View source for Armoy

{{short description|Village in County Antrim, Ireland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Armoy
| irish_name = Oirthear Maí
| scots_name = Aramoy<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Charlie |title=The Aul' Hand |url=http://www.ulsterscotsacademy.com/ullans/9/aul-hand.php |publisher=Ulster-Scots Academy |access-date=11 May 2017 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031255/http://www.ulsterscotsacademy.com/ullans/9/aul-hand.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
| local_name = 
| static_image_name = Armoy Round Tower and Church 2014 09 15.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Patrick's Church and the round tower, 2014
| map_type = Northern Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|55|07|52|N|06|19|36|W|display=inline,title}}
| belfast_distance_mi = 49
| population = 1122
| population_ref = <small>(2013 Estimate)</small>
| irish_grid_reference = D067328
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council|Causeway Coast And Glens]]
| country = Northern Ireland
|historic_county = 
| post_town = BALLYMONEY
| postcode_area = BT
| postcode_district = BT53
| dial_code = 028, +44 28
| constituency_westminster = [[North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|North Antrim]]
| constituency_ni_assembly = [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Antrim]]
| website = 
| hide_services = yes
}}

'''Armoy''' ({{Irish derived place name|Oirthear Maí}} {{audio|Uladh - Aontroim - Oirthear Maí.wav|}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logainm.ie/61292.aspx |title=Oirthear Maí (Armoy) |work=Placenames Database of Ireland |publisher=logainm.ie |access-date=9 December 2010 |archive-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905234547/http://www.logainm.ie/61292.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> is a village and [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] in [[County Antrim]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It is 5.5&nbsp;miles (9&nbsp;km) southwest of [[Ballycastle, County Antrim|Ballycastle]] and 8&nbsp;miles (13&nbsp;km) northeast of [[Ballymoney]]. According to an estimate in 2013 by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency it had a population of 1,122.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Armoy@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Armoy@4? |title=Electoral Ward information for Armoy |website=[[Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service]] (NINIS) |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA)}}</ref>

The village is centred on the [[River Bush]] and at the foot of two of the nine [[Glens of Antrim]]; [[Glenshesk]] and [[Glentaisie]]. The Armoy parish also includes part of Knocklayd mountain which lies to the northeast of the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agency |first=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research |title=statistics |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Armoy@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Armoy@4 |access-date=2021-07-21 |website=ninis2.nisra.gov.uk |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317063916/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Armoy@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Armoy@4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

It is one of the bigger villages in the area and has two primary schools, shops, a post office, public houses and other community facilities. The village was dominated by [[public housing|public sector housing]] for many years, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s, new housing developments began around the village.

The village is close to a number of scenic locations including the [[Dark Hedges]], which in recent years has become a popular tourist attraction as the infamous "King's Road" in the [[HBO]] series [[Game of Thrones]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://discovernorthernireland.com/The-Dark-Hedges-Stranocum-Ballymoney-P27502/ |title=Dark Hedges – Game of Thrones |website=Discover Northern Ireland |access-date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421094402/https://discovernorthernireland.com/The-Dark-Hedges-Stranocum-Ballymoney-P27502/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Armoy Round Tower, 1834 (IA jstor-30004188) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Armoy Round Tower, ''[[Dublin Penny Journal]]'', 1834]]
A monastic settlement which was founded by [[Saint Patrick]] in the 5th Century formerly sat to the northeast of the present day village, in the area of what is now St. Patrick's Parish Church. The site was excavated in recent years and archaeologists uncovered artifacts which date the location to the 6th century. The actual centre of the monastic settlement has yet to be determined, though many scholars believe it may be higher up the slope behind the graveyard on unexcavated ground.

