Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
| |
---|---|
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CARRICKFERGUS |
Postcode district | BT38 |
Dialling code | 028 93 |
Police | Northern Ireland |
Fire | Northern Ireland |
Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Carrickfergus (from
History
Middle Ages
The town is said to take its name from
As an urban settlement, Carrickfergus far pre-dates the capital city Belfast and was for a lengthy period both larger and more prominent than the nearby city. Belfast Lough itself was known as 'Carrickfergus Bay' well into the 17th century. Carrickfergus and the surrounding area was, for a time, treated as a separate county. The historical walled town originally occupied an area of around 97,000 square metres, which now comprises the town centre, bordered by Albert Road to the west, the Marine Highway to the south, Shaftesbury Park to the north and Joymount Presbyterian Church grounds to the east. Segments of the town wall are still visible in various parts of the town and in various states of preservation. Archaeological excavations close to the walls' foundations have yielded many artefacts that have helped historians piece together a picture of the lives of the 12th and 13th century inhabitants.[5][7]
Carrickfergus became an inhabited town shortly after 1170, when Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy invaded Ulster, established his headquarters in the area and built Carrickfergus Castle on the "rock of Fergus" in 1177.[8] The castle, which is the most prominent landmark of Carrickfergus, is widely known as one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland.[9]
Sometime between 1203 and 1205, De Courcy was expelled from Ulster by Hugh de Lacy, as authorised by King John. De Lacy oversaw the final construction of the castle, which included the gatehouse, drum towers and outer ward. It was at this time that he established the nearby St Nicholas' Church. De Lacy was relieved of his command of the town in 1210, when King John himself arrived and placed the castle under royal authority. De Lacy eventually regained his title of Earl of Ulster in 1227, however the castle and its walled town were captured several more times following his death (in 1242). The forces of Edward de Bruce captured the town in 1315 and the castle in 1316 before his death in battle in 1318.[10] The town was largely destroyed by the Scots in 1402.[7][8]
Early modern era
The
Sir Arthur Chichester was appointed by the Earl of Essex to govern the castle and town in 1599 and was responsible for the plantation of English and Scottish peoples in the town, as well as the building of the town wall.[12]
Nevertheless, the decaying castle withstood several days of siege by the forces of William of Orange in 1689, before surrendering on 28 August. William himself subsequently landed at Carrickfergus on 14 June 1690.[13]
During the
In April 1778, during the
During the 1790s there was considerable support in the Carrickfergus area for the
Modern era
In 1912 the people of Carrickfergus turned out in their thousands to watch as the
During World War II, Northern Ireland was an important military base for United States Naval and Air Operations and a training ground for American G.I.s. The First Battalions of the elite US Rangers were activated and based in Sunnylands Camp for their initial training. The US Rangers Centre in nearby Boneybefore pays homage to this period in history.[21] It is rumoured that Italian and German POWs were held in the town, the Italians in a camp at Sullatober mill, and Germans at Sunnylands.[22]
In the 1970s, the town became an important centre for the textile industry. An ICI man-made fibres factory was opened at Kilroot and was followed by the Rothman's cigarette factory. Courtaulds operated a large rayon works there until the 1980s.[23]
In 1981,
On 8 September 2007, Carrickfergus was the Northern Irish host for the
The British peerage title of
The Troubles
Throughout the course of
Carrickfergus in song and poetry
The town is the subject of the classic
Demography
2021 census
As of the 2021 census, in March 2021, there were 28,141 people living in Carrickfergus.[4] Of these:
- 73.49% were from the Protestant or other Christian community backgrounds and 8.55% were from a Roman Catholic Christian community background.[34]
- 73.94% indicated that they had a British national identity,[35] 5.53% had an Irish national identity[36] and 37.32% had a Northern Irish national identity[37] (respondents could choose more than one national identity).
2011 census
On census day 2011, 27 March 2011, there were 27,998 people living in Carrickfergus.[38] Of these:
- 20.23% were aged under 16 years and 14.73% were aged 65 and over.
- 51.95% of the usually resident population were female and 48.05% were male.
- 80.70% were from the Protestant or other Christian community backgrounds and 8.35% were from a Roman Catholic Christian community background.
