Antrim

ANTRIM, a county in Ulster, Northern Ireland. It is bounded north and east by the narrow seas separating Ireland from Scotland, the Atlantic ocean and Irish sea, south by Belfast lough and the Lagan river dividing it from Down, west by Lough Neagh, dividing it from Armagh and Tyrone, and by the River Bann dividing it from Londonderry. Area, 751,965ac. or about 1,175sq.m. Pop. (excluding Belfast) 191,643. The hilly district to the east shows north to south trend lines. There are some outstanding peaks, such as Knocklayd (1,695ft.), Slieveanorra (I,676ft.), Trostan (1,817ft.), Slemish (I,457ft.), and Divis (I,567ft.) ; but the basalt which covers the greater part of the area has been largely weathered into a low plateau often covered by peat. The basalt reaches the sea along the north coast in steep cliffs; e.g., the perpendicular columnar basalt of Giant's Cause way. Fair Head is another rocky eminence of dolerite, backed by gneiss and schistose grits. A narrow zone of Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous rocks separates the basalt from the consequently milder east coast, which has low headlands and wide bays backed by the higher interior. Triassic and Cretaceous rocks also bound the basalt on the south-east and Trias is important near the lower Lagan. Lough Neagh occupies an irregularity in the surface of the basaltic plateau due probably to faulting in Pliocene times. It is bounded by basalt rocks on the north and by Pliocene de posits on the south. The plateau of the east slopes down grad ually to the valley of the Bann, oeyond which the basalt is found again in the hills of east county Londonderry.

Early

History.—The evidences of palaeolithic life in Ireland are scanty and have led to diversity of opinion. There is con siderably more data for the neolithic period. In Antrim there are traces of the beach 25ft. above the present sea-level which was probably formed in the period of the Littorina sea in north Europe, and in which are found the earliest certain human relics. The coast of Antrim was doubly important in neolithic times. Its proximity to Scotland makes it possible that it received some of the earliest immigrants into Ireland. Further, its chalk deposits, protected from excessive erosion by a capping of basalt, were rich in flint which was in great demand for the manufacture of weapons. It is rich in rude stone monuments. Amber beads suggest that Antrim remained in contact with north Europe via Scotland during the bronze age, and spiraliform designs may have reached bronze age Ireland from north or from south Europe.

The Romans did not land in Ireland. The civilizing influence of the Continent was felt, however, even in remote Antrim. St. Patrick is said to have been brought back among the prisoners after an Irish raid on the coasts of Britain. He became a swine herd on the western slopes of Slemish. Later he studied on the Continent and returned as a bishop, founding many churches in north-east Ireland.

During the period of Scandinavian influence, Norwegians, fol lowed by Danes, penetrated along the lower Bann and also Bel fast lough, and from these made raids into the surrounding coun try. To this period have been attributed the earlier round towers found in Ireland, examples of which may be seen at Antrim and Armoy and on Ram island in Lough Neagh.

Antrim's position in the far north delayed its conquest by the Normans. Henry II., however, authorized John de Courcy to go into Ulster. He marched north, defeated MacDonlevy and took his kingdom, consisting of modern Antrim and Down. Ruins of castles may be seen perched on basalt crags fringing the coast from Carrickfergus to Dunluce and Dunseverick. The first-named has a commanding position of strategic importance and was oc cupied by Edward Bruce during his expedition to Ireland in 1315. During Tudor times there was a considerable infiltration of Scots into Antrim which, therefore, has a mixed population, although it was not included in the territory partitioned during the planta tion of Ulster. It was a recognized division before the general establishment of shires.

Economic Survey.

The chief centres of population in later times are in the lowlands and along the coastal fringe. With the exception of Belfast (q.v.) and possibly of Larne, there is no large port around the coasts of Antrim. The numerous bays, however, afford shelter for small fishing villages and holiday re sorts. Larne has passenger communication with the Scottish ports of Stranraer and Ayr. The fisheries of the Bann and of Lough Neagh are not only attractive to sportsmen but are also of commercial value, the chief centre being Toome.

The plateaux of east Antrim consist of heathery moorland with a few scattered peat deposits. They provide pasturage for sheep but are sparsely populated, most of the villages being in the valleys. The more recent deposits of the valleys of the Bann and the Lagan, and also of the lowlands around Lough Neagh, form the richest agricultural areas. Oats, potatoes and flax are the principal crops. The production of flax increased considerably during the World War but has been on the decrease since. The peasants of Antrim and of Ulster in general depend largely on the potato crop and have suffered so much in bad seasons that at tempts are being made to encourage home industries and to or ganize resources scientifically. The cultivation of fruits is being encouraged and extended. The valley of the Lagan provides rich pasturages which are famous as cattle-fattening centres.

The great linen and ship building industries of Antrim centre on Belfast (q.v.) which is the metropolis of the area. Other centres of the linen industry are Lisburn on the Lagan, and Ballymena on the Braid. The former probably owes its im portance to skilled Huguenot weavers who settled there after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Industry in Antrim has been handicapped by absence of local supplies of coal and iron, but it has grown in Belfast to which such supplies can easily be brought by water, chiefly from Scotland. Some coal for local needs is mined at Ballycastle. There are a few minor activities which should be noted. Whisky distilling is carried on at a few centres. Bushmills in the north has several paper mills. Rock salt some 8oft. thick is mined near Carrickfergus. The Keuper clays yield material for bricks. Bauxite, which is believed to be derived from the decay of lavas, is found between Glenarm and Brough shane, in association with iron-ores, both these materials being worked commercially. Bauxite occurs also near Ballintoy.

With the exception of the Great Northern railway line from Belfast to the south and west, with a branch from Lisburn to Antrim, the principal lines of communication are those of the L.M.S.R. The railway network depends largely on the physical features of the county. From Belfast there is a line up the fer tile Lagan valley with connections to Antrim and Ballymena and thus along the west of the main mountain area to Coleraine. Another line from Belfast skirts the important north shore of Belfast lough, through Carrickfergus to Lame. Valley routes have been utilized to give this packet station inland connections with Ballymena and also with a line connecting Antrim and Bel fast lough. Two other routes across the mountains of the east may be mentioned. From Ballymena a line runs some distance beyond Parkmore ; from Ballymoney there is a branch to Bally castle. Along the east coast the absence of important towns and the narrowness of the coastal plain have hindered development of communication, the chief centres being linked, as already stated, with inland towns rather than directly with one another along the coast.

The county is divided into nine urban districts and nine rural districts and into seven poor law unions. It returns seven mem bers to the parliament of Northern Ireland and two members to the parliament of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.