Dunloy
| Dunloy | |
| County Antrim | |
|---|---|
 Dunloy | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | D017193 |
| Location: | 55°-0’40"N, 6°24’42"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,215 (2011) |
| Post town: | Ballymena |
| Postcode: | BT44 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Causeway Coast & Glens |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North Antrim |
Dunloy is a village and a townland in County Antrim, found about eleven miles north of Ballymena and six miles north-west is Ballymoney, within the Barony of Kilconway. The village had a population of 1,215 people recorded in the 2011 Census.
The name of the place is derived from the Irish language; Dún Lathaí meaning "Fort of the muddy/marshy place}".[1] This appears to refer to an ancient ringfort (or 'rath') in a part of the parish known as Carrowadoon (itself from the Irish Ceathrú an Dúin, meaning ‘quarter(land) of the fort’).
History
Dunloy was in the ancient Irish district of "Killimorrie", which gives us the vernacular district of 'Killymurris' today.[2][3] Killymurris is claimed as being derived from the Irish Coill Ui Mhuireadhaigh meaning "the wood of Murry".[3] An alternate origin given for Killymurris is that it derives from Choill Mhuiris meaning "the wood of Morris".[4]
Just south of Dunloy village, in the townland of Ballymacaldrack is "Dooey’s cairn". This open court tomb, named after the landowner, is located on the slopes of Long Mountain and overlooks the valley of the River Main. The earliest known activity within the tomb is estimated at around 4000BC. Also on Long Mountain is another court Tomb, known as Broadstone.
In the same townland lies the ancient graveyard of Caldernagh.
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Railways
Dunloy railway station is currently closed on the Belfast-Londonderry railway line run by Northern Ireland Railways.
Recent history
Since 1996 residents have shown opposition to Loyal Order parades in Dunloy. Parades are currently prohibited from entering the centre of the village.[5][6] Loyalists in nearby Ballymena counter protested to this by holding weekly protests at a Roman Catholic church situated in the predominantly loyalist Harryville area of Ballymena.[7]
These protests have since ended. There have been many attacks on the local Orange Hall. On 12 July 2005, locals blocked the road in an attempt to stop the Orange Order from marching through the village.
About the village
Dunloy's most striking building is considered to be the modern Roman Catholic church. The village also has several shops, two pubs, a bakery, and a credit union. Garves Wind Farm is not far from the village.
Nearby is a stone circle known as "The Giant's Grave".[1]
Sport
- Gaelic sports: Dunloy Cu Chullains,[8] which club has very successful hurling and camogie teams.
Outside links
- Village standoff ends after talks — BBC News article
- Dunloy GA & CC
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dunloy - Placenames NI
- ↑ O'Laverty: An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern, volume 4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hill, George: 'An Historical Account of the Macdonnells of Antrim: Including Notices of Some Other Septs, Irish and Scottish' Archer, 1873) pages 426–
- ↑ Killymurris - Placenames NI
- ↑ "Areas of Contention" CAIN website
- ↑ "No deal in Dunloy for parades now or in the future" Ballymoney Times 10 February 2010
- ↑ "The town where hatred burns stronger than hope in Ballymena" The Independent 8 December 1996
- ↑ Dunloy Cu Chullains