Toome

Toome or Toomebridge (from Irish: Tuaim, meaning "tumulus"),[2] is a small village and townland on the northwest corner of Lough Neagh in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies in the civil parish of Duneane in the former barony of Toome Upper,[2] and is part of Antrim borough council. It had a population of 781 in the 2011 Census.[3]

For people with surname Toome, see Toome (surname).

Toome

The bridge over the River Bann at Toome
(built 2004)
Toome
Location within Northern Ireland
Population781 (2011 Census)
Irish grid referenceH9990
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townANTRIM
Postcode districtBT41
Dialling code028
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

History

Roddy McCorley, a Presbyterian radical, was a local of the parish of Duneane. He fought as a United Irishman in the Rebellion of 1798 against British rule in Ireland but was captured. He was executed on 28 February 1800 "near the bridge of Toome", which had been partially destroyed by rebels in 1798 to prevent the arrival of reinforcements from west of the River Bann. His body was then dissected by the British and buried under the road that went from Belfast to Derry. In 1852, when the road was being reconstructed, a nephew had McCorley's body exhumed and given a proper burial in an unmarked grave in Duneane. A memorial in honour of McCorley now stands in Toome as you enter the village from County Londonderry. His story became the subject of a popular song written in 1898 by Ethna Carbery.

Economy

The largest industry in Toome is eel fishing, supplying the European market. The eel fisheries have been commemorated in a number of poems by Seamus Heaney.

Within the last century mining for diatomite has developed as extensive deposits are found in the Toome area. This mineral was used as an absorbent for gelignite and for toothpaste.

People

G.A.A.

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club in the area is Erins Own, Cargin.

Hydroplane Racing

Some of the most thrilling motor boat racing ever seen in Ireland took place at Toombridge on the River Bann in 1930. Hydroplanes from Ulster, the Irish Free State and England took part in the 'Bann 100'. The main trophies was The Belfast Newsletter Challenge trophy. Hydroplanes reached speeds of 34.77 mph.[4]

Transport
Spanning time and missing a span on the Northern Counties Committee lines over the River Bann at Toome Bridge railway station.
  • Toome had long been a bottleneck to traffic on the main Belfast to Derry road route. Construction of a bypass began in May 2002 and was completed in March 2004, shortening journey times and relieving congestion in the village.
  • Toome Bridge railway station was opened on 10 November 1856, shut for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and shut altogether on 1 October 1959.[5]

Population

2011 census

In the 2011 Census Toome had a population of 781 (263 households).[3] 91% were from a Catholic background and 6.3% were from a Protestant background

2001 census

Toome is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000). On census day (29 April 2001) there were 722 people living in Toome. Of these:

27.2% were aged under 16 years and 10.9% were aged 60 and over
48.8% were male and 51.3% were female
96.3% were from a Catholic background and 2.9% were from a Protestant background
6.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
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See also

References
  1. "Leevin in tha Day of Quaen Victoria: Kintra dwallin-hooses". National Museums Northern Ireland. Ulstèr Fowk an Convoyin Museum. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  2. - Toomebridge
  3. "Toome". Census 2011 Results. NI Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. The Northern Whig, 13 October 1930
  5. "Toome station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
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