ANTRIM, the most northerly county of Ireland. It is bounded by that of Down on the south-east, that of Londonderry on the west, from which it is separated by the river Bann, part of Armagh on the south, St George's channel on the east, and the Deucealedonian ocean on the north. Its greatest length is about 46 miles, its greatest breadth about 27; and it contains 972 square miles, or 622,059 English acres. Though the country is much encumbered with bogs and marshes, yet it enjoys a pretty good air; and it is well peopled, chiefly with Protestants. Where it is free from bogs the soil is fruitful. It sends five members to parliament, two for the shire, and one for each of the three principal towns, Belfast, Carrickfergus, and Lisburn.
Certain narrow valleys, called glyns, beginning here, and running a great way along the coast, belonged formerly to the Bissets, noblemen of Scotland, who having been obliged to quit that country for having assassinated Patrick earl of Athole upon a private quarrel, came hither, and had a great estate bestowed upon them by Henry III. of England; of which in the reign of Edward II. a part was forfeited by the rebellion of Hugh, then chief of the family. Another tract near this, called the Rowe, belonged anciently to the Macguillers, but now to the McDonnells, earls of Antrim.
Upon the coast of this county are the promontories
called by Ptolemy, Robogdium, Vennicinium and Boræum, now Fair Foreland, Ramshead, and St Helen's head. The river also, styled by the same author Vi-dua, and now Croodach, runs through this county.—Here, also is the remarkable natural curiosity called the GIANT'S Causeway, for a description of which see that article. See ANTRIM, SUPPLEMENT.