BALLYMENA
– CITY OF THE SEVEN TOWERS
With the River Braid flowing by, Ballymena has a unique position
within County Antrim for today’s visitors who wish to explore off
the beaten track – the Portglenone Forest, with its beech and oak
trees, red squirrels and huge patches of rhododendrons, can provide
some good walks. (Tel: (028) 9052 4480).
Ballymena Town Hall still stands on the site of the old Market
House and doubles as the community entertainment centre, holding many
events throughout the year, especially during the annual Arts Festival
in October. The Town Hall is set to play a major part in the area’s
planned cultural renaissance, as the Ballymena Museum will be built
next to it and an arts centre containing studios, a pottery, rehearsal
rooms, café, bookshop and 520-seater concert hall will also be
developed. (Tel: (028) 2565 62620.
Exhibits in the new museum will deal with early Ballymena, the Plantation
Period, religious, cultural and literary heritage and Ballymena's role
in the Boer and World Wars. Currently, the smaller Ballymena Museum
explores the cultural heritage of the Borough and inside you can see
exhibits ranging from the original headstone of the "Bard of Dunclug"
to souvenirs from the Flamingo Ballroom, where stars like Jim Reeves,
Roy Orbison and the Rolling Stones once played to enthusiastic audiences.
(Wellington Court, Tel: (028) 2564 2166).
Continuing on the museum trail, in the centre of town is the Museum
of The Royal Irish Regiment, which looks at the history of the Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Ulster Rifles, Royal Irish Fusiliers,
Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. (St Patrick’s
Barracks Tel: (028) 2566 1355).
Thanks to farming and linen, the population of Ballymena grew steadily
through the 18th and 19th centuries, going from 500 in 1626 to 13,000
in 1939. Today, the town continues its expansion, with the population
of the whole Borough being around 60,000, more than half of those who
live within the town.
For comprehensive information about Ballymena and its surrounding areas,
the Tourist Information Centre on Church Street can provide advice.
(Tel: (028) 2563 8494).
