93-458: Saint Mirin was born in 565, is also known as Mirren of Benchor (now called Bangor ), Merinus , Merryn and Meadhrán . The patron saint of the town and Roman Catholic diocese of Paisley , Scotland , he was the founder of a religious community which grew to become Paisley Abbey . The shrine of this saint in the abbey became a centre of pilgrimage . A contemporary of the better known Columba of Iona and disciple of Saint Comgall , he
186-662: A Lowland Scot , arrived in Bangor, having been granted lands in North Down by King James VI and I in 1605. In 1612, King James made Bangor a borough which permitted it to elect two MPs to the Irish Parliament in Dublin. The Old Custom House , which was completed by Hamilton in 1637 after James I granted Bangor the status of a port in 1620, is a visible reminder of the new order introduced by Hamilton and his Scots settlers. In 1689 during
279-560: A balance between land-based tourists and loch users, with environmentally sensitive areas subject to a strictly enforced 11 km/h (5.9 kn; 6.8 mph) speed limit, but the rest of the loch open to speeds of up to 90 km/h (49 kn; 56 mph). The Maid of the Loch was the last paddle steamer built in Britain. Built on the Clyde in 1953, she operated on Loch Lomond for 29 years. She
372-702: A body of freshwater in the British Isles. Many of the islands are the remains of harder rocks that withstood the passing of the glaciers; however, as in Loch Tay , several of the islands appear to be crannogs , artificial islands built in prehistoric periods. English travel writer, H.V. Morton wrote: What a large part of Loch Lomond's beauty is due to its islands, those beautiful green tangled islands, that lie like jewels upon its surface. Writing 150 years earlier than Morton, Samuel Johnson had however been less impressed by Loch Lomond's islands, writing: But as it is,
465-461: A centre of pilgrimage. In various charters and Papal Bulls Mirin is referred to as The glorious confessor, Saint Mirin . His image was engraved on the seal of the Abbey, depicting him in the vestments of a bishop . Around the seal was inscribed the prayer O Mirin, pray for your servants . In King James IV 's Charter of 1488 raising Paisley to the status of burgh of barony , one of the reasons cited
558-433: A further 11 km away, however beyond this point no road continues along the eastern shore, although there is road access to Inversnaid via another minor road that comes in from Loch Katrine to the east via the northern shore of Loch Arklet . As Loch Arklet is over 100 m above Loch Lomond and less than 2 km to the east this road must descend steeply to reach Inversnaid. The West Highland railway line joins
651-467: A large part of the frontage already demolished, leaving a patch of derelict ground facing onto the marina. A great deal of local controversy surrounds this process and the many plans put forward by the council and developers for the land. In November 2009 it was voted by UTV viewers as Ulster's Biggest Eyesore. A state of the art recycling centre has been built in Balloo Industrial Estate which
744-542: A level depth of 24 cm (9.4 in), the same morning. Inland Northern Ireland saw almost −19 °C (−2 °F), new record lows. Like much of the UK, spring 2020 was the sunniest on record. The first section of Belfast and County Down Railway line from Belfast to Holywood opened in 1848 and was extended to Bangor by the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (BHBR), opening on 1 May 1865, along with Bangor railway station . It
837-571: A major renovation of the centre began, including the construction of a multistorey car park. The trend towards out-of-town shopping centres was somewhat reversed with the construction of the Flagship Centre around 1990. The Flagship Centre went into administration and was closed in January 2019, it is currently undergoing appraisal for re-development options. The former seafront of the city is awaiting redevelopment and has been for over two decades, with
930-478: A maximum depth of about 190 metres (620 ft) in the deeper northern portion, although the southern part of the loch rarely exceeds 30 metres (98 ft) in depth. The total volume of Loch Lomond is 2.6 km (0.62 cu mi), making it the second largest lake in Great Britain, after Loch Ness , by water volume. The loch contains many islands, including Inchmurrin , the largest fresh-water island in
1023-579: A narrow, fjord-like finger lake . Further south the glaciers were able to spread across the softer Lowland sandstone , leading to a wider body of water that is rarely more than 30 m deep. In the period following the Loch Lomond Readvance the sea level rose, and for several periods Loch Lomond was connected to the sea, with shorelines identified at 13, 12 and 9 metres above sea level (the current loch lies at 8 m above sea level). The change in rock type can be clearly seen at points around
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#17328692611541116-519: A negative impact that could not be mitigated. One of the loch's islands, Inchconnachan , is home to a colony of red-necked wallabies . As well as forming part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park , Loch Lomond holds multiple other conservation designations . 428 ha of land in the southeast, including five of the islands, is designated as national nature reserve :
