Newtownabbey

Newtownabbey (from Irish: Baile na Mainistreach [ˈbˠalʲə n̪ˠə ˈmˠanʲəʃtʲɾʲəx]) is a large settlement north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course. At the 2011 Census, Metropolitan Newtownabbey Settlement had a population of 65,646, making it the third largest settlement in Northern Ireland.[1] It is part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

Newtownabbey
  • Irish: Baile na Mainistreach

Overlooking the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey from Cavehill
Location within Northern Ireland
Population65,646 (2011 Census)
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNEWTOWNABBEY
Postcode districtBT36, BT37
Dialling code028
PoliceNorthern Ireland
FireNorthern Ireland
AmbulanceNorthern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

Largely a residential area, Newtownabbey is also home to many engineering and computer industries. Retail and leisure facilities include the Abbey Centre, the Valley Leisure Centre, the Ballyearl Arts & Leisure Centre, The Theatre at the Mill, Glengormley Moviehouse, Glengormley Sportsbowl and three large public parks. The main campus for the University of Ulster is based in the Jordanstown area of Newtownabbey.

History

Newtownabbey was formed by the merging of seven villages; Carnmoney, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse and Whitewell. It was formally brought into being on 1 April 1958. Before its inception, the expanse fell under the jurisdiction of the Belfast Rural District Council.

The timeline of the local government authority is: Newtownabbey Urban District Council (1958–1973), Newtownabbey District Council (1973–1977), Newtownabbey Borough Council (1977–2015) and Antrim & Newtownabbey District Council (2015– ).

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Newtownabbey, which includes a list of incidents in Newtownabbey during The Troubles resulting in two or more deaths.

Geography
The Glengormley area of Newtownabbey from Carnmoney Hill

Townlands

Below is a list of townlands that are within Newtownabbey's urban area, alongside their likely etymologies.

  • Ballybought (from Irish: Baile Bocht, meaning "poor town")*
  • Ballyduff (historically Ballymacelduffe; from Baile Mhic Giolla Dhuibh meaning "MacElduff's townland")*
  • Ballygolan (historically Ballingowlan; from Baile an Ghabhláin or Baile Gobhláin meaning "townland of the fork")*
  • Ballyhenry (from Baile Éinrí meaning "Henry's townland")*
  • Ballyvesey (from Baile Feasoighe meaning "Vesey's townland")*
  • Ballywonard (from Baile Mhuine Ard meaning "townland of the high thicket")*
  • Carnmoney (from Carn Monaidh meaning "cairn of the bog")*
  • Collinward (from Coll an Bháird meaning "the bard's hazel")*
  • Cloughfern (historically Ballycurraghfarny; from Cruach Fearna meaning "stack of the alder" or Currach Fearnaí meaning "marsh of the place of alders")*
  • Drumnadrough (from Druimainn Dorcha meaning "dark ridge" or Druim na gCruach meaning "ridge of the stacks"), where Merville Garden Village is located
  • Dunanney (from Dún Aine meaning "Aine's stronghold")*
  • Glengormley (from Gleann Ghormlaithe meaning "blue-grey valley")*
  • Jordanstown (historically Ballyjordan and Ballyjurdan)
  • Mallusk or Molusk (historically Moyvluske and Moyvliske; from Maigh Bhloisce meaning "Bloisce's plain")*
  • Monkstown (historically Ballynamanagh; from Baile na Manach meaning "townland of the monks")
  • Whiteabbey (from An Mhainistir Fhionn meaning "White Abbey")
  • White House (from An Teach Geal meaning "the bright/white house")

* citation for derivations[2]

The following housing estates have Irish-derived names, although they are not named after townlands:[3]

  • Mossley (O.E. mos meaning "peat-bog" + O.E. leah meaning "clearing", gaelicized as Maslaí)
  • Rathcoole (likely from Ráth Cúile meaning "nook of the ringfort")

Electoral areas and wards

Until 2014 Newtownabbey operated under its own council comprising Ballyclare, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Carnmoney, Mallusk and Rathcoole. However, from 2014 it has operated as a larger Council after merging with Antrim to create Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The current electoral ward and areas are:

  • Airport (1 DUP, 1 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin, 2 UUP)

(Aldergrove, Clady, Crumlin, Mallusk, and Templepatrick)

