.
Photochrom print . At what date the county of Antrim was formed is not known, but it appears that a certain district bore this name before the reign of
Edward II (early 14th century), and when the shiring of Ulster was undertaken by Sir
John Perrot in the 16th century, Antrim and Down were already recognised divisions, in contradistinction to the remainder of the province. The earliest known inhabitants were
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers of pre-
Celtic origin. At the
Mount Sandel Mesolithic site (in Coleraine along the east side of the river Bann) known human habitation there dates to around 7000 BC making it one of the earliest sites in Ireland. The names of the
townlands or subdivisions, supposed to have been made in the 13th century, are all of Celtic derivation. In the early Middle Ages, southern County Antrim was part of the Kingdom of
Ulidia, ruled by the
Dál Fiatach clans Keenan and MacDonlevy/McDunlavey; the north was part of
Dál Riada, which stretched into what is now western Scotland over the Irish Sea. Dál Riada was ruled by the O'Lynch clan, who were
vassals of the Ulidians. Besides the Ulidians and Dál Riada, there were the
Dál nAraide of lower County Antrim, and the
Cruthin, who were pre-Gaelic Celts and probably related to the Picts of Britain. Between the 8th and 11th centuries Antrim was exposed to the inroads of the
Vikings. A
Gallowglass sept, the MacDonnells (they were "Macdonalds" in Scotland), became the most powerful in the Glens in the 15th century. During the
Tudor era (16th century), numerous adventurers from Britain attempted to colonise the region; many Scots settled in Antrim around this time. In 1588, the Antrim coast was the scene of one of the 24 wrecks of the
Spanish Armada in Ireland. The Spanish vessel
La Girona was wrecked off Lacana Point, Giant's Causeway in 1588 with the loss of nearly 1,300 lives. Antrim is divided into sixteen baronies. Lower Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was settled by the sept O'Flynn/O'Lynn. Upper Antrim, part of Lower Clandeboye, was the home of the O'Keevans. Belfast was part of Lower Clandeboye and was held by the O'Neill-Clannaboys. Lower Belfast, Upper Belfast, and Carrickfergus were also part of Lower Clandeboye. Cary was part of the Glynnes; ruled originally by the O'Quinn sept, the MacDonnell galloglasses from Scotland took power here in the late Middle Ages, and some of the O'Haras also migrated from
Connaught. Upper and Lower
Dunluce were part of the Route and were ruled by the MacQuillans. Upper and Lower
Glenarm was ruled by the O'Flynn/O'Lynn sept, considered part of the Glynns. In addition to that sept and that of O'Quinn, both of which were native, the Scottish
Gallowglass septs of MacKeown, MacAlister, and MacGee are found there. Kilconway was originally O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory, but was held by the MacQuillans as part of the Route, and later by the
gallowglass sept of MacNeill. Lower Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboye and was ruled by the O'Flynns and the O'Heircs. Upper Massereene was part of Lower Clandeboye, ruled by the O'Heircs. Upper and Lower Toome, part of the Route, were O'Flynn/O'Lynn territory. Misc was first ruled by the MacQuillans. Later, the Scottish Gallowglass MacDonnells and MacAlisters invaded. The MacDonnells were a branch of the Scottish Clan MacDonald; the MacAlisters traced their origin back to the Irish Colla Uais, eldest of the Three Collas.
Islandmagee had, besides antiquarian remains, a notoriety as a home of witchcraft, and during the
Irish Rebellion of 1641 was the scene of an act of reprisal (for the massacre of
Protestants) against the Catholic population by the Scottish
Covenanter soldiery of
Carrickfergus. In 1689, during the
Williamite War in Ireland, County Antrim was a centre of Protestant resistance against the rule of the Catholic
James II. During the developing crisis, James' garrison at
Carrickfergus successfully repulsed an attempt by local Protestants to storm it. After the advance of the
Irish Army under
Richard Hamilton, all of County Antrim was brought under
Jacobite control. Later in the year, a major expedition from England under
Marshal Schomberg landed in
Belfast Lough and successfully
laid siege to Carrickfergus. Having captured most of the largest towns of the area, they then marched southwards towards
Dundalk.
Historic monuments The antiquities of the county consist of
cairns, mounts or forts, remains of ecclesiastical and military structures, and
round towers. There are three round towers: one at Antrim, one at
Armoy, and one on
Ram's Island in Lough Neagh, only that at Antrim being perfect. There are some remains of the ecclesiastic establishments at
Bonamargy, where the earls of Antrim are buried,
Kells, Glenarm,
Glynn,
Muckamore and Whiteabbey. The castle at
Carrickfergus, dating from the
Norman invasion of Ireland, is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. There are, however, remains of other ancient castles, as
Olderfleet, Cam's,
Shane's, Glenarm, Garron Tower, Red Bay, and
Dunluce Castle, notable for its dramatic location on a rocky outcrop. The principal cairns are: one on Colin mountain, near Lisburn; one on
Slieve True, near Carrickfergus; and two on Colinward. The
cromlechs most worthy of notice are: one near
Cairngrainey, to the north-east of the old road from Belfast to
Templepatrick; the large cromlech at Mount Druid, near
Ballintoy; and one at the northern extremity of Islandmagee. The mounts, forts, and entrenchments are very numerous. The natural rock formations of
Giant's Causeway on the Antrim coast are now designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Saint Patrick Slemish, about east of Ballymena, is notable as being the scene of
St Patrick's early life. According to tradition, Saint Patrick was a slave for seven years, near the hill of Slemish, until he escaped back to Great Britain.
Linen Linen manufacturing was previously an important industry in the county. At the time, Ireland produced a large amount of
flax. Cotton-spinning by
jennies was first introduced to Belfast by industrialists Robert Joy and Thomas M'Cabe in 1777; and twenty-three years later, it was estimated that more than 27,000 people were employed in the industry within of Belfast. Women were employed in the working of patterns on
muslin. ==Notable residents==