Editing County Antrim (section)

==History==
[[File:Royal Avenue Belfast2.jpg|right|thumb|Royal Avenue, [[Belfast]]. [[Photochrom]] print {{Circa|1890–1900}}.]]
At what date the county of Antrim was formed is not known, but it appears that a certain district bore this name before the reign of [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] (early 14th century), and when the shiring of Ulster was undertaken by Sir [[John Perrot]] in the 16th century, Antrim and Down were already recognised divisions, in contradistinction to the remainder of the province. The earliest known inhabitants were [[Mesolithic]] [[hunter-gatherer]]s of pre-[[Celt]]ic origin.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland |last=Waddell |first=John |year=1998 |publisher=Galway University Press Limited |location=Galway |pages=11–24}}</ref> At the [[Mount Sandel Mesolithic site]] (in Coleraine along the east side of the river Bann) known human habitation there dates to around 7000 BC making it one of the earliest sites in Ireland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=176 |isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}}</ref>  The names of the [[townland]]s or subdivisions, supposed to have been made in the 13th century, are all of Celtic derivation.<ref name=EB1911/>

In ancient times, Antrim was inhabited by a Celtic people called the [[Darini]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Early Irish History and Mythology |last=O'Rahilly |first=Thomas F. |author-link=Thomas F. O'Rahilly |year=1946 |publisher=Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies |location=Dublin |page=7}}</ref> In the early Middle Ages, southern County Antrim was part of the Kingdom of [[Ulster|Ulidia]], ruled by the [[Dál Fiatach]] clans Keenan and MacDonlevy/McDunlavey; the north was part of [[Dál Riada]], which stretched into what is now western Scotland over the Irish Sea. Dál Riada was ruled by the O'Lynch clan, who were [[vassals]] of the Ulidians. Besides the Ulidians and Dál Riada, there were the [[Dál nAraide]] of lower County Antrim, and the [[Cruthin]], who were pre-Gaelic Celts and probably related to the Picts of Britain.<ref>{{cite book |title=Early Irish History and Mythology |last=O'Rahilly |first=Thomas F. |author-link=Thomas F. O'Rahilly |year=1946 |publisher=Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies |location=Dublin |pages=341–352}}</ref> Between the 8th and 11th centuries Antrim was exposed to the inroads of the [[Vikings]].<ref name=EB1911/>

In the late 12th century Antrim became part of the [[Earldom of Ulster]], conquered by [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] invaders. A revival of Gaelic power followed the campaign of [[Edward Bruce]] in 1315, leaving [[Carrickfergus]] as the only significant English stronghold. In the late Middle Ages, Antrim was divided into three parts: northern Clandeboye, the Glynnes and the Route. The [[Cambro-Norman]] [[MacQuillan]]s were powerful in the Route.

A branch of the O'Neills of Tirconnell (modern Tyrone) migrated to Clandeboye in the 14th century, and ruled it for a time from their castle on Lough Neagh. Their family was called Clandeboye O'Neills. Donald Balloch, who succeeded his father John Mor Macdonald, Lord of Dunyvaig and the Glens, married the daughter of Conn O'Neill of the Clandeboye O'Neills sometime after the Battle of Inverlochy. In 1433, Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles, joined with his cousin, Donald Balloch, Conn O'Neill of the Clandeboye O'Neills, and Eoghan O'Neill, king of Tirowen (modern Tyrone) to defend against an attack on Antrim by the O'Donnells of Tirconnell. Alexander Macdonald led the attack that was successful, so that the O'Donnells became subject to the O'Neills of Tirowen.<ref>Egan, S. (2018) ''The Early Stewart Kings, the Lordship of the Isles, and Ireland'', c.1371-c.1433. Northern Studies, 49, pp. 61-78.</ref> A [[Gallowglass]] sept, the MacDonnells (they were "Macdonalds" in Scotland), became the most powerful in the Glens in the 15th century.

During the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland|Tudor era]] (16th century) numerous adventurers from Britain attempted to colonise the region; many Scots settled in Antrim around this time.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of the Town of Belfast |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofb00benn |last=Benn |first=George |author-link=George Benn |year=1877 |publisher=Marcus Ward & Company |location=Belfast |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofb00benn/page/21 21] ff}}; ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (14th edition), '''Antrim'''.</ref> In 1588 the Antrim coast was the scene of one of the 24 wrecks of the [[Spanish Armada in Ireland]]. The Spanish vessel ''[[Girona (ship)|La Girona]]'' was wrecked off Lacana Point, Giant's Causeway in 1588 with the loss of nearly 1,300 lives.<ref name="girona">{{cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/ACHWS_annual_report_2005.pdf |title=La Girona |work=# Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wrecks, 2005 |publisher=Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites |pages=35 |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=14 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114115741/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/ACHWS_annual_report_2005.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

