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One of the most memorable views
along the north coast is Ballintoy Church. It was founded by the Stewart family who settled on the north coast in
1560 after losing their estates on Bute, incidentally and contrary to many
assumptions, this was long before
the plantation of Ulster took place. The family also built Ballintoy Castle
were they resided and of which nothing remains. The Church was rebuilt
in the seventeenth century, it originally had a tall steeple which was destroyed by a
hurricane in December of 1894, this was one the most powerful hurricanes to
hit the north coast in the 1800's, the other occurred in 1839. The winds
lasted for around six hours at hurricane force and damage throughout the district
was severe. In Portrush, waves tore a 40 foot breach in the
north quay and stones weighing upwards of 10 tons were moved around like
pebbles. Ballycastle experienced the sea reaching the Marine Hotel and
the footbridge over the Margie river was swept away. In Ballintoy the steeple
came down and part of it
descended through the church roof, many headstones were blown down
or broken, houses in the village were reported as being severely damaged
and in some cases demolished, stacks in the fields where scattered and
several thatched cottages in the district caught fire and
burned. At the harbour several boats were destroyed and the sea
washed around O'Roarke's cottage (now O'Roarke's Kitchen) to
a depth of four feet, due to the onshore
winds combining with a high tide. |
