Portglenone

Infobox Irish Place
name = Portglenone
gaeilge = Port Chluain Eoghain
crest

motto =
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pin coords = left: 118px; top: 52px
north coord = 54.95 | west coord = 6.45
area = | elevation =
province = Ulster
county = County Antrim
NI district = Ballymena Borough
UK constituency = North Antrim
EU constituency = Northern Ireland
stdcode = 028, +44 28
posttown = Ballymena
postcode = BT44
population = 2900 [ See [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/report.asp?DESC=FromGeneral&CurrentLevel=WARD&ID=95DD22&Name=Portglenone NINIS] ]
census yr = 2001
web =

Portglenone (Irish: "Port Chluain Eoghain", meaning landing place of Glenone) is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 8.5 miles (14km) west of Ballymena, at latitude 54:51:40N and longitude 6:30:46W. It had a population of 2,900 people in the 2001 Census. It lies within the Ballymena Borough Council area. Portglenone is closely associated with the smaller Glenone village (in Magherafelt District Council area) from which it is physically separated by the River Bann.

History

In 1197, a castle was built there for Norman invader John de Courcy. In 1567 a row over disputed land took place between Padraig Largy and Peadar Lisnahunshin, after a battle that lasted over 2 months the town lands were split up and fierce rivalries have been present ever since.

Places of interest

*Portglenone Forest Park, just outside the village, is classified as an ‘Ancient Woodland’, and has well marked nature trails, with the River Bann flowing through the forest. There is also a memorial to the United States servicemen stationed there during world war two. The foundations of their Nissan huts can still be seen throughout the wood. [ See [http://www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/our_forests/forests/north%20district/portglenone.htm Portglenone Forest] ]
*Portglenone Abbey Church, Our Lady Of Bethlehem Cistercian Monastery, occupies a Georgian mansion (Portglenone House) in the village. In the 1960s, a new monastery was built, designed by Padraig O'Muireadhaigh, which has won several architectural awards.
*The "Gig 'n the Bann" is a local cross-community Music and Dance Festival which has been held every year since 2001. It takes its name from the River Bann which flows through the village.

2001 Census

Portglenone is classified as a village by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (ie with population between 1,000 and 2,250). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,219 people living in Portglenone. Of these:
*26.3% were aged under 16 years and 19.7% were aged 60 and over
*47.9% of the population were male and 52.1% were female
*47.1% were from a Catholic background and 52.6% were from a Protestant background
*2.6% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]

See also

*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland

References

External links

* [http://www.riverbannireland.com/Portglenone.T292.aspx River Bann, Ireland] - Portglenone visitor information
* [http://www.portglenone.co.uk/ 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church] - Local Presbyterian Church
* [http://www.gignthebann.com/ Gig 'n the Bann] - Annual annual cross-community festival
* [http://www.rogercasementsgac.com/ Roger Casements Gaelic Athletic Club] - Gaelic Athletic Association Club