Ballymoney

Ballymoney (from Irish: Baile Monaidh, meaning "townland of the moor"[3] [ˈbˠaːlˠaːˈmˠɔnˠɪ]) is a small 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, and the barony of North East Liberties of Coleraine in County Londonderry.[4] It had a population of 10,402 people in the 2011 Census.[5]

Ballymoney

Ballymoney town hall
Ballymoney
Location within Northern Ireland
Population10,402 (2011 Census)
• Belfast48 mi (77 km)
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBALLYMONEY
Postcode districtBT53
Dialling code028
PoliceNorthern Ireland
FireNorthern Ireland
AmbulanceNorthern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
Websitewww.ballymoney.gov.uk

Ballymoney has expanded in recent years and many new houses have been built. This is primarily as a result of high house prices in the Coleraine/Portstewart/Portrush 'Triangle' areas shifting first-time buyers to the less expensive Ballymoney area. 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.[6] Conversely, it was revealed in 2013 that Ballymoney residents are more likely to die from heart disease than anywhere else in Northern Ireland.[7]

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.[8]

History
Main Street, Ballymoney, in the early 1900s

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.

Politics

Ballymoney district is part of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. In 2014, the residents elected 3 Democratic Unionist Party, 2 Ulster Unionist Party, 1 Traditional Unionist Voice and 1 Sinn Féin councillors.

Demography

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 10,402 people living in Ballymoney (4,354 households),[5] an increase of 15.3% on the Census 2001 population of 9,021.[9] 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
Ballymoney town clock.

Ballymoney is one of the oldest towns in Ireland with many buildings of historic note in the town centre.[10]

  • An old church tower dating from 1637 is the town's oldest surviving building.
  • Another striking feature is the town clock and Masonic hall, built in 1775 by the 6th Earl and 2nd Marquis of Antrim. The hall was used as a market house, courthouse, town hall and school.
  • The town hall was erected in 1866.

People

Arts and Media

Politics

Sports

Education

Nursery Schools

  • Ballymoney Nursery School
  • Sandcastles

Primary schools
  • Ballymoney Primary School
Ballymoney Primary School, also known as Ballymoney Model,[12] is situated at the top of the North Road and holds approximately 360 pupils each year. The school is within the Northern Eastern Education Library Board area.
The school is one of the largest within Ballymoney, housing eleven classrooms running from P1 to P7. It also has a large dinner hall, assembly hall, and a computer room. The school has a library and a classroom for special needs children.
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.
Ballymoney Primary's principal is Mr. G. McVeigh, while the vice principal is Mrs. Herron. And a new 2013 principal Mrs. Jamison
  • Garryduff Primary School
Garryduff primary school is for pupils aged 4–11, it is located on the Garryduff road approximately 3 miles out of Ballymoney it has got a new extension with a new multi-purpose hall and a new classroom. The current principal is Miss Tannahill.[13]
  • Landhead Primary School
Landhead Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 years, located on the Kilraughts Road, close to Ballymoney Rugby Club.[14]
In 2004 the Sunday Mirror reported on the school's cat "Tigger". The cat has since featured on local news and radio programmes.[15]
  • Leaney Primary School
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 a part of the Eco-Schools programme which aims to raise pupils awareness of sustainable development issues. The current principal is Miss V Moorhouse.[16]
  • Lislagan Primary School
Lislagan Primary School is located about three miles from Ballymoney, in a rural location.[17] It is a controlled school for girls and boys aged from 3 to 11. Enrollment has risen steadily over the last five years and currently stands at 94.[18] It is within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.
  • St. Brigid's Primary School
St. Brigid's Primary School is located in Castle Street.[19]

Secondary schools

College

Sport

Transport

Industry

Media

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.[22]

Town twinning

See also

References
  1. Know_as=Peters_Back_yard Bellymoney daes Burns proud – Ullans Speakers Association
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. Place Names NI
  4. "Ballymoney". IreAtlas Townlands Database. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Ballymoney Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  6. Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file). Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Ballymoney 'worst place in NI' for heart disease" BBC News
  8. "Ballymoney Show". Ballymoney Show. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  9. "Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) - Table view". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). p. 1. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  10. "Work ethic brings long life in Co Antrim's Tír na nÓg", Irish News, 13 August 2008
  11. "Peter Chambers". www.worldrowing.com. International Rowing Federation. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  12. "Ballymoney Model Integrated Primary School". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. "Garryduff Primary School". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  14. "Landhead Primary School". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  15. "Sunday Mirror". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  16. "Leaney Primary School". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. "Lislagan Primary School". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  18. School Inspection Report, January 2006 Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  19. "St. Brigid's". St. Brigid's Primary School. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  20. "Ballymoney" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  21. Baker, Michael HC (1999). Irish Narrow Gauge Railways. A View from the Past. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2680-7.
  22. "Ballymoney Chronicle". Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  23. Douglas Borough Council Archived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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