1209-469: A new viaduct bringing the carriageway width to modern standards. The A811 runs to the south of Loch Lomond between Balloch and Drymen , following the route of another military road at a distance of between 2 and 3 kilometres from the loch. From Drymen the B837 extends north, meeting the eastern shore of the loch at Balmaha where the road terminates. A minor road extends north as far as Rowardennan ,
1302-481: A number of intermediate clubs, including Bryansburn Rangers , Bangor Swifts , Bangor Amateurs . Bangor also has a number of junior football clubs including Bangor Young Men , 3rd Bangor Old boys FC, and Castle Juniors FC. Bangor has two hockey clubs that cater for both men's and women's hockey, respectively: Bangor RFC plays in division 2C of the All-Ireland league at Upritchard Park. Bangor has clubs such as
1395-457: A number of secondary, grammar, and primary schools in nearby towns and the vicinity of Bangor such as Crawfordsburn Primary & Groomsport Primary; Priory Integrated College , Sullivan Upper School , Regent House Grammar School , Movilla High School , Strangford College , Campbell College , and Rockport School are secondary schools. Like the rest of Northern Ireland , Bangor has a mild climate with few extremes of weather. It enjoys one of
1488-645: Is 36.4 kilometres (22.6 mi) long and between 1 and 8 kilometres (0.62–4.97 mi) wide, with a surface area of 71 km (27.5 sq mi). It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area; in the United Kingdom, it is surpassed only by Lough Neagh and Lough Erne in Northern Ireland. In the British Isles as a whole there are several larger loughs in the Republic of Ireland . The loch has
1581-648: Is a city and seaside resort in County Down , Northern Ireland , on the southern side of Belfast Lough . It is within the Belfast metropolitan area and is 13 miles (22 km) east of Belfast city centre, to which it is linked by the A2 road and the Belfast–Bangor railway line . The population was 64,596 at the 2021 census . Bangor was granted city status in 2022, becoming Northern Ireland's sixth city. Bangor Abbey
1674-419: Is a right of responsible access to the loch and its shoreline for those wishing to participate in recreational pursuits such as walking , camping , swimming and canoeing . In 2017 the national park authority introduced byelaws restricting the right to camp along much of the shoreline of Loch Lomond, due to issues such as litter and anti-social behaviour that were blamed on irresponsible campers. Camping
1767-474: Is a park which replaced Pickie Pool named Pickie Fun Park. A children's paddling pool was created as the original Pickie Pool was demolished due to the rejuvenation of Bangor seafront in the 1980s and early 1990s. Pickie Fun Park closed in early 2011 to be refurbished and modernised. The park, which reopened in March 2012, has an 18-hole maritime themed mini golf course, children's electric cars and splash pads (replacing
1860-567: Is a sheltered bay and studies have suggested that it is one of the best landing places on Belfast Lough and would therefore have made a good location for a Viking base. It is possible that the burial was associated with a Viking settlement in the area." In 1689 Field Marshal Schomberg landed with 10,000 troops either at Ballyholme Bay or at Groomsport , a little further east. On census day (21 March 2021) there were 64,596 people living in Bangor. Of these: On census day (27 March 2011) there were 61,011 people living in Bangor, accounting for 3.37% of
1953-529: Is also home to Two Door Cinema Club . Bangor is twinned with: Loch Lomond Loch Lomond ( / ˈ l ɒ x ˈ l oʊ m ən d / ; Scottish Gaelic : Loch Laomainn ) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault , often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands. Traditionally forming part of the boundary between
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#17328692611542046-490: Is now being restored at Balloch pier by the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, a charitable organisation, supported by West Dunbartonshire Council. Cruises also operate from Balloch, Tarbet, Inversnaid, Luss and Rowardennan. Loch Lomond Rescue Boat provides 24-hour safety cover on the loch. The rescue boat is a volunteer organisation and a registered charity. The national park authority also have other boats on
2139-514: Is now bypassed to the west of the village along a single carriageway bypass constructed between 1990 and 1992. At Tarbet , the A83 branches west to Campbeltown while the A82 continues to the north end of the loch. This part of the road is currently of a lower standard than the sections further south. It is sandwiched between the shoreline of the loch and the mountains to the west, and it runs generally alongside