The monastic settlement is said to be built on land given to Patrick by Fergus Mor MacEarca who would succeed his father to become the first Christian king in Ireland. Saint [[Olcán]] was a follower of Patrick who came from the area, and was baptised at Dunseverick by Patrick and later became Bishop of Armoy. One of the local primary schools still carries his name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/armoy.html |title=Armoy |website=Causeway Coastal Route |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713082732/http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/armoy.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

It is suggested that the original site of the village was built around the monastery and the round tower. However, the village moved to its present-day location on the banks of the River Bush to accommodate the local mills which demanded large volumes of water. Therefore, a location by the riverbank was much more suitable.

The area surrounding the present day church is of special significance as it has several oval shaped tunnels which have been dug under the rock all the way down to a cave at the Lagge crossroads below the church. This tunnel from the tower to the crossroads was used as an escape route as it leads down to the River Bush. The word Lagge is of significance as it translates as hollow and legend has it that a giant lifted an 'L'- shaped section of the ground at Lagge Cross and threw it into the sea creating [[Rathlin Island]].

===The Troubles===
On 15 April 1978, [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]] officer John Moore was killed by an [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] booby trap bomb attached to his car.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sutton |first1=Malcolm |title=Chronological List of Deaths 1978 |url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1978.html |website=[[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN) |publisher=[[University of Ulster]] |access-date=24 December 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022135029/https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1978.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Places of interest ==
[[File:Armoy Presbyterian Church - geograph.org.uk - 1748842.jpg|thumb|Armoy Presbyterian Church]]
*A [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] church sits near the River Bush and close to the centre on the village. The church's spire, with a Viking ship weathervane on top, has been described as "a miniature replica of the [[Eiffel Tower]]".{{by whom?|date=April 2025}}
*There are the remains of an [[Irish round tower]] on the edge of the village. An early [[monastery]] was founded about AD 460 by Saint [[Olcán]], a disciple of [[Saint Patrick]]. The only trace of an early monastery is the stump of the round tower, which stands in the grounds of St Patrick's Parish Church. The tower is about 11 m high and has three storeys. At one time, Armoy was the main religious settlement in the Irish part of the kingdom of [[Dál Riata]].
*Close to the village is Gracehill House, a Georgian house dating from 1775. The grounds are home to Gracehill Golf Course, an 18-hole parkland golf course which is surrounded by ponds and woodland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gracehillhouse.com/golf/ |title=Gracehill House & Golf Club |work=Gracehill House |date=24 September 2015 |access-date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421070308/http://www.gracehillhouse.com/golf/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*The village also has a small park beside the river in which many references can be found to its connection with motorbikes and road racing. This includes a monument dedicated to the "Armoy Armada" who were a group of road racers from Armoy which included [[Joey Dunlop]], Mervyn Robinson, Frank Kennedy and Jim Dunlop.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amrrc.com/armoy-armada |title=Armoy Armada |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028113634/http://www.amrrc.com/armoy-armada |url-status=live}}</ref> The park also has paths laid out in the shape of the circuits of both the [[North West 200]] and the [[Isle of Man TT]].{{fact|date=April 2025}}

