BALLYWILLAN

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

"BALLYWILLAN, a parish mostly in the North-east Liberties of Coleraine, in the county of Londonderry, and partly in the barony of Lower Dunluce in the county of Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, 4 miles to the S. W. of Bushmills. It is situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, opposite to the Skerries, and includes the village of Portrush. The district is very rich in minerals, and has many attractions for the geologist. Basalt in all its forms, limestone, and ironstone exist in abundance, and many interesting fossils are found. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Connor, of the value of £227, in the gift of the bishop. The church now stands in the town of Portrush. It is a plain building, nearly cruciform, having a tower and two transepts, but the chancel is very shallow, and not in proportion to the other parts. There is a neat painted window in the north transept, presented by a member of the congregation. On the summit of a steep rock, nearly 300 feet above the level of the sea, is Dunmull, said to have been a Druid circle, converted by the Danes into a fortress. Other remains of Celtic times are in the neighbourhood."

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