Larne

Larne ( , , the name of a Gaelic territory) is a town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with a population of 18,853 at the 2021 census. It is a major passenger and freight roll-on roll-off port. Larne is within the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area. Together with parts of the neighbouring districts of Antrim and Newtownabbey and Causeway Coast and Glens, it forms the East Antrim constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. The civil parish is in the historic barony of Glenarm Upper.

History

The coastal area around Larne has been inhabited for millennia and may be one of earliest inhabited areas of Ireland. Knockdhu, north of Larne, was the site of a Bronze Age promontory fort and settlement. Archaeological digs in the area have found flintwork and other artefacts which have been assigned dates from 6000 BCE onwards. The term Larnian has been coined by archaeologists to describe flintworks and similar artefacts of the Mesolithic era and to describe Mesolithic culture in Ireland as a whole. Larnian is also currently used to refer to people from Larne.

Geography

illustrating the proximity to Scotland. In the foreground is Islandmagee in Northern Ireland, followed by Stena Line ferries entering and leaving Larne, and The Maidens lighthouses. In the background are the Scottish Paps of Jura on the left and Mull of Kintyre on the right. Larne sits within the traditional Glens of Antrim (in an area known historically as the Lower Glynns ). The town occupies the western side of a narrow inlet that links Larne Lough to the sea. On the eastern side of the inlet is a peninsula called Islandmagee. To the west of Larne is the ancient volcanic formation, the Antrim Plateau, which is composed of glaciated valleys or glens. Larne is 25 miles from the Scottish mainland, with views across the North Channel towards the Mull of Kintyre, Rhins of Galloway, Islay and Paps of Jura. This proximity to Scotland has had a defining influence on Larne's history and culture. The town is within the small parish of the same name. Like the rest of Ireland, this parish is divided into townlands. The following is a list of townlands within Larne's urban area, along with their likely etymologies: Antiville: one theory in the is that this name comes from An Tigh Bhile meaning the house of the old tree, but other townlands had ville/villa as a direct Norman translation of Bally, e.g. Ballyhacket was Ville Hacket. Ante ville may signify 'in front of the settlement.' Ballyboley (from Baile Buaile meaning 'townland of the booley/dairy place') Ballycraigy (from Baile Creige meaning 'townland of the rocky outcrop') Ballyloran (from Baile Loairn meaning 'Loarn's townland') Blackcave North Blackcave South Curran and Drumalis (from Córran meaning 'crescent' and Druim a' Lios meaning 'ridge of the ringfort') Greenland (probably a Scandinavian name) Inver (from Inbhear meaning 'rivermouth') Many street names in Larne end in brae, such as 'Whitla's Brae' which comes from the Scots for 'hillside'.

Civil parish of Larne

The civil parish contains the following townlands: Antiville, Ballyboley, Ballycraigy, Ballyloran, Blackcave North, Blackcave South, Curran and Drumaliss, Glebe, Greenland and Town Parks.

Gallery

Places of interest

in the shape of Northern Ireland in Carnfunnock Country Park Larne's three most famous landmarks are the Chaine Memorial Tower, the Maiden islands and the Black Arch on the Antrim Coast Road. The town also has several parks, including Town Park, Chaine Park, Curran Park, and Smiley Park. Other leisure facilities include Larne Leisure Centre and Larne Museum & Arts Centre. Cairndhu Golf Course is situated atop of Ballygally Head and Larne Golf Course is in Islandmagee. Significant buildings and structures include the Carnegie Arts Centre, situated on Victoria Road; St. Cedma's Church at Inver, which dates back to at least the 1300s; the ruins of Kilwaughter Castle, which was built around 1622; the Shaw's tower house at Ballygally Castle Hotel; and Olderfleet Castle. The town also has several good examples of Victorian and Edwardian villas, situated on the Glenarm Road, the upper Roddens and the Upper and Lower Cairncastle Road. Church buildings of note include the Larne & Kilwaughter Church on the Lower Cairncastle Road; the Presbyterian Church on the Victoria Road and the St. Macnissis Catholic Church on Agnew Street. Modern ecclesiastical buildings of architectural interest are the Mission Hall on the Old Glenarm Road and St. Antony's Catholic Church on the Upper Cairncastle Road. Magheramorne, 5 miles to the south along Larne Lough, has a film studio which was used to film much of HBO TV Series Game of Thrones.

