Whiteabbey

Infobox Irish Place
name = Whiteabbey
gaeilge = An Mhainistir Fhionn
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 158px; top: 71px
north coord = 54.40 | west coord = 5.54
elevation =
province = Ulster
county = County Antrim
NI district = Newtownabbey
UK constituency = East Antrim
EU constituency = Northern Ireland
stdcode = 028, +44 28
posttown = Newtownabbey
postcode = BT37
population = 2,922
census yr = 2001
web =
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Whiteabbey is a small urban village area in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It located near the village of Jordanstown and its University campus. Whiteabbey is on the north coast of Belfast Lough and is part of the Newtownabbey Borough Council area. Whiteabbey is also an electoral ward of North Belfast.

History

Whiteabbey's name is derived from a Premonstratensian abbey which existed in the area in the medieval period, the monks of which are said to have worn white robes. All traces of the abbey are now gone although the site, in the grounds of Whiteabbey Hospital, remains undeveloped.

In the first half of the 19th century the village was home to a large bleach works and was an important landing site for coal shipments bound for Belfast. Remnants of the old pier can still be seen in the sea. The importance of the village declined after the channel into Belfast harbour was widened and straightened allowing larger ships to reach the city directly.

In 1952 one of Northern Ireland's most controversial murders took place in Whiteabbey when Patricia Curran, the 19 year old daughter of prominent Judge Sir Lancelot Curran, was found stabbed near her home [cite web | title= Patricia Curran murder case.| url=http://www.innocent.org.uk/cases/iaingordon/index.html ] , "The Glen", close to the village.

Local Facilities

*Near the village one can find a popular dog walking route known as 'The Glen' which is a small forest area extending up to and beyond the Bleach Green railway viaduct. The Newtownabbey/Ulster Way passes through this area, as does the Threemilewater river.

*Whiteabbey also has its own hospital which has an accident and emergency department operating from 9am to 5pm

Local Schools & Education

* Whiteabbey Primary School
* [http://www.nrc.ac.uk/ Northern Regional College]
* [http://www.ulster.ac.uk/ University of Ulster]

Local Churches

* [http://www.whiteabbey.org/ Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church]
* [http://www.whiteabbeycch.co.uk/ Whiteabbey Congregational Church]
* Whiteabbey Methodist Church

Transport

*The area is served by Whiteabbey railway station on the Belfast to Larne line. The station opened on 11 April 1848. [cite web | title=Whiteabbey station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-08-28|format=PDF]
* [http://www.translink.co.uk/ Translink Bus & Rail Website]

2001 Census

On Census Day 29th April 2001 the resident population of Whiteabbey Village was 2,922. Of this population:
* 16.8% were under 16 years old and 29.3% were aged 60 and above;
* 47.4% of the population were male and 52.6% were female; and
* 17.3% were from a Catholic Community Background and 77.0% were from the Protestant and Christian Community Backgrounds.

References