AGHAGALLEN,
or AUGHAGALLON, a parish, in the Upper half-barony of MASSAREENE,
county of ANTRIM, and province
of ULSTER, 2 miles (N.W. by N.) from Moira, on the road
from that place to Antrim (town); containing
3574 inhabitants.
It is
bounded on the west by Lough Neagh, and comprises, according
to the Ordnance survey, 7885 statute acres, of which 2415 acres are
in the lough : the land is chiefly under an improved system of tillage;
there are about 300 acres of bog, but no waste. Many of the inhabitants
are engaged in weaving linen and cotton, and some in spinning. The parish
is intersected by the Lagan canal from Lough Neagh to Belfast.
It is
a vicarage, in the diocese of Connor,
and is part of the union of Magheramesk;
the rectory is impropriate in the Marquess of Hertford. The tithes
amount to £ 66. 10., of which £26. 10. is payable to the
impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar.
The church
has long been in ruins. In the Roman Catholic divisions it is the head
of a union or district, called also the union of Ballinderry ,
which comprises the parishes of Aghagallen,
Aghalee, Ballinderry,
and Magheramesk, and contains two
chapels, one of which is in this parish. The parochial school is principally
supported by the vicar; and there are three private schools and a Sunday
school.