- 78.26% indicated that they had a British national identity, 4.73% had an Irish national identity and 29.36% had a Northern Irish national identity (respondents could choose more than one national identity)
- 39 years was the average (median) age of the population.
- 8.49% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 1.99% had some knowledge of Irish.
Transport
Politics
Carrickfergus is covered by the East Antrim constituency, whose Member of Parliament (MP) is Sammy Wilson of the DUP. The Parliamentary constituency of Carrickfergus existed from 1801 to 1885.
Local MLAs for the area following the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election are:[41]
- John Stewart (UUP)
- Gordon Lyons (DUP)
- David Hilditch (DUP)
- Stewart Dickson (Alliance)
- Danny Donnelly (Alliance)
Until 2015 the local authority was Carrickfergus Borough Council, based at Carrickfergus Town Hall.[42] Since 1 April 2015 Carrickfergus has come under the control of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The town is covered by two of the council's wards, Carrick Castle and Knockagh.[43] In the May 2023 local elections, the following councillors were elected for these wards:-
Carrick Castle[44]
- Billy Ashe (DUP)
- Cheryl Brownlee (DUP)
- Bethany Ferris (UUP)
- Lauren Gray (Alliance)
- Robin Stewart (UUP)
Knockagh[45]
- Marc Collins (DUP)
- Bobby Hadden (Independent)
- Peter Johnston (DUP)
- Aaron Skinner (Alliance)
- Andrew Wilson (UUP)
Schools and education
There are several primary in Carrickfergus, including St Nicholas' Primary School.
Secondary schools serving the area include Carrickfergus Grammar School, Carrickfergus Academy and Ulidia Integrated College.[citation needed]
Sports
Sporting establishments in the town include the association football clubs Carrick Rangers F.C. and Barn United FC.
Media
Carrickfergus FM is a Restricted Service Licence community radio station which broadcasts seasonally in the area.[citation needed]
Notable residents
Historical
- Robert Adrain (1775–1843), mathematician, considered one of the best mathematical minds of his time, was born in Carrickfergus[46]
- Edward Bruce (c. 1280–1319), High King of Ireland and Earl of Carrick, brother to Robert the Bruce, King of Scots.[47]
- Sir John de Courcy (1160–1219) Anglo Norman knight and builder of Carrickfergus Castle[48]
- Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster (c. 1176 – c. 1242)[49]
- United Irishman, was hanged in Carrickfergus on 14 October 1797 shortly before the failed rebellion.[50]
- Charlotte Riddell, writer of the Victorian period, was born Charlotte Eliza Lawson Cowan (1832) in Carrickfergus.[51]
- Jonathan Swift, the poet and satirist lived in Kilroot, on the outskirts of the town, and wrote A Tale of a Tub there.[52]
20th century
- Daniel Cambridge, recipient of the Victoria Cross[53]
- James Crichton, recipient of the Victoria Cross[54]
- Bob Gilmore (1961–2015), musicologist and player of piano and keyboards, was born in nearby Larne; lived in Carrickfergus during his childhood.[56]
- Seán Lester (1888–1959) was born in Carrickfergus. He was the last Secretary General of the League of Nations, from 1940 to 1946.[57]
- FAI Irish international footballer who lived his entire life in Carrickfergus.[58]
- Louis MacNeice, poet, moved to the town when he was two years old (his father was appointed Rector of St Nicholas' Church of Ireland Church), and he left at the age of ten to attend boarding school in England; one of his poems, Carrickfergus (1937), relates his ambiguous feelings about the town where he spent his early boyhood.[59]
Contemporary
- Gillian Arnold, artist and designer, born Carrickfergus. (1971–1990)[60]
- Ryan Eagleson, Derbyshire and Irish international cricketer, 65 caps for Ireland, 1995–2004.[61]
- Fit Finlay, former WWE wrestler, was born and raised in the satellite village of Greenisland.[62]
- Jimmy Hill (Norwich City) and Billy McCullough (Arsenal), Northern Ireland international footballers born in Carrickfergus.[63]
- Bobby Irvine (Stoke City), Northern Ireland international footballer born in nearby Eden before moving to Carrickfergus.[64]
- Willie Irvine (Burnley), Northern Ireland international footballer born in Eden before moving to Carrickfergus.[65]
- Niamh Kavanagh, Irish Eurovision entrant and winner of 1993.[66]
- Adrian McKinty, novelist, author of the Sean Duffy novels set in Carrickfergus, was raised in the town.[67]
- Seán Neeson, politician and activist; former leader of the Alliance Party NI sat on Carrickfergus Council (1977–2013), and represented East Antrim in the NI Assembly (1998–2011).[68]
- Stuart Robinson, host of Northern Ireland's Young Star Search and presenter on Cool FM.[69]
- Jackie Woodburne, actress known for her role as Susan Kennedy in Australian soap opera Neighbours, was born in Carrickfergus.[70]
- Jo Zebedee (born 1971), writer brought up in the town.[71]
Twin towns – sister cities
Carrickfergus is twinned with:[72]
- Anderson, United States
- Danville, United States
- Jackson, United States
- Portsmouth, United States
- Ruda Śląska, Poland
See also
- Baron Carrickfergus
- Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
- Market Houses in Northern Ireland
References
- ^ "North-South Ministerial Council 2002 annual report (Ulster-Scots)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2011.
