Rathlin Island
| Rathlin Island | |
|---|---|
 False-colour NASA Landsat image showing Rathlin, the County Antrim coast and Kintyre |
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 Rathlin Island
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| Rathlin Island shown within Northern Ireland | |
| Population | 154 |
| Irish grid reference | D134518 |
| • Belfast | 47 miles |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ballycastle |
| Postcode district | BT54 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Rathlin Development & Community Association's official website |
Rathlin Island (from Irish: Reachlainn) is an island and civil parish off the coast of County Antrim and the northernmost point of Northern Ireland.
Rathlin is the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland, with a steadily growing population of approximately 150 people, and is the most northerly inhabited island off the coast of the island of Ireland. The reverse L-shaped Rathlin island is 4 miles (6 km) from east to west, and 2.5 miles (4 km) from north to south.
The highest point on the island is Slieveard, 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level. Rathlin is 15.5 miles (25 km) from the Mull of Kintyre, the southern tip of Scotland's Kintyre peninsula. It is part of the Causeway Coast and Glens council area, and is represented by the Rathlin Development & Community Association.
Rathlin is part of the traditional barony Cary (around the town of Ballycastle), and of current district Moyle. The island constitutes a Civil parish and is subdivided into 22 townlands:
A ferry operated by Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd connects the main port of the island, Church Bay, with the mainland at Ballycastle, 6 miles (10 km) away. Two ferries operate on the route - a fast foot-passenger-only catamaran ferry called "Rathlin Express" and a larger ferry, owned by the Scottish Government, called "MV Canna" which carries both foot passengers and a small number of vehicles, weather permitting. Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd won a six-year contract for the service in 2008 providing it as a subsidised "lifeline" service. There is an ongoing investigation on how the transfer was handled between the environment minister and the new owners.
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Wikipedia