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Ballymoney Borough Time line
Explore 9,000 years of History
The hunter gatherers. Early settlers arrived in the Ballymoney area about 9,000 years ago. They were attracted to the Causeway region by the rich resources available in the local landscape. People found food by fishing and hunting or gathering fruit, nuts and edible plants. They would move camp regularly, according to what food sources were available in each season.
Illustrated representation of a Mesolithic settlement.
The first farmers. People began to clear the dense forests to plant crops and keep livestock. Pottery was used for the first time and stone tools became more sophisticated. Huge stones called megaliths were used to build tombs, the remains of which still survive at sites such as Craigs Dolmen and the Broad Stone, in Finvoy and Dooey’s Cairn, Dunloy.
The Broad Stone, Finvoy.
© Crown copyright. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
A Stone Age settlement was discovered in 2004 during the building of the Tesco store in Castle Street, Ballymoney. Evidence of a dwelling was found, along with numerous flints, stones axes and pottery.
Archaeologists record discoveries made at the Tesco site, Castle Street.
© Archaeological Development Services Ltd
Metals were used for the first time. Gold, copper and bronze were used to make tools, jewellery and weapons. Evidence of Bronze Age culture has been discovered at various sites in the Ballymoney area, including hoards found at Seacon More, Bootown, Drumabest and Drunkendult. Beautiful metal artefacts, like those shown, were rare and precious and belonged to people of high social status, such as a chieftain.
A gold fastener weighing 600g found in Ballymoney.
Taken from "Statistical Survey of Co. Antrim" John Dubourdieu, 1812
A rare Bronze Age willow ox yoke on display here at Ballymoney Museum.
These beautifully made musical instruments were played by Bronze Age people in Ireland.
Photograph reproduced courtesy of the Trustees of National Museums Northern Ireland.
Celtic culture arrived in Ireland from Europe, bringing with it the knowledge of iron working. Iron was found to be much stronger than bronze and better for making tools and weapons. During this period, Navan Fort, in Armagh, became the capital of ancient kingdom of Ulster.
This unique design was engraved on a stone during the Iron Age. The stone was later set into the wall of the ruined medieval church at Derrykeighan. It is one of the earliest examples of Irish art, and is now on display in the museum.
A spear butt would have been fixed to the base of the weapon’s shaft as a decorative attachment and to provide balance.
Other Iron Age finds in the Borough of Ballymoney include this rare mirror handle found at Ballybogey.
© Ashmoelan Museum
In the 5th century, Christianity took root in Ireland and hundreds of churches were established, often taking over pagan sites. Christian communities soon spread throughout north Antrim. During this period, families often lived ring forts, and the remains of these sites can be found in abundance in the Ballymoney area, for example at Benvarden.
Early Christian art can be found on the Chi-Rho stone at Drumaqueran.
460AD The church at Derrykeighan was established in the 5th century by St. Colman.
941AD Prince Murtough McNeill from Aileach, near Derry, camped at Enagh Cross, near Ballymoney. His bard recorded that:
"We were a night at Enagh Cross - Not more delightful to be in Paradise."
However Viking raiders soon sailed up the river shattering this paradise and the inhabitants were forced to move inland to what is now the town of Ballymoney.
Viking axe head found near Ballymoney
“The Route" is a name for this region first used during this period, although its origin is uncertain. The name Ballymoney is thought to come from Baile Muine (town of the shrubbery) or Baile Mona (town in the bog). Written evidence of the name dates back to the 14th century when a church is recorded at “Balibony”.
1177AD The Anglo-Normans invaded Ulster. The remains of their fortified homes, known as motte & baileys, can be seen at sites such as Drumart and Knockahollet.
Two concealed underground chambers, known as souterrains, have been discovered near Knockahollet motte.
© TKD Aviation
1300AD. A castle was built at Lissanoure by Sir Philip Savage. This estate later became the home of the Macartney family.
Lissanoure Castle as it is believed to have looked in the early 19th century. Very little of the original 14th century castle survived.
© Brian Willis
The Plantation of Ulster began during the reign of King James I. Land was offered to settlers from England and Scotland who were encouraged to come to Ulster. James hoped that by ‘Planting’ Protestant families, Ulster would be ‘Anglicised’ and eventually conform to English rule.
