Rasharkin

Rasharkin (from Irish Ros Earcáin, meaning 'Earcán's promontory'),[1] is a small village, townland and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Ballymoney, near Dunloy and Kilrea. It had a population of 1,114 people in the 2011 Census.[2]

Rasharkin

Main Street
Rasharkin
Location within Northern Ireland
Population1,114 (2011 Census)
Irish grid referenceC971134
• Belfast38 miles
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBALLYMENA
Postcode districtBT44
Dialling code028, +44 28
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

Folklore

Rasharkin features in Buile Shuibhne an old Irish tale about the Suibhne mac Colmain, king of the Dál nAraidi, driven insane by St. Ronan's curse. The tale is the final installment of a three-text cycle in medieval Irish literature, continuing on from Fled Dúin na nGéd (The Feast of Dun na nGéd) and Cath Maige Rátha (The Battle of Mag Rath).

King Sweeney's homeplace in the tale was Glenbuck that lies just outside Rasharkin. Seamus Heaney published an English version of the tale entitled Sweeney Astray

History

Historically Rasharkin was also spelt as Rosharkin and Rosarkin.[1]

It lay within the barony of Kilconway that belonged to the MacDonnells in the 17th Century.

Rasharkin also has a rich history and features in Ballymoney's involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.[3]

The Troubles

A total of 3 people were killed in the village of Rasharkin during the period known as The Troubles. John McFadden, a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and Robert Irvine, a member of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), were killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on separate occasions. Gerard Casey was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and was killed by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). also Gerry Dalrymple was killed in the Castlerock workmen killings in 1993 by the UFF

Places of interest

People
  • Chris Baird, a football player for both Fulham F.C. and the Northern Ireland team is from the village.
  • Gerard Casey, IRA member killed by loyalists in 1989.
  • Karla Quinn a figure skater. She was crowned as British Junior Ice Skating Champion 2008, British junior silver medallist and the 2006 British junior bronze medalist. She is the first ever female Northern Irish skater to take three British titles at Novice, Primary and Junior levels.
  • Paddy McConnell, a footballer born in 1900, played for the all-island Irish National Football Team as well as a number of clubs including Southport and Shelbourne.
  • Daithi McKay, Former Sinn Féin Assembly Member for North Antrim (2007-2016). He secured the introduction of a carrier bag levy & rate relief for Amateur Sport Clubs during his tenure.
  • Tom Ekin former Alliance Mayor of Belfast was raised in Rasharkin and went to school in the nearby townland of Ballymaconnelly.

Sport

Demography

2011 Census

It had a population of 1,114 people (394 households) in the 2011 Census.[2] On Census day in 2011:

  • 75.6% were from a Catholic background and 20.8% were from a Protestant background

2001 Census

Rasharkin is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 864 people living in Rasharkin. Of these:

  • 24.9% were aged under 16 years and 15.7% were aged 60 and over
  • 48.4% of the population were male and 51.6% were female
  • 73.5% were from a Catholic background and 26.0% were from a Protestant background
  • 6.0% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Churches

There are 4 churches in the village ; Presbyterian, Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic and Free Presbyterian.

The Free Presbyterian Church in Rasharkin was one of the first congregations of the new Free Presbyterian Church in 1951 after a damaging split in the Presbyterian Church locally with many opposed to the Minister there Rev Stronge.

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See also

References
  1. Placenames Database of Ireland (see archival records)
  2. "Rasharkin". Census 2011 Results. NI Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  3. "Ballymoney Borough Council". Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2006.
  4. "Craigs Dolmen, Rasharkin". The Causeway Coast and Glens. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
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