Rasharkin

Rasharkin
Irish: Ros Earcáin

Main Street
Rasharkin
 Rasharkin shown within Northern Ireland
Population 1,114 (2011 Census)
Irish grid referenceC971134
    Belfast  38 miles 
DistrictBallymoney
CountyCounty Antrim
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town BALLYMENA
Postcode district BT44
Dialling code 028, +44 28
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK ParliamentNorth Antrim
NI AssemblyNorth Antrim
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Antrim

Coordinates: 54°57′14″N 6°28′48″W / 54.95382°N 6.48°W / 54.95382; -6.48

Rasharkin (from Irish Ros Earcáin, meaning "Earcán's promontory"),[1] is a small village, townland and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Ballymoney, near Dunloy and Kilrea. It had a population of 1,114 people in the 2011 Census.[2]

History

Historically Rasharkin was also spelt as Rosharkin and Rosarkin.[1] Rasharkin also has a rich history and features in Ballymoney's involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.[3]

The Troubles

A total of 3 people were killed in the village of Rasharkin during the period known as The Troubles. One was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and one a member of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), both killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on separate occasions. The other, Gerard Casey was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and was killed by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).

Politics

Rasharkin is in the Borough of Ballymoney and has two Councillors based in the village; Daithí McKay of Sinn Féin and Roy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The village forms part of the North Antrim constituency and the elected MP is DUP party member Ian Paisley, Jr. In recent years there has been opposition to Orange Order parades in the village, from segments of the majority Catholic population.[4][5] There have been sectarian attacks[6] in the village.[7][8][9] The local Orange Hall has been targeted 23 times in the last two years.[10][11][12][13]

Anti Orange Order sign in Rasharkin
Rasharkin Orange Hall daubed with graffiti in August 2009

On 12 July 2009, three police officers were injured after being attacked at an Orange parade at Rasharkin, sustaining minor injuries from stones and bricks thrown by youths. Petrol bombs were also thrown and one man was arrested.[14]

In September 2010, the home of Chris Baird's mother was petrol bombed.[15] Also, Saint Mary's chapel was paint bombed.

Places of interest

People

Sport

Demography

2011 Census

It had a population of 1,114 people (394 households) in the 2011 Census.[2]

2001 Census

Rasharkin is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 864 people living in Rasharkin. Of these:

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 18, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.