The New Student's Reference Work/Antrim

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search

An'trim, a county and town in the northeast of Ireland, noted for its extensive manufactures of linen. The capital of the county, — which, as it was largely colonized from Scotland, is preponderatingly Protestant — is Belfast. Antrim is an old town, with considerable historic interest attached to it. Near it, in the reign of Edward III, a battle was fought between the English and the Irish; and, during the troubles of the year 1798, a British force encountered, at Antrim, a body of rebellious "United Irishmen," and defeated them. The county of Antrim has an area of 1,211 square miles, with a population of 478,603.