Sir Randall Macdonnell, 1st Marquis of Antrim, 2nd Earl of Antrim (1609-1683). The Earldom has continued in the Macdonnell family to the present day.
Photograph reproduced by permission of Viscount Dunluce
1637AD The date stone in the Old Church Tower, Ballymoney, states that ‘THIS CHVRCH WAS BVLDED TO THE GLORYE OF GOD 1637’. The Earl of Antrim paid for the construction of the church for his new tenants.
Ballymoney Old Church Tower
1641AD The town of Ballymoney, including the recently built church, were burned during the Irish Rebellion. The church was later rebuilt and survived as a place of worship until 1782.
1689-1690AD At different times, the armies of both James II and William of Orange camped in the area as the campaign raged for the English Crown.
During the 18th century, new industries, such as linen production, prospered in this region. Thanks to the patronage of the Earls of Antrim, many prominent buildings were erected, such as the original Town Hall. Fortunately, most of them survived when the town was burned for a second time in 1798.
The original Ballymoney Town Hall was completed in 1775. Since then, it has also served as a market house, school, place of worship, courthouse and jail. It is now the Masonic Hall.
1737AD George, Earl of Macartney , was born at Lissanoure near Loughguile. Among his many positions, Macartney was appointed Irish Chief Secretary and later became the first British Ambassador to China.
1740AD Archibald Hutchinson died in London. Hutchinson's family owned Stranocum House. He was renowned for investigating the South Seas Company scandal of 1720, which caused the first collapse of the British financial markets and nearly bankrupted England.
1764AD John Caldwell Snr. purchased Harvey’s Mill at Harmony Hill. This later became the site of Balnamore linen spinning mill, which employed hundreds of local people until it closed in 1959.
Linen Production, 18th century.
Photograph, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
1777AD Ballymoney First Presbyterian Church was completed, the oldest building still in use in the Borough.
First Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney.
1783AD The Ballymoney Company of the Irish Volunteers held ‘Reviews’ at Leslie Hill and were joined by other Volunteer Companies from across Co. Antrim and Co. Down. The Irish Volunteers were a self-financing citizen army that was established to defend Ireland against the threat of a French invasion.
1798AD Following the failed United Irish Rebellion, the town of Ballymoney was burned by Crown forces. The predominantly Presbyterian population of this region had supported the liberal objectives of the Rebel army and they suffered bloody retribution for their disloyalty.
Badge of the United Irishmen.
In the 19th century, Ballymoney became the largest town in the district and its flax market became one of the most important in Ulster. Emigration was common throughout this period as people were tempted by the prospect of a better life in the New World. Several people from the Ballymoney area achieved fame and fortune in their adopted countries such as Robert Hannah and Samuel Robinson.
1835AD Thomas McElderry opened the first Market Yard on Market Street.
Ballymoney Markets
1841AD James Brown Armour was born at Lisboy, Kilraughts. Armour, minister of Second Ballymoney (known as Trinity) Presbyterian Church, was renowned for promoting Home Rule in Ireland. He was also a champion of the Tenant Right movement.
1843AD Ballymoney Workhouse opened to help the sick and poor from this region. Conditions in the workhouse were very difficult and it had a strict regime. For many it was the final option, as the hardship of famine swept throughout Ireland.
1845AD George Hutchinson died. Hutchinson was a magistrate responsible for punishing those who took part in the 1798 Rebellion and he is remembered as ‘Bloody Hutchinson’.
1845AD Robert Hannah was born near Ballymoney. Hannah emigrated to New Zealand were he established the country's largest chain of shoe stores. His home, Antrim House in Wellington, is now the headquarters of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
1847AD Lissanoure Castle blew up when barrels of gunpowder were accidentally ignited. Lady Macartney was killed instantly.
Lady Macartney
Reproduced courtesy of Dr. Eugene McKendry
1850AD The streets of Ballymoney town were first lit by gas.
Poster inviting Ballymoney inhabitants to attend a meeting to discuss the Lighting & Cleansing Act of 1845
1856AD The Model School (now the site of the Northern Regional College) and Model Farm were opened.
Ballymoney Model School
1860AD Ballymoney museum was opened. It was one of the first provincial museums in Ireland. The artefacts were originally displayed in a room in the old Town Hall and remnants of this collection can still be seen in the museum today.
