Ballymoney

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Ballymoney
County Antrim
Ballymoney town hall.jpg
Ballymoney town hall
Location
Location: 55°4’16"N, 6°30’29"W
Data
Population: 9,021  (2001)
Post town: Ballymoney
Postcode: BT53
Dialling code: 028
Local Government
Council: Causeway Coast & Glens

Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, 19 miles north of Ballymena towards Coleraine. The town holds both Protestant and Catholic areas. There is the Glebeside and Carnany which are both predominantly Protestant, and the West Gate area which is predominantly Catholic.

Ballymoney has experienced recent expansion as high house prices in the Coleraine area have driven buyers elsewhere. The town hosts the Ballymoney Drama Festival, the oldest drama festival in Ireland, which was founded in 1933.

Buildings of note

Ballymoney is one of the oldest towns in Ulster with many buildings of historic note in the town centre:[1]

  • An church tower dates from 1637: the town’s oldest surviving building.
  • 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, erected in 1866.
Ballymoney town clock.

References

  1. "Work ethic brings long life in Co Antrim’s Tír na nÓg" , Irish News, 13 August 2008

Outside links