IRVINE, a royal burgh, parish and seaport of Ayrshire, Scotland. Pop. (1931) 12,032. It is situated on the north bank of the estuary of the Irvine, 294 m. S.W. of Glasgow by the L.M.S. railway. It is connected with the suburb of Fullarton on the south side of the river by a fine bridge. Alexander II.
granted it a charter, which was confirmed by Robert Bruce.
Towards the end of the 17th century it was reckoned the third shipping port in Scotland, and though its importance in this re spect declined owing to the partial silting-up of the harbour, its water-borne trade revived after 1875, the sandy bar having been removed and the wharfage extended and improved. The Academy
is a pre-Reformation foundation. The industries include engine making, shipbuilding, iron founding, the manufacture of chemicals and hosiery, saw-mills and spelter works. Irvine unites with Ayr, Ardrossan, Prestwick, Saltcoats and Troon in sending one mem ber to parliament. The exports consist principally of coal, iron, fireclay goods and chemical products, and the imports of grain, timber, limestone, ores and salt. At DREGHORN, 2 m. to the S.E. coal and fireclay are worked and bricks made.