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Larne

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Larne
A birds-eye view looking south-east towards Larne Harbour, Islandmagee, and down the length of Larne Lough. Chaine Memorial Tower can be seen in the left of the picture, with Ballylumford power station behind the ferry.
Population18,228 (2001 Census)
Irish grid referenceD4102
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLARNE
Postcode districtBT40
Dialling code028
PoliceNorthern Ireland
FireNorthern Ireland
AmbulanceNorthern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
Websitewww.larne.gov.uk
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Antrim

Larne (from Irish Latharna, the name of a Gaelic territory)[1] is a substantial seaport and industrial town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is today a major passenger and freight roll-on roll-off port. Larne is twinned with Clover, South Carolina.

Larne is administered by Larne Borough Council. Together with the neighbouring district of Carrickfergus and part of Newtownabbey, it forms the East Antrim constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.

History

The oldest known name for Larne Lough was Loch Ollarbha or Inbhear nOllarbha (Ollarbha Rivermouth), from Ollarbha the ancient name of the Larne Water.

It is recorded that the Roman Emperor Serverus described how, in 204AD a Roman slave galley bound for Scotland was blown off course and took shelter in a place that they called Portus Saxa (the Port of the Standing Stones) - this is thought to have been Larne Lough.[2] The ancient Greeks also had knowledge of the Antrim Coast and Ptolemy, the astronomer and geographer of the 2nd century AD, referred to Islandmagee on one of his maps.

In mediaeval times Lathar, son of Hugony the Great (according to legend, High King of Ireland and reputed ruler of much of the British Isles), was reputedly given a small territory which stretched along the Antrim coast roughly from Glenarm to the Inver River - this territory was called Latharna (the lands of Lathar). The area where the modern town sits was known in Irish as Inbhear an Latharna (meaning the "river mouth of Latharna") and in English as Inver Larne or simply Inver. (The territorial name of "Latharna" was only applied exclusively to the location of the present town in recent centuries.)

The area at one point came under threat from Viking raids. Viking burial sites have been found in Larne, and artefacts such as Viking-type swords found in Larne have been dated to the tenth century AD[3]. It is generally thought that the Vikings established a base at Larne for a time, and that the Norse name for Larne Lough was Ulfreksfjord (named after one of their Norse kings). According to Snorri, the Norse historian, Connor, King of Ireland, defeated the raiding Orkney Vikings at Ulfreksfjord in 1018. This suggests that some of Anglo-Norman names for the Larne area, such as Wulfrickford had a Norse origin.

In later Anglo-Norman records the name for Larne Lough was spelt as Wulvricheford, Wulfrickford, Wokingisfyrth, Wolderfirth, Wolverflete, Ulderfleet, Ulderfleete and Wulfricchford in various records, eventually settling down to Olderfleet. P.W. Joyce in his Irish Names of Places states that it is probable that in the first element of "Olderfleet" is the ancient Irish name of the Larne water, Ollorbha, with the second element being a corruption of the word "fiord" (a long narrow arm of the sea, running up between high banks or cliffs, as on the coast of Norway) [4]

Ruins of Olderfleet Castle

In the 13th Century the Scots-Irish Bissett family built Olderfleet Castle at Curran Point. In 1315 Edward the Bruce of Scotland (brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland) landed at Larne with his 6000 strong army en route to conquer Ireland, where Olderfleet Castle was of strategic importance. Edward saw Ireland as another front in the ongoing war against England and wished to form "a grand Gaelic alliance against England" and the Anglo-Norman Irish (or Hiberno-Normans). His Scots-Irish army took the whole of Ulster, then destroyed Dundalk (massacring both Gaels and the Anglo-Norman Irish alike) and then Kells. However, his army later suffered from famine and was later defeated by Anglo-Norman Irish at the Battle of Faughart.

In 1569 Queen Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland, appointed Sir Moyses Hill as the governor of Olderfleet Castle. It was seen as strategically important in the colonization of Ulster.