  • Antrim (1 Alliance, 2 DUP, 2 UUP, 1 SDLP)

(Antrim Centre, Fountain Hill, Greystone, Springfarm, Steeple, and Stiles)

  • Ballyclare (3 DUP, 2 UUP, 1 TUV)

(Ballyclare East, Ballyclare West, Ballynure, Ballyrobert, and Doagh)

  • Dunsilly (2 DUP, 1 UUP, 1 SDLP 1 Sinn Féin)

(Cranfield, Parkgate, Randalstown, Shilvodan, and Toome)

  • Glengormley Urban (1 Alliance, 3 DUP, 2 UUP, 1 Sinn Féin)

(Ballyhenry, Burnthill, Carnmoney, Collinbridge, Glebe, Glengormley, and Hightown)

  • Macedon (1 Alliance, 4 DUP, 1 UUP)

(Abbey, Carnmoney Hill, O'Neill, Rathcoole, Valley, and Whitehouse)

  • Three Mile Water (1 Alliance, 3 DUP, 2 UUP)

(Ballyduff, Fairview, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Mossley, and Rostulla)

Demography

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 65,646 people living in Newtownabbey.[1] Of these:

  • 20.26% were aged under 16 years and 15.51% were aged 60 and over
  • 48.02% of the population were male and 51.98% were female
  • 27.69% were from a Catholic background and 62.21% were from a Protestant or other Christian backgrounds
  • 6.40% had some knowledge of the Irish language and 6.98% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots.

Education
Higher-level education
Secondary-level education
Primary-level education

Sport
Cricket
Football
Gaelic games
Hockey
Rugby
  • Academy Rugby Club
  • Ballyclare Rugby Club
  • Belfast High School Former Pupils Rugby Club
  • Ophir Rugby Club
Boxing
  • Glengormley Amateur Boxing Club

Churches
  • Abbey Presbyterian Church
  • Abbots Cross Congregational Church
  • Abbots Cross Presbyterian Church
  • Ballycraigy Congregational Church
  • Ballyhenry Presbyterian Church
  • The Church of the Good Shepherd (United Church of Ireland and Methodist)
  • Church of the Holy Spirit (Church of Ireland) Mossley
  • Church of the Holy Evangelists (Church of Ireland) Carnmoney
  • Glengormley Methodist Church
  • Glengormley Presbyterian Church
  • Monkstown Baptist Church
  • Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church
  • St Bernard's Catholic Church
  • St Brigid's Parish of Mallusk
  • St James' Catholic Church
  • St Mac Nissi's Catholic Church
  • St Mary's on the Hill Catholic Church
  • St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church
  • St. Patrick's Church (Church of Ireland)
  • Straid Congregational Church
  • Rathcoole Baptist Church
  • Rathcoole Presbyterian Church
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church
  • Whiteabbey Congregational Church
  • Whiteabbey Methodist Church
  • Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church
  • Whitehouse Presbyterian Church
  • Mossley Methodist Church

Transport

Trains

Northern Ireland Railways runs trains serving three railway stations: Mossley West railway station on the Belfast–Derry railway line and Jordanstown railway station and Whiteabbey railway station on the Belfast–Larne railway line.

Connecting trains run on the Belfast-Derry railway line from Mossley West, "Northbound" to: Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine (for the branch to University (Coleraine), Dhu Varren and Portrush), Castlerock, Bellarena, Londonderry. And "Southbound" to Yorkgate, Belfast Central (change for Belfast-Bangor railway line and the Enterprise), Botanic, City Hospital, Belfast Great Victoria Street and onwards.

Whilst the Belfast-Larne railway line serving Whiteabbey and Jordanstown and connects with other stations including the principal stations of Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Larne Town and Larne Harbour, heading "Northbound". And heading "Southbound" the same stations as listed above apply.

Buses

Bus services are provided by Translink’s Belfast bus service, Metro.

Roads

Newtownabbey is linked to the M2 motorway (which passes through it) and the M5 motorway (which begins at its southeastern edge).

Notable people

Twin towns

Newtownabbey is twinned with:

Newtownabbey has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:

See also

References
  1. "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Metropolitan Newtownabbey Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. "Northern Ireland Placenames Project". Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  3. "logainm.ie". logainm.ie.
  4. "Rybnik Official Website – Twin Towns". 2008 Urząd Miasta Rybnika. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  5. "List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
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