==Events==

In recent years,{{when?|date=April 2025}} Armoy has played host to the Armoy Road Race, also known as "The Race of Legends".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amrrc.com/index |title=The Armoy Road Race |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730092343/http://www.amrrc.com/index |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The event was first ran in 2009 and usually takes place at the end of July/start of August every year. The track itself is 3 mile long circuit made up of public roads and runs through a part of the village. The grid for the races is set up in a grand prix style with up to 27 riders starting each race. The start/finish line is located along the A44 Hillside Road just to the north of the village on the main road to [[Ballycastle, County Antrim|Ballycastle]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amrrc.com/track-facts |title=Circuit Information |website=The Armoy Road Race |access-date=22 September 2014 |archive-date=1 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801101552/http://www.amrrc.com/track-facts |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Armoy Armada ===
In the late 1970s, a quartet of successful motorcycle racers from Armoy was known as the "Armoy Armada". Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson, [[Joey Dunlop]] and Jim Dunlop, became household names in Ulster.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motorcycling/armoy-to-remember-motorcycling-heroes-in-2019-road-races/38236095.html |first=Roy |last=Harris | title=Armoy to remember motorcycling heroes in 2019 road races |date=20 June 2019 |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |issn=0307-5664 |location=Belfast|access-date=27 June 2023 |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627130647/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motorcycling/armoy-to-remember-motorcycling-heroes-in-2019-road-races/38236095.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://amrrc.com/armoy-armada/ | title=Armoy Armada | website=Armoy Road Races |access-date=27 June 2023 | archive-date=2023-06-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606151936/https://amrrc.com/armoy-armada/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Kyle |title=Fans loved Joey Dunlop and the Armoy Armada 'because they were local heroes who could win the big races too', says Bill Kennedy |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/fans-loved-joey-dunlop-and-armoy-armada-because-they-were-local-heroes-who-could-win-the-big-races-too-says-bill-kennedy-2903733 |access-date=27 June 2023 |work=[[News Letter]] |date=3 July 2020 |location=Belfast |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627130546/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/fans-loved-joey-dunlop-and-armoy-armada-because-they-were-local-heroes-who-could-win-the-big-races-too-says-bill-kennedy-2903733}}</ref> In 2020, the Armoy Armada was commemorated by a [[mural]] in the village, painted by West Belfast artist Oliver McParland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fullerton |first1=Gareth |title=Belfast artist helps honour memory of Armoy Armada with stunning mura |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/belfast-artist-helps-honour-memory-18958394 |access-date=27 June 2023 |work=[[Belfast Live]] |date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627133336/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/belfast-artist-helps-honour-memory-18958394 |archive-date=27 June 2023  | url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Armoy is situated in the Glens of Antrim, an area known for its valleys shaped by glaciers during the ice age.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=465 |title=Armoy Geology |access-date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031003/http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.asp?item=465 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Armoy Moraine is located on the outskirts of the village in an area known locally as The Lagge, where the Round Tower and St. Patrick's Church now sit. Deposited here as a result of the last glacial event in [[Ulster]] it deflected the [[River Bush]] to west, blocking its previous path northwards to the sea at [[Ballycastle, County Antrim|Ballycastle]]. Today the River Bush now flows west through the village, towards [[Stranocum]] and eventually reaches the sea through [[Bushmills, County Antrim|Bushmills]] and [[Portballintrae]].{{fact|date=April 2025}}

==Transport==
[[Armoy railway station]] opened on 18 October 1880 and was shut on 3 July 1950.<ref>{{cite web |title=Armoy station |work=Railscot – Irish Railways |url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |access-date=2007-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 <!--DASHBot--> |url-status=live}}</ref> It was on the [[Ballycastle Railway]], a [[narrow gauge railway]] which ran for 17 miles linking [[Ballycastle, County Antrim|Ballycastle]] to [[Ballymoney railway station|Ballymoney]], on the [[Belfast and Northern Counties Railway]] (BNCR), later [[Northern Counties Committee]] (NCC), main line to [[Derry ~ Londonderry railway station|Derry~Londonderry]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Baker |first=Michael HC |title=Irish Narrow Gauge Railways. A View from the Past |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]] |year=1999 |isbn=0-7110-2680-7}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Armoy}}

* [[Olcán]], 5th century saint
*[[Olcan McFetridge]] was a famous County Antrim hurler. He received an all-star award in 1989 and won a Sports Council Merit and Sunday Life Award in August 2005.
*[[Joey Dunlop]] [[OBE]] was a resident of Armoy and was a member of the [[#Armoy Armada|Armoy Armada]]. He was a world champion motorcyclist.
*[[Hannah Craig]], Olympic slalom canoer, former resident at Lime Park, Armoy, and past pupil of Armoy Primary School.

==See also==
*[[List of civil parishes of County Antrim]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060507233306/http://www.northantrim.com/armoy.htm North Antrim.com – Armoy] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060505080119/http://cloghmore.bravepages.com/antrim/armoyRT.html Armoy Round Tower]

{{County Antrim}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Civil parishes of County Antrim]]
[[Category:Scenic routes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Villages in County Antrim]]