Newtownabbey


Newtownabbey is a large settlement north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course. At the 2011 Census, Metropolitan Newtownabbey Settlement had a population of 65,646, making it the third largest settlement in Northern Ireland. It is part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Largely a residential area, Newtownabbey is also home to many engineering and computer industries. Retail and leisure facilities include the Abbey Centre, the Valley Leisure Centre, the Ballyearl Arts & Leisure Centre, The Theatre at the Mill, Glengormley Moviehouse, Glengormley Sportsbowl and three large public parks. The main campus for the University of Ulster is based in the Jordanstown area of Newtownabbey. Although the Jordanstown campus of the University of Ulster merged with the current Belfast campus in 2018.

History

Newtownabbey was formed by the merging of seven villages; Carnmoney, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse and Whitewell. It was formally brought into being on 1 April 1958. Before its inception, the expanse fell under the jurisdiction of the Belfast Rural District Council.
The timeline of the local government authority is: Newtownabbey Urban District Council, Newtownabbey District Council, Newtownabbey Borough Council and Antrim & Newtownabbey District Council.

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Newtownabbey, which includes a list of incidents in Newtownabbey during The Troubles resulting in two or more deaths.

Geography

Townlands

Below is a list of townlands that are within Newtownabbey's urban area, alongside their likely etymologies.
* citation for derivations
The following housing estates have Irish-derived names, although they are not named after townlands:
Until 2014 Newtownabbey operated under its own council comprising Ballyclare, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Carnmoney, Mallusk and Rathcoole. However, from 2014 it has operated as a larger Council after merging with Antrim to create Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The current electoral ward and areas are:
On Census day there were 65,646 people living in Newtownabbey. Of these:
;Higher-level education
;Secondary-level education
;Primary-level education
;Cricket
;Football
;Gaelic games
;Hockey
;Rugby
;Boxing

Trains

runs trains serving three railway stations: Mossley West railway station on the Belfast–Derry railway line and Jordanstown railway station and Whiteabbey railway station on the Belfast–Larne railway line.
Connecting trains run on the Belfast-Derry railway line from Mossley West, "Northbound" to:
,,, ,,,. And "Southbound" to, Belfast Central,,, Belfast Great Victoria Street and onwards.
Whilst the Belfast-Larne railway line serving Whiteabbey and Jordanstown and connects with other stations including the principal stations of,, and, heading "Northbound". And heading "Southbound" the same stations as listed above apply.

Buses

Bus services are provided by Metro.

Notable people

Stephen Boyd was a Northern Irish-American actor. Originally from Glengormley, County Antrim, Boyd appeared in some 60 films, most notably as the villainous Messala in Ben-Hur, a role that earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

Roads

Newtownabbey is linked to the M2 motorway and the M5 motorway.

Twin towns

Newtownabbey is twinned with:
Newtownabbey has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International: