Whitehead, County Antrim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitehead
|
|
|---|---|
 The shorefront |
|
 |
|
| Population | 3,802 (2011 Census) |
| District |
|
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARRICKFERGUS |
| Postcode district | BT38 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament |
|
| NI Assembly |
|
Whitehead (Irish: An Cionn Bán) is a small seaside town located on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits almost halfway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. Whitehead is part of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Long ago, before the Plantation of Ulster, it was known as both Whitehead and Kinbaine. The name Kinbaine comes from an old Irish phrase meaning "the white head."
This town is nestled in a small bay. It lies between the white limestone cliffs of Whitehead and the dark volcanic cliff of Blackhead. The Blackhead Lighthouse stands tall on top of Blackhead, marking the entrance to the Belfast Lough. Whitehead is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Belfast. From its coast, you can clearly see the Copeland Islands, Bangor, and parts of the County Down coastline across Belfast Lough.
In 2011, Whitehead had a population of 3,802 people. It is sometimes called 'The Town With No Streets'. This is because none of its roads have "Street" in their name.
Contents
Discover Whitehead's Past
Whitehead became a popular holiday spot in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People from Belfast and nearby areas would travel there for their seaside vacations.
Whitehead is known as a Victorian railway village. It has a special conservation area that includes its historic railway station. The town is home to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. It also hosts the County Antrim Yacht Club and the Bentra Golf Course. Whitehead is also the starting point for the famous Gobbins Path. During the First World War, Whitehead even had an aerodrome, which was a place where two airships were kept.
How Tourism Grew in Whitehead
An Irish railway engineer named Berkeley Deane Wise helped make Whitehead even more popular. He created new attractions to encourage visitors to use the railway. Wise helped turn the small area of Whitehead into a busy holiday resort. He designed and built a bandstand, changing rooms for swimmers, and a "children’s corner." He also added a slipway for boats and a large pavilion with 500 seats.
Awards and Special Plantings
Whitehead has won awards for its beautiful flowers. It received a silver award at the Britain in Bloom awards in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, it won a bronze award. The local Brighter Whitehead group planted many of the flowers. In 2012, Northern Ireland's only Jubilee Wood was planted in Whitehead. This was done to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Explore the Blackhead Coastal Path
The Blackhead Path was built in 1892 by the Victorians. The railway company helped pay for it. They wanted to attract more day-trippers and holidaymakers to Whitehead. At that time, Whitehead was a growing tourist destination.
Berkeley Deane Wise also built this new path. It runs along the coast from Whitehead to the Blackhead Lighthouse. To reach the lighthouse, he added several bridges and a tunnel. Wise then planned an even more amazing path built on cliffs a few miles north. This became the famous Gobbins Path. The Blackhead Path is a free walk along the Irish Sea cliffs of Islandmagee. It passes by Sunshine House and goes around the Blackhead Lighthouse.
In 2018, the path was closed because of safety concerns and a risk of landslips. The Mid and East Antrim Council began fully renovating the path in 2019. It reopened in July 2020. However, it was partly closed again in 2021 after another landslip.
Learning in Whitehead
Whitehead has one primary school called Whitehead Primary School. Another school, Lourdes Primary School, was open until June 2011.
Whitehead High School was a secondary school just for girls. It closed in 1986. The building is now used as a nursing home.
Places of Worship
There are several churches in Whitehead. These include Whitehead Baptist Church, Whitehead Presbyterian Church, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, Whitehead Methodist Church, Our Lady of Lourdes (Roman Catholic), and Whitehead Congregational Church.
Sports and Clubs
Whitehead has several sports clubs. These include a golf club, a running club, and a bowling club. The bowling club, which plays lawn bowls, has won the NIBA Division 1 championship six times, including in 2015.
The local association football (soccer) club is Whitehead Eagles FC. It was started in 1976. They play in the Northern Amateur Football League. Before that, they played in the Larne and District League and won the Larne Mineral Water Cup. They then moved to the Dunmurray League, where they earned promotions in two seasons and won the Cyril Lord Shield.
The County Antrim Yacht Club is located near Whitehead. It offers dinghy sailing and special courses from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).
Famous People from Whitehead
- Jackie Woodburne, an actress from the TV show Neighbours, lived in Whitehead before her family moved to Australia.
- Sting (Gordon Sumner), the famous musician, lived and holidayed in Whitehead with his ex-wife Frances Tomelty in the mid-1970s. The wooden house they stayed in was once a hotel. It has recently been replaced with a new building. He also stayed on the road leading to the lighthouse and on Chester Avenue.
- Keith Gillespie, a Northern Ireland footballer, went to Whitehead Primary School.
Railways and Transport
Whitehead railway station is on the train line that runs from Larne Harbour to Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central. It is part of the NI Railways network, which is also known as Belfast Suburban Rail. The station is also home to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
Whitehead's Population
In the 2011 Census, Whitehead had a population of 3,802 people. This was a small increase of 2.7% from the 2001 Census, when the population was 3,702.
Here are some facts about the people living in Whitehead in 2011:
- 17.8% of the people were under 16 years old.
- 22.2% of the people were 65 years old or older.
- 17.5% of the people said they were from a Catholic background.
- 69.2% of the people said they were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
- 4.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
Images for kids
-
The shorefront
See also
In Spanish: Whitehead (Antrim) para niños
