Toome


Toome or Toomebridge, is a small village and townland on the northwest corner of Lough Neagh in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies in the civil parish of Duneane in the former barony of Toome Upper, and is part of Antrim borough council. It had a population of 781 in the 2011 Census.

History

, a Presbyterian radical, was a local of the parish of Duneane. He fought as a United Irishman in the Rebellion of 1798 against British rule in Ireland but was captured. He was executed on 28 February 1800 "near the bridge of Toome", which had been partially destroyed by rebels in 1798 to prevent the arrival of reinforcements from west of the River Bann. His body was then dissected by the British and buried under the road that went from Belfast to Derry. In 1852, when the road was being reconstructed, a nephew had McCorley's body exhumed and given a proper burial in an unmarked grave in Duneane. A memorial in honour of McCorley now stands in Toome as you enter the village from County Londonderry. His story became the subject of a popular song written in 1898 by Ethna Carbery.

Economy

The largest industry in Toome is eel fishing, supplying the European market. The eel fisheries have been commemorated in a number of poems by Seamus Heaney.
Within the last century mining for diatomite has developed as extensive deposits are found in the Toome area. This mineral was used as an absorbent for gelignite and for toothpaste.

People

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club in the area is Erins Own, Cargin.

Hydroplane Racing

Some of the most thrilling motor boat racing ever seen in Ireland took place at Toombridge on the River Bann in 1930. Hydroplanes from Ulster, the Irish Free State and England took part in the 'Bann 100'. The main trophies was The Belfast Newsletter Challenge trophy.
Hydroplanes reached speeds of 34.77 mph.

Transport

2011 census

In the 2011 Census Toome had a population of 781. 91% were from a Catholic background and 6.3% were from a Protestant background

2001 census

Toome is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency.
On census day there were 722 people living in Toome. Of these: