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extended from Larne, northward along the coast, to
Ballycastle, being backed by the mountains on the
west, and containing the present baronies of Glenarm,
and part of that of Carey: the Route included nearly all
the rest of the county to the west and north, forming
the more ancient Dalrieda, and, in the reign of Eliza-
beth, occasionally called “Mac Sorley Boy’s Country.”
Within the limits of Clandeboy was a minor division,
called “Bryen Carrogh’s Country,” won from the rest
by the Scots. At what precise period Antrim was
erected into a county is uncertain: it was divided into
baronies in 1584, by the lord-deputy, Sir John Perrot,
but this arrangement was not until some time after-
wards strictly observed.
The earliest inhabitants of this part of Ireland on
record were a race of its ancient Celtic possessors, desig-
nated by Ptolemy Darnii or Darini; and it deserves
notice that Nennius mentions the “regions of Dalrieda”
as the ultimate settlement of the Scythian colony in
Ireland. According to the Irish annalists, Murdoch
Mac Erch, chief of the Hibernian Dalaradians, early in
the fourth century, by a series of conquests extended
his dominions in the north of Antrim and the adjacent
districts, while his brother Fergus succeeded in esta-
blishing a colony in North Britain. The first intruders
upon these earliest settlers were probably the Danish
marauders, to whose desolating descents this coast was
for several ages peculiarly exposed. Subsequently the
northern Scots harassed the inhabitants by numerous
plundering inroads, and ultimately accomplished perma-
nent settlements here, maintaining for a long time a con-
stant intercourse with their roving countrymen of the
isles. A right of supremacy over the lords of this terri-
tory was claimed by the powerful family of the northern
O’Nials (now written O’Neill), who were at length de-
prived of the southern part of this county by the family
of Savage and other English adventurers. Early in the
14th century, Edward Brace, the Scottish chieftain,
gained possession of this district by the reduction of
Carrickfergus, which had long resisted the most vigorous
assaults of his troops. The English, however, shortly
afterwards recovered their dominion; but in 1333,
William de Burgho, Earl of Ulster, being assassinated
at Carrickfergus by his own servants, and his countess,
with her infant daughter, seeking safety by escaping
into England, the sept of O’Nial rose suddenly in arms,
and, falling furiously upon the English settlers, suc-
ceeded, notwithstanding a brave and obstinate defence,
in either totally extirpating them, or reducing them
within very narrow bounds. The conquerors then
allotted amongst themselves the extensive possessions
thus recaptured from the English, and the entire dis-
trict received the name of the Upper and Lower Clan-
Hugh-Boy, from their leader, Hugh-Boy O’Nial. Dur-
ing the successful operations of Sir John Perrot, lord-
deputy in the reign of Elizabeth, to reduce the province
of Ulster into allegiance to the English government, he
was compelled to lay siege to Dunluce castle, on the
northern coast of Antrim, which surrendered on honour-
able terms: this fortress having been subsequently lost
through treachery, in 1585, was again given up to the
English by Sorley Boy O’Donnell or Mac Donnell, the
proprietor of a great extent of the surrounding country,
to whom it was returned in charge.
This county is in the diocese of Connor, except part
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of the parish of Ballyscullion in the diocese of Derry,
Lambeg in that of Down, and Aghalee in that of Dro-
more. For purposes of civil jurisdiction it is divided
into the baronies of -Upper Belfast, Lower Belfast,
Upper Massareene, Lower Massareene, Upper Antrim,
Lower Antrim, Upper Toome, Lower Toome, Upper
Glenarm, Lower Glenarm, Upper Dunluce, Lower Dun-
luce, Kilconway, and Carey. It contains the borough,
market, and sea-port town of Belfast; the borough and
market-town of Lisburn; the ancient disfranchised
borough and market-towns of Antrim and Randalstown;
the sea-port and market-towns of Ballycastle, Larne,
and Portrush; the market and post-towns of Ballymena,
Ballymoney, Broughshane, and Glenarm; and the post-
towns of Ballinderry, Ballyclare, Bushmills, Crumlin,
Cushendall, Dervock, Glenavy, Portglenone, and Toorae.
Connor, the ancient seat of the diocese, is now merely a
village: the largest villages are Ballykennedy, Temple-
patrick, Whitehouse, Dunmurry, Kells (each of which
has a penny post), Doagh, Dunethery, Eden, Massa-
reene, and Parkgate. Prior to the Union, this county
sent ten members to the Irish parliament,—two knights
of the shira, and two representatives for each of the
boroughs of Antrim, Belfast, Lisburn, and Randals-
town: from that period until 1832 it returned four
members to the Imperial parliament,—two for the
county, and one each for the boroughs of Belfast and
Lisburn; but, by the act to amend the representation,
passed in that year (2 Wm. IV., c. 88), an additional
member has been given to Belfast. The county con-
stituency (as registered in October, 1836,) consists of
598 £50, 562 £20, and 2246 £10 freeholders} 6 £50
and 19 £20 rent-chargers; and 59 £20 and 337 £10
leaseholders; making a total of 3827 registered voters.
The election for the county takes place at Carrickfergus.
It is included in the north-east circuit: the assizes are
held at Carrickfergus, and the general quarter sessions
at Belfast, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Ballymena, and Bally-
money, at which the assistant barrister presides. The
county court-house and gaol is situated at Carrick-
fergus, the house of correction at Belfast, and there are
bridewells at Antrim, Ballymena, and Ballymoney. The
number of persons charged with criminal offences and
committed to these prisons, in the year 1835, was 202;
and the commitments under civil bill decrees amounted
to 106. The local government is vested in a lieutenant
and thirteen deputy-lieutenants, who are all justices of
the pacee: the entire number of magistrates is 84, includ-
ing the mayor of the town and county of the town of
Currickfergus, and the “sovereign” of Belfast, who are
ex-officio magistrates of the county; besides whom there
are the usual county officers, including two coroners.
There are 29 constabulary police stations, having a force
of a stipendiary magistrate, sub-inspector, pay-master, 6
chief and 33 subordinate constables, and 165 men, with 8
horses, the expense of whose maintenance is defrayed
equally by grand jury presentments and by Government.
Along the coast are 16 coast-guard stations,—8in the dis-
trict of Ballycastle, having a force of 8 officers and 54 men,
—and 8 in the district of Carrickfergus, with a force of
8 officers and 51 men; each district is under the con-
trol of a resident inspecting commander. The district
lunatic asylum and the county fever hospital are at Bel-
fast, the county infirmary is at Lisburn, and there are
two dispensaries at Belfast, and others at Crumlin,