Glenarm

Early Christian period In the 5th to 7th centuries (the beginning of the Early Christian period), Glenarm lay within the territory of the kingdom of Dal Riada. This covered coastal County Antrim from Glenarm to Bushmills. The inland boundary was formed by the watershed along the top of the Antrim hills. The coast of County Antrim south of Glenarm and west of Bushmills, as well as the lands south of the River Bush lay within the territories of another group of tribes called the Dal nAraide (pronounced Dalnary). A branch of the Dal nAraide, known as Latharna, seems to have occupied the coast from just south of Glenarm to Carrickfergus and beyond. The area at one point came under threat from the Vikings who founded their only settlement of note in Ulster at "Ulfrek's fjord", present-day Larne. According to Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic historian, Connor, King of Ireland, defeated the raiding Orkney Vikings at "Ulfreksfjord" in 1018. The name Olderfleet is a corruption of "Ulfrek's fjord". A local man was charged with the killing but later acquitted. ==Local politics==

Glenarm has a local lodge of the Orange Order and a joint Royal Black Preceptory with nearby Carnlough. Glenarm is part of the Braid district No.9 and holds the annual 12 July celebrations 3 out of every 7 years. The local flute band is called Sir Edward Carson Memorial in memory of the famous Unionist leader. Previously there was a branch of the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians in Glenarm which paraded in the village, though this is no longer the case. Glenarm like its republican counterpart in the nearby village of Carnlough has cleaned up its public image by removing flags and political emblems to boost tourism in the area though some sectarian tension still exists between elements in the two villages. ==Places of interest==

Glenarm Forest Park is an nature preserve once part of the demesne of Glenarm Castle, but now in public and maintained by the Ulster Wildlife Trust. Other notable features include a salmon fishery and Glenarm Castle. ==Sports==

Glenarm is home to three sports teams. There is a coastal rowing club which trains over the summer months to prepare for the annual All-Ireland Rowing Competition. In 2009, the club's Veteran Team won an All-Ireland silver medal at the championships held in Waterville, County Kerry. The club, which was founded in the late 19th century, holds regular regattas with two other local coastal rowing clubs in Carnlough and Cairndhu. Four oared gig racing has a measure of popularity in the village. Up until recently craft for this sport were the product of local boat builders and during the summer crews may be seen training out on the bay. A highlight of the gig racing calendar is an annual regatta which takes place in summer time and attracts crews from local clubs. The local rowing club, Glenarm Rowing Club, is affiliated with the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation. In 2009's All-Ireland, a combined crew of Glenarm and Carnlough won a silver in the Veteran Men. The club was featured on the BBC documentary programme Coast. The local association football club, Glenarm Rovers F.C., play Saturday morning football. Glenarm's Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, named after Shane O'Neill, play just outside the village in Feystown. The club fields hurling teams at various adult and juvenile levels. ==Events==

• Highland Games tournaments are regularly held in Glenarm Castle. • The Glenarm GAA club hosted the 2009 North Antrim Feis, which is a gathering of Irish culture. There were a number of GAA sports finals, arts competitions and Scór events. • The Dalriada Festival is also held at Glenarm Castle and within the village. This music, arts and food festival also hosts traditional Ulster Scots cultural events. • "Summer Madness", Ireland's "biggest Christian festival", moved from its annual residence at the Kings Hall, Belfast, to Glenarm Castle in 2012. ==Film location==

Glenarm village was used in the film The Boys from County Clare (2003) which also used other locations in the Glens of Antrim. Glenarm Castle itself was used in Five Minutes of Heaven. The Christmas film A Christmas Star had scenes filmed near the marina of Glenarm village. BBC drama My Mother and Other Strangers used Altmore Street as its WWII setting during spring 2016 filming. Game of Thrones used Glenarm's scenic background as one of many County Antrim's cameo in the American HBO series. ==Demographics==

Glenarm is classified as a small village or hamlet by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population less than 1,000 people). On census day 2011 (27 March 2011), there were 568 people living in Glenarm. Of these: • 21.30% were aged under 16 and 16.90% were aged 60 and over • 47.18% of the population were male and 52.82% were female • 43.13% were from a Catholic background and 53.35% were from a Protestant background == Notable people ==