Antrim is divided into sixteen baronies. Lower Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was settled by the sept O'Flynn/O'Lynn. Upper Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was the home of the O'Keevans. Belfast was part of Lower Clandeboye and was held by the O'Neill-Clannaboys. Lower Belfast, Upper Belfast, and Carrickfergus were also part of Lower Clandeboye. Cary was part of the Glynnes; ruled originally by the O'Quinn sept, the MacDonnell galloglasses from Scotland took power here in the late Middle Ages and some of the O'Haras also migrated from [[Connacht|Connaught]]. Upper and Lower [[Dunluce, County Antrim|Dunluce]] were part of the Route, and were ruled by the MacQuillans. Upper and Lower [[Glenarm]] was ruled by the O'Flynn/O'Lynn sept, considered part of the Glynns. In addition to that sept and that of O'Quinn, both of which were native, the Scottish [[Gallowglass]] septs of MacKeown, MacAlister, and MacGee, are found there. Kilconway was originally O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory, but was held by the MacQuillans as part of the Route, and later by the [[gallowglass]] sept of MacNeill. Lower Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboye and was ruled by the O'Flynns and the O'Heircs. Upper Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboye, ruled by the O'Heircs. Upper and Lower Toome, part of the Route, were O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory. Misc was first ruled by the MacQuillans. Later, the Scottish Gallowglass MacDonnells and MacAlisters invaded. The MacDonnells were a branch of the Scottish Clan MacDonald; the MacAlisters traced their origin back to the Irish Colla Uais, eldest of the Three Collas.

[[Islandmagee]] had, besides antiquarian remains, a notoriety as a home of witchcraft, and during the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]] was the scene of an act of reprisal (for the massacre of [[Protestants]]) against the Catholic population by the Scottish [[Covenanter]] soldiery of [[Carrickfergus]].<ref name=EB1911/>

In 1689 during the [[Williamite War in Ireland]], County Antrim was a centre of Protestant resistance against the rule of the Catholic [[James II of Ireland|James II]]. During the developing crisis James' garrison at [[Carrickfergus]] successfully repulsed an attempt by local Protestants to storm it. After the advance of the [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Army]] under [[Richard Hamilton (officer)|Richard Hamilton]], all of County Antrim was brought under [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] control. Later in the year a major expedition from England under [[Marshal Schomberg]] landed in [[Belfast Lough]] and successfully [[Siege of Carrickfergus|laid siege to Carrickfergus]]. Having captured most of the largest towns of the area, they then marched southwards towards [[Dundalk Camp|Dundalk]].

===Historic monuments===
[[Image:Dunluce Castle.jpg|thumb|250px|Dunluce Castle.]]
[[Image:Carrickferguscastle.jpg|thumb|250px|Carrickfergus Castle (1177)]]
{{See also|:Category:Castles in County Antrim|l1=Castles in County Antrim}}

The antiquities of the county consist of [[cairn]]s, mounts or forts, remains of ecclesiastical and military structures, and [[Irish round tower|round towers]].

There are three round towers: one at Antrim, one at [[Armoy]], and one on [[Ram's Island, Northern Ireland|Ram's Island]] in Lough Neagh, only that at Antrim being perfect. There are some remains of the ecclesiastic establishments at [[Bonamargy]], where the earls of Antrim are buried, [[Kells, County Antrim|Kells]], Glenarm, [[Glynn, County Antrim|Glynn]], [[Muckamore]] and Whiteabbey.<ref name=EB1911/>

The castle at [[Carrickfergus Castle|Carrickfergus]], dating from the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]], is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. There are, however, remains of other ancient castles, as [[Olderfleet]], Cam's, [[Shane's Castle|Shane's]], Glenarm, Garron Tower, Red Bay,<ref name=EB1911/> and [[Dunluce Castle]], notable for its dramatic location on a rocky outcrop.

The principal cairns are: one on Colin mountain, near Lisburn; one on [[Slieve True]], near Carrickfergus; and two on Colinward. The [[Dolmen|cromlechs]] most worthy of notice are: one near [[Cairngrainey]], to the north-east of the old road from Belfast to [[Templepatrick]]; the large cromlech at Mount Druid, near [[Ballintoy]]; and one at the northern extremity of Islandmagee. The mounts, forts and entrenchments are very numerous.<ref name=EB1911/>

The natural rock formations of [[Giant's Causeway]] on the Antrim coast are now designated a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

===Saint Patrick===
[[Slemish]], about {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} east of Ballymena, is notable as being the scene of [[Saint Patrick|St Patrick's]] early life.<ref name=EB1911/> According to tradition Saint Patrick was a slave for seven years, near the hill of Slemish, until he escaped back to Great Britain.

===Linen===
[[Irish linen|Linen]] manufacturing was previously an important industry in the county. At the time Ireland produced a large amount of [[flax]]. Cotton-spinning by [[Spinning jenny|jennies]] was first introduced to Belfast by industrialists Robert Joy and Thomas M'Cabe in 1777; and twenty-three years later it was estimated that more than 27,000 people were employed in the industry within {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} of Belfast. Women were employed in the working of patterns on [[muslin]].