During the 18th century many Irish emigrated to America from the port of Larne. A monument in Smiley Park commemorates the Friends Goodwill, the first emigrant ship to sail from Larne in May 1717, heading for Boston, New England in the modern United States. Boston's long standing Irish roots can be traced to Larne. As with western and southern Ireland and unlike some areas of north–east (Antrim, Down, Louth and North Dublin) and eastern Ireland (South Dublin, Wicklow) this was a town stricken by the Irish Famine of the mid 19th century.[citation needed]

In 1914, Loyalists opposed to the Home Rule Act 1914 prepared for armed resistance. In an episode known as the Larne Gun Running German weapons and ammunition were transported into the port of Larne in the dead of night and distributed throughout Ireland.[5] This event marked a major step in cementing the right to Ulster Unionist self-determination, with the recognition of such a right ultimately leading to the creation of Northern Ireland.

The Troubles

Larne throughout the course of The Troubles had a significant paramilitary presence in the town, mostly through the presence of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA). For further information see UDA South East Antrim Brigade.

Geography

Larne sits on the western side of a narrow inlet that links Larne Lough to the sea. On the eastern side of the inlet is a peninsula called Islandmagee. To the north of Larne are the scenic Glens of Antrim. To the west of Larne is the ancient volcanic formation of Antrim Plateau. Larne is 25 miles from the Scottish mainland, with stunning views across the North Channel towards the Mull of Kintyre, Rhins of Galloway, Islay and Paps of Jura often visible from the Larne area - this proximity to Scotland has had a defining influence on Larne's history and culture.

The town is within the small parish of the same name. Like the rest of Ireland, this parish has long been divided into townlands, whose names mostly come from the Irish language. Over time, more rural townlands have been built upon and they have given their names to many roads and housing estates. The following is a list of townlands within Larne's urban area, alongside their likely etymologies:[6]

  • Antiville (likely from an Tigh Bhile meaning "the house of the old tree")
  • Ballyboley (likely from Baile Buaile meaning "townland of the booley/dairy place")
  • Ballycraigy (likely from Baile Creige meaning "townland of the rocky outcrop")
  • Ballyloran (likely from Baile Loairn meaning "Loarn's townland")
  • Blackcave North
  • Blackcave South
  • Curran and Drumaliss (likely from Córran meaning "crescent" and Druim a' Lios meaning "ridge of the ringfort")
  • Greenland
  • Inver (likely from Inbhear meaning "rivermouth")

Places of interest

Looking towards Chaine Memorial Tower and north along the Antrim Coast from a ferry entering Larne harbour.
The Blackcave Tunnel or "Black Arch" on the scenic Antrim Coast Road at Larne.
The bandstand on Larne Main Street.
  • The town has several parks:[7]
    • The Town Park sits above the picturesque Promenade area with walks towards the Chaine Memorial Tower - a lighthouse and memorial to the founder of Larne Harbour sea route to Scotland. The Leisure Centre is nearby.
    • The Chaine Park contains the burial site of James Chaine and offers picturesque views over the North Channel.
    • The Curran park has a large children's play area, bowling facilities and camping. There are also tributes to emigrants to North America and Larne's connections with North America.
    • The Dixon Park contains a 2 hectare open green space area with bandstand.
    • Smiley park is a small park in the centre of the town also with tributes to emigrants to North America who left from the port of Larne.
    • Carnfunnock Country Park, 3.5 miles north of Larne is a large site with camping, caravanning, gardens, maze of Northern Ireland, sundials, children's play area, mini-golf, 9 hole golf course, clay pigeon shooting, orienteering course, and walks.
  • Larne Leisure Centre offers a 25m indoor swimming pool, spa, sauna, weights, fitness, sports hall and theatre. It is situated near the picturesque Promenade area.[8]
  • Larne Museum & Arts Centre, situated in the Carnegie Centre in the centre of the town.[9]
  • Olderfleet Castle is the ruins of a 13th century castle at Curran Point, near the Chaine Memorial Tower.
  • Cairndhu Golf Course is an 18 hole course situated atop of Ballygally Head.[10] Larne Golf Course on sits atop of the Islandmagee peninsula [11]
  • Nearby sandy beaches at:
  • Waterfalls and forest walk are at nearby Glenoe, 5 miles inland.
  • A Moutainbiking course and an all-Ireland diving centre is under construction at the old lime quarry and cement works at Magheramorne,[13] 5 miles to the south along Larne Lough. The film studio at Magheramorne was used to film much of HBO TV Series Game of Thrones, where the quarry wall was used as a back-drop for much of the series, along with scenery at the Antrim Plateau near Cairncastle.
  • Diving tours are also available off the coast. The lighthouse on The Maidens rocks hosts a colony of seals. Numerous coastal bird species and other wildlife such as otters, whales and dolphins are often visible along the Larne coastal area.
  • Castle and estate of the Earl of Antrim in the nearby fishing village of Glenarm, 12 miles north, has walled gardens and often hosts Ulster Scots cultural events such as the Dalriada Festival and Highland Games.
  • Larne Lough is a protected bird-watching area and designated Special Protection Area, Area of Special Scientific Interest and Ramsar wetland site to protect both birds and shellfish.
  • There are numerous stables horse-riding facilities in the area and pony trekking tours are available.

