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ANTRIM TOWN |
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ANTRIM is a largely undistinguished town whose centre demonstrates
all the typical decay that follows the construction of out-of-town
shopping developments. Although its population has trebled since the
1970s, it doesn't feel especially fecund with possibilities. If you've
time to kill, there's a tenth-century round tower in Steeple Park, a
mile north of town, indicating the site of an important monastery that
flourished between the sixth and twelfth centuries; and a pretty, if
unremarkable, eighteenth-century cottage, Pogue's Entry on Church St (call
028/9442 8000 for times), the preserved childhood home of Alexander
Irvine, author of My Lady of the Chimney Corner which recalled his
boyhood years before the famine. The tiny tourist office nearby at 16
High St (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; July & Aug Thurs & Fri until 6pm & also Sat
9am-5pm; April, June & Sept also Sat 9am-2pm; tel 028/9442 8331) will
let you in. If you pop through the Castle Gate on Dublin Road, you'll
find yourself in the pleasant gardens of the old Antrim Castle . The
building itself was totally destroyed by fire in 1922, but the carriage
house and stables now house the Clotworthy Art Centre (Mon-Fri
9.30am-9.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm; July & Aug also Sun 2-5pm; free), which is
worth a look for its galleries of work by local artists and occasional
international exhibitions.
Belfast International Airport is just four miles south of Antrim, but
luckily this doesn't mean that you have to stick around - the transport
links to Belfast are much better than to Antrim. There's camping on the
shore of Lough Neagh at Sixmilewater Marina & Caravan Park (May-Sept;
tel 028/9446 4131), plus daily cruises on the waters. If you've time for
a pint, Madden's on the High Street is Antrim's liveliest bar , while
hunger can be satisfied both here and at the wood-beamed Top of the Town
, Fountain Street, which also has a pleasant beer garden.
West of Antrim, Lough Neagh's northern shores are easily accessible by
taking the road from Randalstown to Creeve . From here a minor road
leads down to Churchtown Point and the Lough. The ruins of an ancient
Irish church are here and close by is a still-extant holy well . This
was formerly the site of an annual pilgrimage on May 1 which involved
walking barefoot thirteen times around both church and well before
drinking the waters and then bathing in them. The Lough's waters are
rich in eels here and, if you're lucky, you might find a fisherman
willing to sell you a few before he takes his catch off to the
processing plant at Toomebridge. If not, nearby Cranfield Inn serves eel
suppers and also runs an equestrian centre (tel 028/9447 2342). Back in
Creeve, the Creeve House Country Inn , 115 Staffordstown Rd (tel
028/9447 2547; b) is a friendly pub and guesthouse and an ideal base for
soaking up the atmosphere of this tranquil spot.
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