2232-479: Is now restricted to designated areas, and campers are required to purchase a permit to camp within these areas between March and October. The byelaws were opposed by groups such as Mountaineering Scotland and Ramblers Scotland , who argued that they would criminalise camping even where it was carried out responsibly, and that the national park authority already had sufficient powers to address irresponsible behaviour using existing laws. The main arterial route along
2325-429: Is situated on the west bank of Loch Lomond. The facility is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy , and is normally in standby mode, ready to generate electricity to meet sudden peaks in demand. It is the largest conventional hydro electric power station in the UK, with an installed capacity of 152.5 MW , and can reach full-capacity within 5 minutes from a standing start. The hydraulic head between Loch Sloy and
2418-531: Is supposed to be one of the most advanced in Europe. It opened in the summer of 2008. In May 2022, it was announced that, as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours , Bangor would be granted city status by Letters Patent . It received the status on 2 December 2022, becoming Northern Ireland's sixth city, alongside Armagh , Belfast , Derry , Lisburn , and Newry . Despite escaping much of
2511-522: Is that during the Jacobite rising of 1745 a soldier on his way back to Scotland during the 1745–46 retreat from England wrote this song. The "low road" may be a reference to the Celtic belief that if someone died away from his homeland, then the fairies would provide a route of this name for his soul to return home. Within this theory, it is possible that the soldier awaiting death may have been writing either to
2604-595: Is the terminus of the North Clyde Line . Several different operators offer ferry services on the loch. Since 2004 Loch Lomond Seaplanes operates an aerial tour service from its seaplane base near Cameron. On 22 April 1940, a BOAC Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra ( Loch Invar , registration G-AFKD) aircraft flying from Perth Airport to Heston Aerodrome in London crashed at Loch Lomond, killing all five passengers and crew. The Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme
2697-509: The British Isles . Loch Lomond is a popular leisure destination and is featured in the song " The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond ". The loch is surrounded by hills, including Ben Lomond on the eastern shore, which is 974 metres (3,196 ft) in height and the most southerly of the Scottish Munro peaks. A 2005 poll of Radio Times readers voted Loch Lomond as the sixth greatest natural wonder in Britain. Loch Lomond takes its name from
2790-663: The Church of Ireland Bangor Abbey stands at the head of the city, became a centre of great learning and was among the most eminent of Europe's missionary institutions in the Early Middle Ages . At Bangor, Comgall instituted a rigid monastic rule of incessant prayer and fasting. Far from turning people away, this ascetic rule attracted thousands. When Comgall died in 602, the annals report that three thousand monks looked to him for guidance. Named Bennchor Mór , "the great Bangor", to distinguish it from its British contemporaries, it became
2883-507: The Early Medieval period viking raiders sailed up Loch Long , hauled their longboats over at the narrow neck of land at Tarbet, and sacked several islands in the loch. The area surrounding the loch later become part of the province of Lennox , which covered much of the area of the later county of Dunbartonshire . Loch Lomond became a popular destination for travellers, such that when James Boswell and Samuel Johnson visited
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2976-510: The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , a force of United Irishmen, mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee , Greyabbey and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the nearby town of Newtownards . They met with musket fire from the market house and were subsequently defeated. By the middle of the 19th century, the cotton mills had declined and the city changed in character once again. The laying of the railway in 1865 meant that inexpensive travel from Belfast
3069-689: The Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve . Seven islands and much of the shoreline form a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Loch Lomond Woods . This designation overlaps partially with the national nature reserve, and is protected due to the presence of Atlantic oak woodlands and a population of otters . Four islands and a section of the shoreline are designated as a Special Protection Area due to their importance for breeding capercaillie and visiting Greenland white-fronted geese : this designation overlaps partially with both
3162-883: The Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club which is the venue for Northern Ireland's Elite Sailing Facility. North Down Softball Club (previously Bangor Buccaneers Softball Club, est. 2014) compete in the Softball Ulster League. Based at Ward Park the club comprises three competitive teams; the Buccaneers, the Barracudas (2023) & the Sluggers (2024) Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex includes Northern Ireland's only Olympic-size swimming pool . The city has created an environment which has supported local musicians, such as Foy Vance and Snow Patrol . It
