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USEFUL RESOURCES Ireland
Tides & Weather
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Antrim
Castle Antrim Castle was burnt down during a Grand Ball on the 28th October 1922. The Castle was built between 1610 and 1666 and the tower that remains was built in 1887. During the fire a servant was rescued, but later died from her burns. It is said that her ghost has been seen, walking around the Castle Gardens. Locals call her 'The White Lady' |
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| History
of the Area People have lived in this part of the Six Mile Valley in County Antrim for five thousand years. Invaders included Vikings and Normans. At the same time as the Pilgrim Fathers landed in America it was finally settled by Scots planters. Jonathan Swift preached here and it was from here the families of Mark Twain, Sam Houston and General Alexander Macomb left for America. The earliest evidence of people in this area is a horde of flint arrow heads found when houses were being built north of the river in November 1968. There are 39 flints - some perfectly finished and others are blank indicating an 'industry' and trading near the river crossing over four thousand years ago. |
 The Weir below the School Pool |
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 Summerhill |
When
the Normans built the castle at Carrickfergus they placed a line
of outposts along the river which was then called the "Ollar
"- River of the Rushes. In time the soldiers making the journey
from Carrickfergus to Antrim reached the river at this spot when
they had travelled six miles so began to call the Ollar the Six
Mile Water. One of these mottes is close by the river in the War
Memorial Park in Ballyclare. There are two on opposite sides of
the river at Doagh and one at Antrim. The village grew after the
Plantation of Ulster and was granted permission by George 11 in
1756 to hold two fairs each year making it an important market centre. |
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The May Fair remains and has become part of a week
of festivities. The people of Ballyclare and the surrounding villages
played a part in the Rising of 1798 and fought in the Battle of
Antrim. Others including the families of Mark Twain and Sam Houston
sailed to America to seek their fortunes. At the beginning of the
Twentieth Century Ballyclare was a growing industrial town with
an Urban Council and became the largest paper producer in Ireland.
It had a narrow gauge rail link to Larne and a broad gauge connection
to Belfast. In 1973 with the surrounding villages Ballyclare became
part of the of a larger district which in 1977 was created the Borough
of Newtownabbey.
Fishing in Co. Antrim The game fishing season
is from 1st March to 31st October with the best fishing from April.
A choice of rivers include The Maine, The Crumlin, The Kells, The
Braid, & my personal favourite The Sixmilewater, all hold excellent
stocks of wild brown trout. |
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