Cushendall History

Cushendall History
Photo of Cushendall by Art Ward
The landscape around Cushendall is scattered with traces of human settlement from the Neolithic period, the mountain of Tievebulligh has an ancient porcellanite axe quarry and Lurigethan mountain the remains of a huge bronze age fort. The Normans took the glens by force from local chieftains and held power here until the late 1300s, eventually, the Scottish MacDonnell clan through the marriage of Margery Bissett to John Mor McDonnell (Lord of the Isles) gained possession of the glens and over time expanded their power base right along the north coast. Their family burial sites are found in Bonamargie Friary at Ballycastle and at the Layde Church.
Photo of Cushendall by Art Ward
A surge of development came in the 1600s with the advent of water power and migration of settlers from Scotland. The village had been assigned to the son of Henry Knowles, vice-chamberlain and treasurer to Queen Elizabeth Ist but this was thwarted by Sorley Boy MacDonnell during a time of favour with the crown. In the early 1700s, the village belonged to the Hollow Sword Blade Company, an English company formed in 1690/91 which acquired huge areas of seized lands throughout Ireland after the victory of King William III over his father-in-law King James II. The company used a process of hollow grinding to make lighter, more easily handled swords. The process was based on a German technique and to achieve this they employed German swordsmiths.
Photo of Cushendall by Art Ward
The Hollow Sword Company itself failed but one of the swordsmith's later formed the Mohll Sword Company which was eventually taken over by the Wilkinson Sword Company.  There are references to Danish cavalry and infantry units being quartered at Solar, Glenarm, Templeoughter, Ardclinis and the Layde in 1689. They were part of a larger contingent of 7,000 troops under the command of the Duke of Wurttemberg, they spent three months in the area before the Battle of the Boyne. The cavalry section were an elite fighting force which had seen action in European conflicts, the officers may have indeed brought with them examples of those new lighter weapons which were readily available in Germany at the time.
Photo of Cushendall by Art Ward
After the failure of the Hollow Sword Blade Company the village was sold to a Dr Richardson who is remembered mainly for changing the name of Cushendall to Newtown Glens. Francis Turnly was the next owner, born in 1765, he acquired Cushendall as part of an estate which he purchased after returning from China where he worked for the East India Company. The town flourished under his ownership which led to the construction of several fine buildings in the village and surrounding area including the Curfew Tower, the Glens of Antrim Hotel and Drumnasole House. Turnly also contributed to improving the coast road, and was responsible for the Red Arch.
Photo of Cushendall by Art Ward
Cushendall once held eight fair days during the year and that tradition is kept alive today through the 'Heart of the Glens' festival which takes place over ten days each August.  The Cottage Wood adjacent to the village has nice walks through mature trees. Here you'll find a range of native and non-native species of trees and shrubs including Scots Pine, Elder, Holly, Ash, Horse Chestnut, Beech, Sycamore, Gorse, Spruce, Ivy, Laurel, Rhododendron, Elm and Fuchsia. A wide range of plants grow below the canopy, including Wood Sorrel, Primroses, Saxifrage, Wild Garlic, Celandine, Bluebells, Violets, Herb Robert, Cuckoo Flower, Stitchwort, Cow Parsley and Foxglove.
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