X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Larne


Belite

It occurs naturally as the mineral larnite, the name being derived from Larne, Northern Ireland, the closest town to Scawt Hill where it was discovered.

Henry Benson, Baron Benson

In 1963 Benson submitted his report, which recommended closing all railways in Northern Ireland except the Belfast commuter lines to Bangor, County Down and Larne and the main line between Belfast and the Republic of Ireland, and the reduction of the main line between Portadown and the Republic to single track.

Langeland

The weapons cache would later land in Larne on the north-east coast of Ireland in what became known as the Larne gun-running.

Musa Qala

In memory of a prior conflict, in 2006, involving the British Royal Irish Regiment, a new Regimental March, composed by Chris Attrill and commissioned by Larne Borough Council, was gifted to the regiment on Saturday 1 November 2008 in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland during an event in which the regiment was presented with the 'Freedom of the Borough'.

Portlandite

It was first described in 1933 for an occurrence at Scawt Hill, Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Sopwith 1913 Circuit of Britain floatplane

The next day they left Beadnell at 8.05, stopping at Montrose, Aberdeen and Cromarty and reaching Oban on the west coast of Scotland at six in the evening, and took off on the third day at 5.42 am; after a stop at Kiells due to engine problems Larne was reached at 9.30.


Bobby McKee

In 2009 McKee led a welcoming delegation to the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians at Larne Borough Council headquarters in an attempt to boost cross community relations in the area in what was described as a historic day.

Dave Clements

As a junior he played for the Larne suburban team of Millbrook before signing for Irish league club Portadown F.C. in 1961.

Fred Crawford

Frederick H. Crawford, Ulster Unionist Council agent who organised the Larne gun-running operation in 1914

Irish Cup

The last time a club from outside Belfast won the cup was in 2005, when Portadown beat Larne 5–1 to win the cup for the third time.

Irish Independence Party

It was boosted in the late 1970s by the defection of a prominent Protestant Larne SDLP councillor, John Turnley, later the party chairman, who was killed in 1980 in Carnlough, County Antrim by an attack claimed by the Ulster Defence Association.

Larne Borough Council

In memory of a battle in the town of Musa Qala in Afghanistan in 2006, involving the Royal Irish Regiment, a new regimental march, composed by Chris Attrill and commissioned by Larne Borough Council, was gifted to the regiment on Saturday 1 November 2008 in Larne, during an event in which the regiment was also presented with the 'Freedom of the Borough'.

MS ANT 1

To cope with the increased traffic on the Fleetwood – Larne route the Bison was sent to the River Tyne in 1980 for lengthening.

Patrick Buckley

Buckley was born in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland and is now living at The Oratory, Larne, County Antrim, a house which used to belong to the Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor and which Buckley refused to leave following his suspension from the priesthood in 1986 by the then bishop, Cahal Daly.

The Maidens lighthouses

After receiving requests from Larne merchants and Admiral Benjamin Hallowell Carew for a lighthouse to be placed on The Maidens, George Halpin, the Ballast Board's Inspector of Works and Inspector of Lighthouses, inspected the rocks in 1819.

TSS Caledonian Princess

Built for the North Channel route from Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, to Larne, County Antrim, linking the west of Scotland with Northern Ireland, she was the first car ferry on the route.


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