Demography

2021 Census

On census day (21 March 2021) there were 18,853 people living in Larne. Of these: 17.77% were aged under 16, 63.10% were aged between 16-65, and 19.13% were aged 66 and over. 51.27% of the usually resident population were female and 48.73% were male. 62.4% belong to or were brought up Protestant (including other Christian-related denominations), 23.9% belong to or were brought up Catholic, 0.9% belong to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 12.8% did not adhere to or weren't brought up in any religion. 66.6% indicated that they had a British national identity, 38.3% had a Northern Irish national identity, 10.3% had an Irish national identity, and 4.2% indicated they had an 'other' national identity. (respondents could indicate more than one national identity). 17.51% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots and 3.84% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge).

2011 Census

On census day (27 March 2011) there were 18,755 people living in Larne, accounting for 1.04% of the NI total. Of these: 18.59% were aged under 16 years and 18.00% were aged 65 and over. 51.98% of the usually resident population were female and 48.02% were male. 67.03% belong to or were brought up Protestant and other non-Catholic Christian (including Christian related) and 25.97% belong to or were brought up Catholic. 71.62% indicated that they had a British national identity, 30.56% had a Northern Irish national identity and 8.75% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity). 41 years was the average (median) age of the population. 17.20% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 4.02% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge).

Transport

Ferry

Ferries sail from the harbour to Cairnryan in Scotland. Passenger services are operated by P&O Irish Sea. In 2026 the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company commenced services to Douglas, Isle of Man.

Road

at the northern edge of Larne. Larne is connected to Belfast by the A8 road. The A2 road or 'Antrim coast road' which runs along the Antrim coast, and passes through the scenic Glens of Antrim, also serves the town. South of the town the A2 passes the side of Larne Lough, via Glynn, Magheramorne, and Ballycarry, to Whitehead and Carrickfergus. The A36 road runs from the town to Ballymena.

Rail

The Belfast–Larne railway line connects to Belfast Grand Central and Belfast Lanyon Place, via Whitehead, Carrickfergus and Jordanstown. Currently there is no freight transport by rail in Northern Ireland. Both Larne Town railway station and Larne Harbour railway station opened on 1 October 1862 and closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965. The Ballymena and Larne Railway was a narrow-gauge railway. It opened in 1878, was closed to passengers in 1933 and finally completely closed in 1950. Another line ran from Larne to Ballyclare and some parts of it can still be made out where it ran along the Six Mile valley.

Public services

Larne Town Hall, dating from 1870 was once a busy community hub for local organisations such as Irish dancing and bands, but it mainly serves as an events centre for Mid & East Antrim Council today. Antrim Area Hospital, 40 minutes from Larne by car, serves as the town's hospital — Moyle Hospital in Larne offers outpatients services only. Larne courthouse was closed in 2013 and still sits empty. In 2024, Mid and East Antrim Council, sold the Smiley Buildings, which were bequeathed to the people of the town, and functioned as the town's council buildings until that time. In 2025, the council also sold off extensive public land that had been bequeathed to the people of the town, including rural sites at Old Glenarm Road, Brustin Brae Road/Ballytober Road, and Brustin Brae Road/Old Glenarm Road.

Education

Secondary schools located in Larne are Larne Grammar School and Larne High School. Northern Regional College (formerly Larne Technical College) closed down in 2010 and was replaced by AEL (Access Employment Limited), a training and employment provider for people with disadvantages. Other schools are Roddensvale School, Moyle Primary School, St. MacNissis' Primary School, St. Anthony's Primary School, Linn Primary School, Corran Integrated School, Olderfleet Primary School and Larne & Inver Primary School.

Freedom of the borough

In memory of a battle in the town of Musa Qala in Afghanistan in 2006, involving the Royal Irish Regiment, a new regimental march, composed by Chris Attrill and commissioned by Larne Borough Council, was gifted to the regiment on Saturday 1 November 2008 in Larne, during an event in which the regiment was presented with "the Freedom of the Borough". This gave the regiment the right to march through the towns of the borough with 'flags flying, bands playing and bayonets fixed'. The march was named Musa Qala.

Events

The Friends Goodwill Music Festival occurs in May each year and supports local music.

Association Football

Larne F.C., a professional association football club, plays in the NIFL Premiership. Local amateur football clubs include Larne Technical Old Boys F.C. and Wellington Recreation F.C.

Rugby Union

Larne RFC is an amateur rugby union club, formerly based at Sandy Bay in the town, but relocated to the nearby village of Glynn in 1968.

Gaelic Games

Latharna Óg GAC is a hurling club, located at Brustin Brae, just outside the town, and won the 2019 Antrim Junior B Hurling Championship.

Notable facts

Larnite – this mineral is named after Larne.

References

External links

A history of the Port of Larne

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378368208 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.

Names in other languages