Demographics

Larne is classified as a Large Town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)[14] (i.e. with population between 18,000 and 75,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 18,228 people living in Larne. Of these:

  • 20.9% were aged under 16 years and 21.2% were aged 60 and over
  • 48.2% of the population were male and 51.8% were female
  • 26.2% were from a Catholic background and 70.7% were from a Protestant background.
  • 4.3% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Industry

Larne in March 2007, with the FG Wilson plant dominating the top of the picture, Moyle Hospital in the centre, and the Laharna Retail Park (site of the former Invercon paper mill) at the bottom.
  • Ballylumford power station - Northern Ireland's main power station, providing half of all Northern Ireland's electricity.
  • Headquarters of FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd. (part of the Caterpillar group) - a major employer in Northern Ireland and manufacturer of diesel and gas generators.[15]
  • InspecVision Ltd. - Industrial Inspection Equipment.
  • Ivex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. - manufacturer of intravenous drip solutions.[16]
  • Laharna Retail Park.
  • LEDCOM (Larne Enterprise Development Company) and business park [17]
  • Wind NI - wind power development solutions[18]

Transport

Larne harbour

Education

There are a number of educational establishments in the area:

Primary Schools:

Secondary Schools:

Further education:

Public Services

Larne Town Hall
  • Larne Fire Station
  • Larne Library
  • Larne Police Station
  • Larne Ambulance Station
  • Moyle Hospital (limited services after closure of accident & emergency)
  • RNLI Larne Lifeboat Station

Larne Harbour Police

Larne Harbour Police is a small specialised police force, with approximately seven officers,[21] responsible for policing Larne Harbour 24 hours per day.[22] The officers of the force are sworn in as special constables under the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847, and are responsible to Larne Harbour Ltd. Jurisdiction of the constables extends to one mile beyond the Harbour Complex.[23] The force are subject to the oversight of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.[24]

Notable people


Freedom of the borough

In memory of a battle in the town of Musa Qala in Afghanistan in 2006, involving the Royal Irish Regiment, a new regimental march, composed by Chris Attrill and commissioned by Larne Borough Council, was gifted to the regiment on Saturday 1 November 2008 in Larne, during an event in which the regiment was also presented with the 'Freedom of the Borough'. This gave the regiment the right to march through the towns of the borough with 'flags flying, bands playing and bayonets fixed'. The march was named Musa Qala.[25]

Sport

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larne.

References

  1. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. ^ Larne Borogugh council - Local History and Heritage
  3. ^ Danish Viking Ship Museum - Larne Viking Grave
  4. ^ Irish Times - Where's That?/Olderfleet 1365
  5. ^ A. T. Q. Stewart: "The Ulster Crisis", London, Faber and Faber Ltd., 1967 SBN 571 08066 9
  6. ^ "Northern Ireland Placenames Project". Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  7. ^ Larne Borough Council overview
  8. ^ Leisure Centre
  9. ^ Larne Museum & Arts Centre
  10. ^ http://www.cairndhugolfclub.co.uk/ Cairndhu Golf Club
  11. ^ Larne Golf Club
  12. ^ Ballygally and Carnlough beaches win UK awards
  13. ^ Magheramorne reinvented by Lafarge
  14. ^ NI Statistics and Research Agency website.
  15. ^ FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd.
  16. ^ Ivex Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
  17. ^ LEDCOM
  18. ^ Wind NI
  19. ^ P&O Irish Sea
  20. ^ "Larne stations" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  21. ^ Police Service of Northern Ireland, retrieved 2008-06-28
  22. ^ "Passenger > Services". Website of Larne Harbour. Larne Harbour Limited. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  23. ^ Hansard Report 5 June, 2006
  24. ^ "Code of Ethics" (PDF). Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  25. ^ Freedom of the Borough
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