Ballygalley
Ballygalley or Ballygally (from Irish: Baile Geithligh meaning "Geithleach's townland") is a village and holiday resort in County Antrim, Northern Ireland which lies on the Antrim coast, approximately 3 miles north of Larne. It had a population of 714 in the 2001 Census.
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[edit] History
In the 1990s archaeological excavations were carried out in Ballygalley and remains of a number of Neolithic houses on low ground about 500m from the shore of Ballygalley Bay were discovered. Ballygalley Neolithic site produced a large number of finds, including pottery, worked flints and stone axes and is an important Neolithic site.[1]
[edit] Places of interest
Notable features include a sandy beach and the distinct headland of Ballgalley Head.
It is also home to Ballygally Castle, reputed to be the oldest occupied building in Ireland and with a reputation for being haunted. It sits in the middle of the village and is currently used as a 4 star hotel. It was built around 1625 for James Shaw of Greenock and is one of Ireland’s best-preserved Scottish baronial style plantation houses. Ballygally, despite the shop being demolished in 2008 to build flats, now boasts a brand new two-storey building, funded thankfully by Big Lottery, Larne Borough Council and NER. The building consists of a large Spar shop at ground level and a magnificent Community Hall on the first floor. This will be the venue for many social activities in the very near future. The wonderful views of the Bay can be enjoyed from here and the shop provides a much welcomed return of a meeting place and has restored "the heart of the village". There are usually a few local people gathered for a coffee and a bit of chat to catch up with the news. The holistic massage and therapy centre has moved from the converted boat-house situated on the beach, to other premises nearby. The restaurants and pubs such as The Halfway House and The Meeting House, are all within walking distance. Cairndhu Golf Course with its restaurant is also very close. Ballygalley beach is a popular destination for families, teenagers and toddlers alike during the Summer months especially now the shop can provide wonderful ice cream!! However Ballygally has always attracted visitors who are partial to ice cream, even in winter. Situated 1–2 miles away is the Carnfunnock Country Park, which offers a cafe, trailer park, a children's park, go-cart racing, clay pigeon shooting, mini-train rides, bungee runs, mini-golf and nature at its best.
[edit] Demographics
Ballygalley is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 714 people living in Ballygalley. Of these:
- 21.6% were aged under 16 and 22.1% were aged 60 and over
- 49.0% of the population were male and 51.0% were female;
- 27.9% were from a Catholic background and 70.5% were from a Protestant background
- 2.3% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
[edit] Biology
Ballygalley Head was (in 1983) the only recorded location of Gelidiella calcicola from Northern Ireland.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ O'Sullivan, Aidan & Breen, Colin (2007). Maritime Ireland. An Archaeology of Coastal Communities. Stroud: Tempus. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7524-2509-2.
- ^ Maggs, C.A. and Guiry,M.D. 1987. Gelidiella calcicola sp. nov. (Rhodophyta) from the British Isles and Northern France. Br. phycol. J. 22: 417 - 434. (Ref. Maggs, C.A. and Guiry,M.D. 1987)
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 54°53′58″N 5°51′39″W / 54.89944°N 5.86083°W
