Armoy
| Armoy Scots: Aramoy | |
| County Antrim | |
|---|---|
 St Patrick's Church and the round tower | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | D067328 |
| Location: | 55°7’48"N, 6°19’48"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,122 (2013 est.) |
| Post town: | Ballymoney |
| Postcode: | BT53 |
| Dialling code: | 028 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Causeway Coast & Glens |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North Antrim |
Armoy is a village in County Antrim, five and half miles south-west of Ballycastle and eight miles north-east of Ballymoney. The village is on the River Bush between two of the nine Glens of Antrim; Glenshesk and Glentaisie.The Armoy area also includes half of Knocklayd mountain which lies to the north-east of the village.
According to an estimate in 2013, Armoy had a population of 1,122. It has two primary schools, shops, a post office, public houses and other community facilities. The village was dominated by public sector housing for many years, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a new housing development was built. Many more new developments have been built since then.
Before the last Ice Age, the River Bush flowed directly north to the sea at Ballycastle. However, after the last glacial event in Ulster deposited the Armoy Moraine (on which the church and round tower sit), the river was deflected to the west and it now reaches the sea through Bushmills and Portballintrae.
History
A monastic settlement which was founded by St Patrick in the 5th Century formerly sat to the northeast of the present day village, in the area of what is now St. Patrick's Parish Church. The site was excavated recently and archaeologists uncovered artefacts which date the location to the 6th century. The actual centre of the monastic settlement has yet to be determined, though many scholars believe it may be higher up the slope behind the graveyard on unexcavated ground.
The monastic settlement is said to be built on land given to Patrick by Fergus Mor MacEarca who would succeed his father to become the first Christian king in Ireland. Saint Olcán was a follower of Patrick who came from the area, and was baptised at Dunseverick by Patrick and later became Bishop of Armoy. One of the local primary schools now carries his name.[1]
It is suggested that the original site of the village was built around the monastery and the round tower. However, during the Norman period the village moved to its present-day location on the banks of the River Bush to accommodate the Norman operated mills which demanded large volumes of water. Therefore, a location by the riverbank was much more suitable.
The area surrounding the present day church is of special significance as it has several oval shaped tunnels which have been dug under the rock all the way down to a cave at the Lagge crossroads below the church. This tunnel from the tower to the crossroads was used as an escape route as it leads down to the River Bush. The word Lagge is of significance as it translates as hollow and legend has it that a giant lifted an ‘L’- shaped section of the ground at Lagge Cross and threw it into the sea creating Rathlin Island.[2]
Places of interest
- A picturesque Presbyterian Church stands near to the edge of the River Bush and not to far from the centre on the village. The church’s striking spire, with a Viking ship weathervane on top, has been described as ’a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower’.
- The remains of an Irish round tower stand on the edge of the village. An early monastery was founded about AD 460 by Saint Olcán, a disciple of St Patrick. The only trace of an early monastery is the stump of the round tower, which stands in the grounds of St Patrick's Parish Church. The tower is about 11 m high and has three storeys. At one time, Armoy was the main religious settlement in the Irish part of the kingdom of Dalriada.
- The village also has a small park beside the river in which many references can be found to its connection with motorbikes and road racing. This includes a monument dedicated to the "Armoy Armada" who were a famous group of road racers from Armoy which included Joey Dunlop, Mervyn Robinson, Frank Kennedy and Jim Dunlop.[3] The park also has paths laid out in the shape of the circuits of both the North West 200 and the legendary Isle of Man TT.
Events
In recent years Armoy has played host to what has become one of the stand out events in the Irish Road Racing callender, The Armoy Road Race, also known as "The Race of Legends".[4]
The event takes place at the end of July/start of August every year and takes place on Armoy's three-mile long circuit. The grid for the races is set up in a grand prix style with up to 27 riders starting each race. The start/finish line is located along the A44 Hillside Road just to the north of the village on the main road to Ballycastle.[5]
Community development
The commercial and community life of the village has been greatly enhanced by a community regeneration project at the junction of Main Street and Drones Road. The Tilley Molloy Project, implemented under the International Fund for Ireland’s Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP), was undertaken by Armoy Community Development Association and completed in 2000. This redevelopment of a key derelict site at the entrance to the village provided four shop units, four apartments, community care facilities and public toilets. The physical environment of the village has been further enhanced by a new Riverside Park.
Outside links
- North Antrim.com - Armoy
- Armoy tourist and sports information
- The Northern Ireland Guide: For information on Armoy Round Tower and other historical attractions
- The McGoogans of Armoy
- Pride of the Park Flute Band - Armoy
- Ulster Scot - John Knox Armoy
- NI Neighbourhood Information System
- Armoy Presbyterian Church
- John Armoy Knox
- Moyle District Council - Armoy
- Megalithomania - Armoy Round Tower
- Armoy Round Tower