RAMOAN

In 1868, the parish of Ramoan contained the following places:

"RAMOAN, (or Rathmoran), a parish in the barony of Cary, county Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, containing its post town, Ballycastle. The surface, which comprises a considerable amount of bog, lies along the W. shore of Ballycastle Bay. The coast is forbidding, and is only approachable at Ballycastle. A great portion of the Knocklaide mountain is within the limits of this parish. The living is a rect: and vicarage in the diocese of Connor, value £357, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was restored in 1812, by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits; it has some very old monuments. Here are two Roman Catholic chapels, two Presbyterian and one Methodist meeting-house; also a parochial school, four other public and several private schools. Boyd's almshouses are at Ballycastle, Doonaninny Castle is prominent in the landscape, as are also ruins of Kenbane Castle, standing on a spur of rock running out into the sea. At Glenslush are the remains of Goban-Saor, formerly the seat of O'Cahan, and near Ballycastle are the ruins of Bonamargy Abbey, founded as late as 1509 by MacDonnell. Several raths are also remaining in this parish and on Knocklaide Hill is a cairn pointed out by tradition as the tomb of a Danish princess. Clare Park and Glenbank are the chief seats. Coal and freestone occur, the former in some quantity. Numerous beautiful pebbles are found on the beach. There is a mineral spring at Drumans.

"BALLYCASTLE, a chapelry, seaport, and market town in the parish of Ramoan and barony of Cary, in the county of Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, 33 miles to the N. of Antrim. The name of this place, which signifies "castle-town," is derived from a castle founded here by the Earl of Antrim, in the reign and by the direction of James I. The town is situated on the northern coast of the county, at the foot of the mountain Knocklayd, which rises to the height of 1,670 feet, and at the head of Ballycastle Bay. This bay was a well-known inlet to the north of Ireland from the earliest times. Here Partholan and his Phoenician colonists are said to have landed, and many emigrants from Britain took refuge here, whence the name Port Brittas was given to part of the bay. Opposite to the town, and at the distance of about 6 miles, lies the island of Rathlin, and the coast of Scotland is also visible at a distance of 21 miles. Ballycastle was converted from a small fishing village into a town of some importance in the course of the last century, by the enterprise of the then owner of the Ballycastle estate, Col. Hugh Boyd. He opened roads, constructed a harbour, built the town, established manufactories of soap, salt, and glass, weaving, bleaching, and tanning, and actively worked the collieries. He erected and endowed a handsome chapel and school for the benefit of his newly-built town; and by his will he directed 21 cottages to be built for the widows of his colliers and seamen, which he endowed with two townlands adjoining the causeway. He died in 1756, and was buried in the vaults of the church which he had founded. With him the busy life of the town has greatly passed away, but his charitable institutions remain as perpetual monuments of his beneficence. Ballycastle is noted for its rich mines, chiefly in the neighbourhood of the promontory of Fair Head. They contain coal, iron, and clays of various qualities and colours, also valuable spar (see Sir R. Kane's "Industrial Resources of Ireland). Much may be expected to be done by the energy of the present owner, Alexander Boyd, Esq., but the wealth of this district is such as would render it a matter of public benefit to revive the industry and commerce of this place. There are good salmon fisheries at the entrance of the Margy river and at Kenban. The fisheries in the bay, which had fallen off, have been much more productive recently (1862), and require only to be developed to become of considerable importance. The town of Ballycastle contains, according to the census of 1861, 322 inhabited houses, with a population of 1,625, of whom 884 are Roman Catholics, 502 belong to the Established Church, 198 are Presbyterians, and 41 Methodists. There is a market-house, a court-house, and coastguard and police stations. Petty sessions are held once a fortnight. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Down, Connor, and Dromore, value £60, in the patronage of A. Boyd, Esq. The church, erected in 1756, is in the Grecian style, with a fine spire. There are chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics, Presbyterians and Wesleyans. Near the town are the remains of Bonamargy Abbey, a Franciscan house, founded at the commencement of the 16th century. Ballycastle is the seat of a Poor-law Union. Tuesday is the market day. Fairs are held on Easter Tuesday, the last Tuesday in May, July, and August, the 25th October, and the 22nd November."

"DRUMADOON, a village in the parish of Ramoan, barony of Carey, in the county of Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, near Ballycastle. Fairs are held here on the 9th June and 28th November."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018