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Ballyclare

BallyclareEngvarB from October 2013Towns in County Antrim
Ballyclare Town Hall
Ballyclare Town Hall

Ballyclare (from Irish Bealach Cláir, meaning 'pass of the plain') is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 10,850 according to the 2021 census, and is located within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area. It sits on the river Six Mile Water. The town probably owes its origins to its being a crossing point of the river, the strategic importance of which is shown by existence of a small Norman motte on the south side of the river and presently located in the War Memorial Park. The broad main street dates from the 17th century. In the centre of the town is the Market Square with the Town Hall. The town grew in the 19th century with the coming of the railway and it became an important industrial town with a large paper mill in the South West of the town and a large Linen Bleach Green. These factories gave their names to the roads leading to them, the Mill Road and the Green Road, but have been closed for some time. It is now a local service centre with a significant dormitory role in relation to Belfast. It is the main focus within the rural area for shopping, education and recreation. To the north is the remnant of Craig Hill, which once provided a wooded backdrop but is now covered with modern housing. Much of the Craig Hill has been quarried for its basalt.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Ballyclare (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 54.751 ° E -5.999 °
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BT39 9BB
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Ballyclare Town Hall
Ballyclare Town Hall
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Ballyeaston
Ballyeaston

Ballyeaston, formerly spelt Ballyistin (from Irish Baile Uistín, meaning 'Uistín's townland'), is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 2–3 km north of Ballyclare, on the road to Larne. It lies on the southern hill slopes overlooking Six Mile Water. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 90 people. It is within the Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council area. The village has a very distinctive character and is focused on the junction of three main routes that meet near a medieval parish church. Its buildings cluster between the churches, which are distinctive landmarks, with the strikingly modern facade of First Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church and the unusual bronze cupola of Second Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church. The Boy's Brigade Company belongs to 2nd Ballyeaston while the Girl's Brigade belongs to 1st Ballyeaston and boys and girls from both churches attend each. At the time of the 1859 Ulster revival, the minister of 2nd Ballyeaston was Rev A. Pollock. Reference books state that the revival hit the parish with such power, he died as a result of his strenuous labours. He is buried in the small graveyard behind the church and the inscription on his headstone says that he died in the field with his armour on. The middle of the village is a tightly knit group of buildings on both sides of the Trenchill Road, a steep and winding road, which forms the village's main street. Most of its buildings are mostly unchanged and the village still retains much of its original character. At the top of the main street is the old Ballyeaston Flute Band Hall. The band won many competitions before their nearby rivals Ballyclare Victoria Flute Band became famous.