Local solicitor and magistrate James Cramsie purchased the original collection of local antiquities and presented them to the Town.
1866AD The current Ballymoney Town Hall was opened, almost entirely paid for by public subscription.
1881AD The playwright George Shiels was born in Ballymoney. Shiels was the most popular Irish playwright of the mid 20th century, his biggest successes included ‘The New Gossoon’, ‘Professor Tim’ and ‘The Rugged Path’.
1883AD In Ballymoney, the body of Alexander Gamble was discovered at the site of his execution. Gamble had been a United Irishman and was hanged in 1798 from the clock tower in the Diamond. He was reburied in the Old Church Graveyard.
Grave of Alexander Gamble
1896AD William McKinley, whose ancestors came from Conagher, near Dervock, was elected 25th President of the United States of America. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 during his second term as President.
In the first half of the 20th century, the people of Ballymoney faced the hardship of two World Wars. The last decades were also overshadowed by the Troubles. The population in the Borough increased to 25,000 people and the town was unique for having two hospitals. Ballymoney became known throughout the world thanks to the achievements of sporting heroes Joey and Robert Dunlop.
1903 The North Antrim Agricultural Association held the first annual Ballymoney Show, to promote the agricultural industry. Each year at the Ballymoney Showgrounds, the Show continues to be the setting for a wide variety of trade stands, livestock judging, home industries and special displays and remains a thriving community event.
Ballymoney Show c. 1905
1912AD Dervock born athlete K.K. McArthur won the Olympic Marathon in Stockholm, Sweden. Despite the fact that he was then living and competing as a South African citizen, McArthur never forgot his homeland. He claimed that he was spurred to victory on hearing a voice in the crowd shout “Come on Antrim, come on ye boy!”.
1914-18AD Families from across the Borough endured terrible grief, as the lives of hundreds of local men were lost during World War One. Thanks to the research of historian Robert Thompson, the Ballymoney War Memorial lists the names of the people from the Borough who died during both World Wars.
Ballymoney War Memorial
1918AD Ulster comedian James Young was born in Union Street, Ballymoney.
1929AD The first North West 200 took place on a circuit linking Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart. Members of the Ballymoney Motor Cycle & Light Car Club helped to organise the early races.
Racing along the promenade at Portstewart
1933AD The Robinson Memorial Hospital was completed. It was built by millionaire businessman Samuel Robinson (1865-1958) in memory of his late parents. Robinson emigrated from Ballymoney to America in 1888, where he co-founded the American Stores Company (better known as ACME) which revolutionised the way people shopped.
Official opening of the Robinson Memorial Hospital, September 1933.
1934AD After renovations, Ballymoney Town Hall re-opened and within weeks hosted the first ever Ballymoney Drama Festival. This annual event is the oldest provincial drama festival in Ireland and attracts huge audiences every year.
Ballymoney Drama Festival audience, c. 1947.
1939 - 1945AD The Second World War brought another period of devastation to the area. Once again, Ballymoney men and women signed up for the armed forces, while those at home contributed to the war effort.
Military parade at the junction of High Street and Townhead Street, 1940.
1953AD Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Ballymoney during the Coronation Tour.
Queen Elizabeth II greets a welcoming crowd at Ballymoney Railway Station 3rd July 1953.
1959AD Successful camera manufacturers K.G. Corfield Limited moved to Ballymoney from Wolverhampton. They began production at premises on the Ballymena Road, bringing much needed employment to the area. The company closed in 1971.
1969AD The Troubles brought civil unrest, terrorism and over thirty years of sorrow to the people of Northern Ireland.
Bombing in Ballymoney 13th April 1972
Courtesy of The Chronicle
1977AD Ballymoney Council was granted Borough status and elected its first Mayor, Councillor F.E.C. Holland, and four Aldermen.
2000AD Joey Dunlop MBE OBE, the most successful motorcycle road racer of all time, was tragically killed while racing in Estonia on 2 July 2000. Joey had an unrivalled sporting career and also performed remarkable humanitarian work abroad. His funeral was attended by an estimated 50,000 people.
2008AD Robert Dunlop was killed at the North West 200. Like his brother, Joey, he was a hugely successful rider and a popular sporting celebrity. Both Dunlop brothers were granted the Freedom of the Borough of Ballymoney, Joey in 1993 and Robert in 2007.