Coordinates: 54°51′04″N 5°48′40″W / 54.851, -5.811
Larne (from the Irish: Latharna meaning "Lothair-na"—the domain of a Viking chieftain) is a substantial seaport and industrial town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is now mostly used by freight. Larne is twinned with Clover, South Carolina.
Larne is administered by Larne Borough Council. Together with the neighbouring district of Carrickfergus and part of Newtownabbey, it forms the East Antrim constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.
History
During the 18th century many Irish emigrated to America from the port of Larne. A monument in Curran Park commemorates the Friends Goodwill, the first emigrant ship to sail from Larne in May 1717, heading for Boston in the United States. Boston's long standing Irish roots can be traced to Larne. As with western and southern Ireland Larne, unlike some areas of north–east (Antrim, Down, Louth and North Dublin) and eastern Ireland (South Dublin, Wicklow), was hugely affected by the Irish Famine of the mid 19th century.citation needed
In 1914, Loyalists opposed to the Home Rule Act 1914 prepared for armed resistance. In an episode known as the Larne Gun Running, German weapons and ammunition were transported into the port of Larne at dead of night, and distributed all over the country.[1]
Transport
People
Sport
Industry
2001 Census
Larne is classified as a Large Town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)[3] (i.e. with population between 18,000 and 75,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 18,228 people living in Larne. Of these:
- 20.9% were aged under 16 years and 21.2% were aged 60 and over
- 48.2% of the population were male and 51.8% were female
- 26.2% were from a Catholic background and 70.7% were from a Protestant background.
- 4.3% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Larne Harbour Police
Larne Harbour Police is a very small (approximately seven officers[4]), specialised police force responsible for policing Larne Harbour. The officers of the force are sworn in as special constables under the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847, and are responsible to Larne Harbour Ltd. Jurisdiction of the constables of this very small specialised port police extends to one mile beyond the Harbour Complex.[5]
Footnotes
See also
References
External links
|
