Glens of Antrim

{{Short description|Series of valleys in County Antrim, Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|Glenariffthumb|Glendun: the Glendun Viaduct can just be made out among the trees in the middle distance, and on the skyline is Crocknamoyle

The '''Glens of Antrim''' ({{langx|ga|Glinnte Aontroma}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glinnte Aontroma/Glens of Antrim |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/118036 |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=logainm.ie |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209075806/https://www.logainm.ie/en/118036 |url-status=live }}</ref> known locally as simply '''The Glens''', is a region of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It comprises nine glens, that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim.

The main towns and villages in the Glens are Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Waterfoot, Carnlough and Glenarm.

==The Lordship of the Glens== From the mid-13th century onward, the Lordship of The Glens belonged to the Bissett family, Anglo-Norman in origin but Gaelicized over generations. With the marriage of John Mor Macdonald, second son of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, to Margery Bisset in the late 14th century, the Glens came into the ownership of the MacDonnells of Antrim. John Mor gained the title Lord of Dunyvaig and the Glens.<ref>An Historical Account of the Macdonnells of Antrim by George Hill, 1873, at. p. 21</ref>

==The nine glens== From north to south, the nine glens are:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! ! Irish name ! Meaning ! Ref |- | Glentaisie | Gleann Taise | Taise's valley/damp valley | <ref name="logainm">[http://www.logainm.ie/ Logainm.ie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203181351/http://www.logainm.ie/ |date=3 December 2012 }} (Placenames Database of Ireland)</ref><ref name=upn>[http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/PDF%20Files/Moyle_Council_Area_(P._Tempan).pdf Moyle District Council Area] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207025443/http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/PDF%20Files/Moyle_Council_Area_(P._Tempan).pdf |date=7 February 2012 }}, Northern Ireland Place-Name Project, Queen's University Belfast</ref> |- | Glenshesk | Gleann Seisc | barren valley | <ref name=logainm/> |- | Glendun | Gleann Doinne | valley of the [river] Dun | <ref name=logainm/><ref name=upn/> |- | Glencorp | Gleann Corp | valley of the body (or bodies) | <ref name=logainm/><ref>{{cite web |title=Glencorp |url=http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=15987 |website=Place Names - NI |access-date=22 January 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> |- | Glenaan | Gleann Athain | valley of the burial chamber | <ref name=upn/><ref name=pni>[http://www.placenamesni.org/Index.html Place Names NI] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001000000/http://www.placenamesni.org/Index.html |date=October 1, 2010 }}</ref> |- | Glenballyeamon | Gleann Bhaile Uí Dhíomáin<br />Gleann Bhaile Éamainn | valley of Ó Díomáin's town<br />valley of Éamonn's town

| <ref name=logainm/><ref name=upn/> |- | Glenariff | Gleann Aireamh | valley of the ploughman/arable valley | <ref name=logainm/><ref name=pni/> |- | Glencloy | Gleann Claidheamh | valley of the sword | <ref name=logainm/> |- | Glenarm | Gleann Arma | valley of the army | <ref name=logainm/><ref name=pni/> |}

==Tenth glen== Glenravel is sometimes referred to as a tenth glen by locals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Maria |title=Glenravel Hub helping to tackle isolation in local community |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64678943 |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> It lies to the southwest of Glenballyeamon and Glenariff, being separated from the latter by the Glenariff forest park.

The main settlements of Glenravel are Cargan, Martinstown and Skerry (Newtowncrommelin).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Tenth Glen Heritage Farms |url=https://tenthglenhf.co.uk/ |access-date=17 March 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Archaeology== [[File:Madmans Window in Antrim.jpg|thumbnail|left|Madman's Window in Antrim, ca. 1860 (National Library of Ireland)]] Artifacts of the Neolithic period have been found in various places of the Glens of Antrim including Bay Farm II and Madman's Window.<ref>{{cite book |author1=O'Sullivan, Aidan |author2=Breen, Colin| year=2007 |title=Maritime Ireland. An Archaeology of Coastal Communities | publisher=Tempus | location= Stroud | page=63 |isbn=978-0-7524-2509-2}}</ref>

==In popular culture== * The Glens are mentioned in the song "Ireland's Call". * DI Sean Duffy, in the Troubles mysteries by Adrian McKinty, is from the Glens. * The song ''The Green Glens of Antrim'' was written by Kenneth North<ref>{{cite web |title=The green glens of Antrim |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-green-glens-of-Antrim/oclc/852502992 |website=WorldCat |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> and has been recordedby artists such as The Wolfe Tones, Daniel O'Donnell and Paddy Reilly.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060425162502/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sean_quinn/ Glens of Antrim Website] *[http://www.antrimhistory.net/ Glens of Antrim Historical Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050611022039/http://www.antrimhistory.net/ |date=11 June 2005 }} *[https://archive.today/20121205085558/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ni/landscapes Landscapes Unlocked] - Aerial footage from the BBC ''Sky High'' series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Northern Ireland.{{dead link|date=April 2019}}

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Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland Category:Glens of Ireland Category:Glens of County Antrim Category:Protected areas of County Antrim Category:Earldom of Ulster