Coordinates: 54°41′42″N 5°51′25″W / 54.695°N 5.857°W / 54.695; -5.857

Greenisland
Irish: Inis Glas
Greenisland  Greenisland shown within Northern Ireland
Population	5,050 (2001 Census)
District	Carrickfergus
County	County Antrim
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARRICKFERGUS
Postcode district	BT38
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	East Antrim
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Antrim

Greenisland (Irish: Inis Glas) is a suburb of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies 7 miles north-east of Belfast, 3 miles south-west of Carrickfergus and 1 mile north-east of Jordanstown.

Greenisland is a semi-rural community overlooked by the hill behind upon which stands Knockagh Monument (a war memorial to those from County Antrim who died in the first and second world wars). The village stretches down from the foot of the hill to the shores of Belfast Lough.

There are direct rail links to Belfast, Carrickfergus and Larne and there is also a regular bus service to Belfast and Carrickfergus.

In 2001, the population of the Greenisland was 5,048, a fall from the 1972 figure of 5,638. Greenisland is a popular residential location due to its attractive setting on the Lough Shore and its proximity to Belfast. It is a dormitory commuter settlement for Belfast, with a small focus of local retail activity in the small shopping parade at Glassillan Court complemented by a number of local shops dispersed throughout the settlement.

Greenisland is about to benefit from the introduction of a new multi-million pound dual carriageway along A2 Shore Road. Construction is due to begin 2010/2011. This will help cut commuting times to both Belfast and Carrickfergus.

Contents 1 History 2 Shops and services 3 Transport 4 Education 5 Churches 6 Sports clubs 7 Local hotels and B&Bs 8 Local councillors, MLAs and MPs 9 Local media 10 2001 Census 11 See also 12 References

[edit] History

• Castle Lugg (owned by the National Trust) On an area of ground raised above the shoreline of Belfast Lough, with excellent views. The tower was described in the OS memoirs as "a square tower... nothing now remains but a portion of the N wall 27ft long & 25ft high - with a very small portion of the E side attached to it...There is no tradition or local record to throw any light on the origin, history or destruction of this castle". A small excavation was carried out at the site in 1980, but failed to establish a precise date of layout of the structure; documentary evidence suggest it existed by 1570. It is still much as it was when described in 1839, with the remains of the N wall, 8m long x 1.2m thick x c.5m high & a fragment of the E wall surviving at the NE corner. Two modern walls extend S from the E & W sides of the N wall & formed part of a forge. (See Map)
• Knockagh Monument
  

  

  Greenisland Knockagh Monument
  (See Map)

• The settlement of Greenisland developed rapidly after the introduction of the rail network in the nineteenth century. Its position was at an important railway junction on the Belfast to Ballymena.

• More local History can be found at Greenisland Library where a book has been published on the History of Greenisland.

[edit] Shops and services

Greenisland has a number of shops and services which include: grocery shops and newsagents; a petrol filling station; a butcher's shop; golf, cricket and working men's clubs; two hair salons and a barber's shop; a bakery; a dental practice and doctors' surgery; a chemist; a number of fast-food outlets; a hotel and restaurant (Knockagh Lodge); an off-licence; car sales and mechanic's garages; a cafe and two children's nurseries.

The area is also served by the local Greenisland Library; a community centre; a youth centre and a Scout hall.

[edit] Transport

• Greenisland railway station opened on 11 April 1848.^[1]
• Translink Bus & Rail Website

[edit] Education

• Greenisland Primary School (See Map)
• Silverstream Primary School (See Map)
• Belfast High School
• University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus

[edit] Churches

Greenisland is home to a number of churches including:

• Greenisland Baptist Church (See Map)
• Greenisland Presbyterian Church (See Map)
• Church of the Holy Name (Church of Ireland) (See Map)
• Greenisland Methodist Church (See Map)
• Church of the Nazarene (See Map)
• Liberty Christian Fellowship Church (See Map)
• St. Colman's Church (Roman Catholic) (See Map)

[edit] Sports clubs

• Greenisland Golf Club
• Cliftonville Cricket Club
• Greenisland Bowling Green
• Greenisland War Memorial Sports Club (GWMSC)
• Greenisland Ladies Hockey Club
• Greenisland Boys Football Club
• Knockagh View Equestrian Centre
• Knockagh Wrestling Club

[edit] Local hotels and B&Bs

• Knockagh Lodge Hotel
• The Stables B&B
• Whiteford Lodge B&B

[edit] Local councillors, MLAs and MPs

Greenisland is part of Carrickfergus Borough Council and forms part of the Knockagh district electoral area.

• Greenisland Councillors

Local MLAs for the area include:

• Sammy Wilson (DUP)
• David Hilditch (DUP)
• Alastair Ross (DUP)
• Roy Beggs (UUP)
• Ken Robinson (UUP)
• Sean Neeson (Alliance)

The MP for the area is:

• Sammy Wilson (DUP).

[edit] Local media

Local and Community news about Greenisland can be found through the following local Media outlets.

• The Carrick Biz - delivered free to every home in Greenisland
• Carrick Times
• Carrickfergus Advertiser

[edit] 2001 Census

Greenisland is a small settlement within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 5,050 people living in Greenisland. Of these:

• 21.6% were aged under 16 years and 22.1% were aged 60 and over
• 47.5% of the population were male and 52.6% were female
• 9.6% were from a Catholic background and 84.3% were from a Protestant background.
• 3.34% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

[edit] See also

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of places in County Antrim

[edit] References

1. ^ "Greenisland station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-28.