Dunloy
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Dunloy |
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Dunloy shown within Northern Ireland | |
Population | 1,215 (2011 Census) |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Police | Northern Ireland |
Fire | Northern Ireland |
Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
Dunloy (from Irish: Dún Lathaí, meaning "fort of the muddy/marshy place") is a village and townland in the Borough of Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located 11 miles (18 km) north of Ballymena and 6 miles (10 km) north-west is Ballymoney. It is located in the civil parish of Finvoy, in the former barony of Kilconway. It had a population of 1,215 people in the 2011 Census.
Dunloy lies in the ancient Irish district of "Killimorrie", which is now known as Killymurris. Killymurris is claimed as being derived from the Irish Coill Ui Mhuireadhaigh meaning "the wood of Murry". An alternate origin given for Killymurris is that it derives from Choill Mhuiris meaning "the wood of Morris".
Just south of Dunloy village, in the townland of Ballymacaldrack is "Dooey’s cairn". This open Court tomb, named after the landowner, is located on the slopes of Long Mountain and overlooks the valley of the River Main. The earliest known activity within the tomb is estimated at around 4000BC. Also on Long Mountain is another court Tomb, known as Broadstone. See: List of megalithic monuments in Ireland
In the same townland lies the ancient graveyard of Caldernagh.
Dunloy railway station is currently closed on the Belfast-Derry railway line run by Northern Ireland Railways.