Railways. However, the station is not open anymore.

Learning in Monkstown

Local Schools and Colleges

Several schools and colleges serve the young people of Monkstown and the surrounding areas. These include Abbey Community College and Hollybank Primary School. Students can also attend the University of Ulster for higher education.

Sports and Recreation

Football Clubs

Monkstown is home to a few local association football (soccer) clubs. These teams, such as 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys F.C. and Nortel F.C., play in the Northern Amateur Football League. This league allows local teams to compete against each other.

Famous People from Monkstown

Monkstown has been home to some well-known individuals, especially in the world of football.

• Alec Mackie (1903–1984) was a famous footballer.
• Jim Hagan (born 1956) is a former professional footballer. He also managed football clubs.
• Michael Smith (born 1956) is another former professional footballer from the area.