TEMPLECORRAN,
or BROAD ISLAND, a parish, in the barony of LOWER BELFAST,
county of ANTRIM, and province
of ULSTER, 5 miles (N. E.) from Carrickfergus,
on the road from Belfast city to
Larne, and on Lough Larne ; containing,
with the village of Ballycarry,
1338 inhabitants.
In 1597
a battle was fought at the highly romantic vale called Old Mill Glen,
near Ballycarry, between the Mac Quillans and Mac Donnells,
in which the former were defeated ; and in November of the same year
another took place on the same spot between the Mac Donnells
and Sir John Chichester, in which the latter was slain and his
army cut to pieces.
This parish,
which is also called, after the name of the village, Ballycarry,
comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 4744 ¼ statute acres,
in a high state of cultivation. The system of husbandry is in a very
improved state, and has been much promoted by the present proprietor,
who is a practical and spirited agriculturist. Limestone and basalt
are found in great abundance.
Red
Hall, the seat of G. Kerr, Esq., is an elegant mansion with
a fine demesne.
The spinning
of yarn and the weaving of linen cloth are carried of. A court is held
for the manor of Broad Island by the seneschal of Marriot Galway,
Esq., for the recovery of debts and determination of pleas to the
amount of £20; its jurisdiction extends over this parish and that
of Kilroot. Fairs are held at Ballycarry.
It is
a vicarage, in the diocese of Connor,
forming part of the union of Ballynure
and of the corps of the prebend of Kilroot
in the cathedral of Connor ; the rectory is impropriate in D. Kerr.
Esq. The tithes amount to £347. 1s. 6d., of which £231.
7s. 8d., is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar.
The church, originally a spacious and handsome cruciform structure,
is now a ruin; it was at one time occupied by the Presbyterians, since
whose ejectment it has not been used as a place of worship.
There
are chapels for Presbyterians, Independents, and Methodists ; the first
is in connection with the Remonstrant Synod, and of the first class.
There
are two national schools, situated at Ballycarry
and Windygap, in which are about 120 children ; and a private
school of 10 girls. R. G. Kerr, Esq., in 1825, bequeathed £200
in trust to the vicar and the senior Presbyterian minister, to divide
the interest among the poor. There is a curious hollow cave, called
the Salt Hole, into which rushes a large stream of water which
is not found again ; and in the grounds of Red Hall is a glen
of very extraordinary character. The Rev. Mr. Bryce, minister
of the first Presbyterian congregation established in Ireland, lived
and was buried here : and over the remains of a poet, known only as
the Bard of Ballycarry, a monument has been raised.
