Glenavy (from Irish: Lann Abhaigh, meaning 'Church of the dwarf'[1]) is a village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 17 kilometres north west of Lisburn on the banks of the Glenavy River. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 5,697 people. In early documents it was known as Lenavy.[1]

Glenavy Irish: Lann Abhaigh
Glenavy Catholic church
Glenavy Location within Northern Ireland
Population	5,697 (2011)
Irish grid reference	J154729
• Belfast	13 mi (21 km)
District	Lisburn
County	County Antrim
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CRUMLIN
Postcode district	BT29
Dialling code	028, +44 28
UK Parliament	South Antrim
NI Assembly	South Antrim
List of places UK Northern Ireland Antrim 54.592°N 6.214°W / 54.592; -6.214

Demography

The population of Glenavy ward on census day (27 March 2011) was 5,697 people. Of these:[2]

• 26.07% were aged under 16 years;
• 10.39% were aged 65 and over;
• the average age was 34 years;
• 49.48% of the population were male and 50.52% were female;
• 59.96% were from a Catholic "community background";
• 35.39% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background; and
• 0.86% were from an ethnic group other than white.

Transport

Glenavy railway station was opened on 13 November 1871,[3] but is no longer operational.

Sport

• Glenavy is home to an intermediate-standard football team. Crewe United is a member of the Mid-Ulster Football League.
• Glenavy is also home to St. Joseph's GAA Club.

Notable residents

• John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand in the late nineteenth century
• Samuel Hill, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Ivor Jess, disability sports campaigner
• Anne Acheson, sculptor and co-inventor of paper-mache casts for broken limbs

See also

• List of civil parishes of County Antrim

References

External links

• Glenavy history site

54°35′N 06°13′W