ISLAND
MAGEE, otherwise ISLAND MAGUY, a parish, in the barony of
LOWER BELFAST, county of ANTRIM,
and province of ULSTER, 6 miles (N. E. by E.) from Carrickfergus
; containing 2610 inhabitants.
Edward
Bruce landed on this island in 1315 ; and Sir Moyses Hill,
ancestor of the Marquess of Downshire, took refuge in a cave
here when pursued by the Mac Donells, who had slain Sir John
Chichester. In 1642 all the Roman Catholic inhabitants were killed
by some Scottish soldiers under Munro, on their march to Carrickfergus.
The parish forms a peninsula between Larne Lough and the North Sea and
the Isle of Muck or March lies near the coast.
According
to the Ordnance survey it comprises 7036½ statute acres of excellent
land in a high. state of cultivation, which produces wheat and beans
of the finest quality. Coal is supposed to exist, and basalt used for
building and for repairing the roads is abundant. Spinning and the weaving
of linen cloth and calico are carried on in various parts of the parish,
and some of the inhabitants are employed in fishing. There is a pier
at Portmuck, from which much limestone is shipped. There are
coast-guard stations at Portmuck and Blackhead, which
are included in the district of Carrickfergus.
A court is held by the seneschal of the Marquess of Donegal,
for the recovery of debts and the determination of pleas to the amount
of £20.
It is
a rectory, in the diocese of Connor,
forming part of the union of Carrickfergus : the tithes
amount to £400. The church, a small edifice, rebuilt in 1827 on
the foundations of an ancient and more extensive structure is close
to the margin of Larne Lough.
There
are two places of worship for Presbyterian, of the third class one in
connection with the Synod of Ulster the other with the Seceding Synod.
About 270 children are educated in 10 private schools.
Near Brown's
bay is a rocking stone, weighing about 12 tons; and at Ballyumpage
are the remains of a cromlech or druids' altar ; there are also the
remains of two ancient churches. In the cliffs called the Gobbins
are seven caves, into which the tide flows : they are a little above
low water mark, under a basaltic rock, 210 feet high, intersected by
layers of ochreous basalt, about an inch thick and of a deep vermillion
colour. Near the entrance to the peninsula are the remains of Castle
Chichester, occupying a beautiful situation on a bold shore. A spring
of pure but weak saline water rises near Red Hill. The ancient
rent of this island was two goshawks and a pair of gloves.
