Cullybackey

Cullybackey or Cullybacky (from Irish Coill na Baice, meaning "wood of the river bend") is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies 3 miles north of Ballymena, on the banks of the River Main, and is part of Mid and East Antrim district. It is a predominantly Protestant area with most of the residents being of Scottish descent. It had a population of 2,569 people in the 2011 Census.

Cullybackey was part of the ancient kingdom of Dál nAraidi. Evidence of ancient dwellers in the area have been found throughout the years, including the remains of Crannogs and Souterrains.

Christian Missionary Mackevet erected a monastery in the area. It is said that when Mackevet first approached the Irish Chieftain MacAfee about this matter the two began to argue over it and Mackevet, who was a large man raised his fist into the chieftains face and said "I'm a man of peace, but smell that MacAfee". This won him the argument and the monastery was built, supplying the area with a place of learning for many centuries afterwards. In 1778 a corps was raised by John Dickey of Cullybackey House, They named themselves 'The Cullybackey Volunteers'. In 1847, the village contained 235 residents and contained about 50 houses.

The first sod on the Belfast railway line was turned in 1845 and the line from Ballymena to Portrush was completed in 1855

The railway line is still well used by the population of Cullybackey today with trains stopping at the station almost hourly throughout the day. On 24 March 2000, a woman died after a collision involving a passenger train and her car at a level crossing at Station Road, Cullybackey. None of the 88 passengers on board the train travelling from Belfast to Derry was hurt. See also Cullybackey railway station. Ulsterbus Buses also run to, and through, the village on the 115 route from Monday to Saturday.

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