- ^ Carrickfergus Archived 9 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Online Scots Dictionary, retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Carraig Fhearghais/Carrickfergus". Logainm.ie.
- ^ a b "Census 2021 estimates that classify People at Settlement 2015 level". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b "History of Carrickfergus". Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Carrickfergus". IreAtlas Townlands Database. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ a b c Mediæval Times in Carrickfergus' History Archived 5 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, carrickfergus.org; accessed 2 May 2016.
- ^ a b Ireland, Culture Northern (31 August 2005). "A History of Carrickfergus". Culture Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Maxwell, David (12 March 2014). "History unearthed at medieval castle". BBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Duffy, Sean (2002). Robert the Bruce's Irish Wars. Tempus Publishing. p. 23, 39.
- ^ O'Neill, B (ed). (2002). Irish Castles and Historic Houses. London, UK: Caxton Editions. p. 14.
- ^ 1500s and Beyond in Carrickfergus Archived 5 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, carrickfergus.org; accessed 8 March 2016.
- ^ "Landing of William III at Carrickfergus, 14 June 1690". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Cashin, Declan (26 May 2011). "The witches of Antrim". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ "USS Ranger". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2012
- ^ "He Bought HMS Drake". Seacoast New Hampshire. 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ "Saint Nicholas Church, Carrickfergus". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ "William Orr – Speech from the Dock". www.libraryireland.com.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ a b Recent Times Archived 5 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Carrickfergus.org; accessed 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Carrickfergus History | The Complete History of Carrick | Part 2 | Carrickfergus History". Carrickfergus History. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
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- ^ "Kilroot Power Station". www.r-e-a.net. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "Proms in the Park". BBC. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Phoenix, Eamon (29 April 2011). "Carrickfergus a 'Royal stronghold' for 1,000 years". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
The designation of Prince William as Baron Carrickfergus links the heir to the British throne to Northern Ireland's oldest town and one identified with the English crown for almost a thousand years.
- ^ McCambridge, Jonathan (6 October 2022). "William and Kate bring historic town of Carrickfergus to a standstill". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "History of Parish". Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
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- ^ Not Burns – Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair! by Alan Riach, The National: The Newspaper that Supports an Independent Scotland, 11, February 2016.
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- ^ "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Carrickfergus Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 12 August 2019.
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- ^ "Sectarian abuse in Carrickfergus council disruption". BBC News. 18 December 2012.
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- ^ "'Gulliver's Travels' author Jonathan Swift had no love for Ulster Presbyterianism". News Letter. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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- ^ "Bob Gilmore". UNiversity of Edinburgh. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "John (Seán) Ernest Lester, Acting Secretary-General of the League of Nations" (PDF). Carrickfergus and District Historical Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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- ^ "Welcome". carrickfergushistory.co.uk. Carrickfergus History. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
External links
- Carrickfergus Borough Council Archived 7 February 1998 at the Wayback Machine
- Louis MacNeice talks about Carrickfergus on the BBC website
- Culture Northern Ireland website