3255-614: The Viking burial found on Ballyholme beach, to the Victorian pleasure seekers who travelled on the new railway from Belfast to take in the sea air . The city has been the site of a Gaelic Irish monastery renowned throughout Europe for its learning and scholarship, the victim of violent Viking raids in the 8th and 9th centuries, and the new home of Scottish and English planters during the Plantation of Ulster . The Annals of Ulster says that
3348-489: The West Highland Line . The road narrows to less than 7.3 metres (24 ft) in places and causes significant problems for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), which have to negotiate tight bends and the narrow carriageway width. At Pulpit rock, the road was single-track , with traffic flow controlled by traffic lights for over 30 years. The road was widened in 2015 as part of a £9 million improvement programme, including
3441-660: The Williamite War in Ireland , Marshal Schomberg 's expedition landed at Ballyholme Bay and captured Bangor, before going on to besiege Carrickfergus . Schomberg's force went south to Dundalk Camp and were present at the Battle of the Boyne the following year. The city was an important source of customs revenue for the Crown and in the 1780s Colonel Robert Ward improved the harbour and promoted
3534-403: The counties of Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire , Loch Lomond is split between the council areas of Stirling , Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire . Its southern shores are about 23 kilometres (14 mi) northwest of the centre of Glasgow , Scotland's largest city. The Loch forms part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park which was established in 2002. Loch Lomond
3627-627: The monastery of Bangor was founded by Saint Comgall from Antrim in the year 555, while other annals give the year as 558. It was where the Antiphonary of Bangor ( Antiphonarium Benchorense) was written, a copy of which can be seen in the town's heritage centre . The monastery had such widespread influence that the city is one of only four places in Ireland to be named in the Hereford Mappa Mundi in 1300. The monastery, situated roughly where
3720-464: The Eisenhower Pier. With the growing popularity of inexpensive foreign holidays from the 1960s onwards, Bangor declined as a tourist resort and was forced to rethink its future. The second half of the 20th century saw its role as a dormitory town for Belfast become more important. Its population increased dramatically; from around 14,000 in 1930 it had reached 40,000 by 1971 and 58,000 by the end of
3813-565: The Irish railway system by closure of the Belfast Central Railway line from Ballymacarrett Junction (east of Queen’s Quay station in Belfast) to Central Junction, just west of the former GNR(I) Great Victoria Street station . Fortunately the connection was rebuilt in 1976 to allow Bangor line services to transfer to Belfast Central (now Lanyon Place) and run directly through to the rest of
Saint Mirin - Misplaced Pages Continue
3906-457: The Loch Lomond area around 5000 years ago, during the neolithic era. They left traces of their presence at places around the loch, including Balmaha, Luss, and Inchlonaig. Crannogs , artificial islands used as dwellings for over five millennia, were built at points in the loch. The Romans built a double-row of defense forts within sight of the loch at Drumquhassle in the first century, and
3999-659: The Lord at Paisley was erected in 2003 opposite St Mirin's Cathedral at the junction of Incle Street, Gauze Street and Glasgow Road in Paisley. A bronze statue of the saint was mounted on the pedestal and was unveiled on the saint's day, 15 September 2007, by the Provost of Renfrewshire Councillor Celia Lawson in the presence of the Bishop of Paisley the Rt Rev Philip Tartaglia ,
4092-776: The Minister of Paisley Abbey the Rt Rev Alan Birss, the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Jim Sheridan MP, Hugh Henry MSP, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire James Wardrop and the sculptor Norman Galbraith. The erection and unveiling of the statue were co-ordinated by Daniel McKendry on behalf of the Mirin Project. Bangor, Northern Ireland Bangor ( / ˈ b æ ŋ ɡ ər / BANG -gər ; from Irish Beannchar [ˈbʲaːn̪ˠəxəɾˠ] )
4185-716: The NI total. Of these: Bangor had an estimated Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) of the equivalent of $ US678 million in 2015. Colleges and schools in the area include South Eastern Regional College , Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College , Bangor Grammar School , Glenlola Collegiate School , and St Columbanus' College . Primary schools include Towerview Primary School, Clandeboye Primary, Ballyholme Primary School, Kilmaine Primary , St Malachy's Primary, St Comgall's Primary, Grange Park Primary, Ballymagee Primary, Bloomfield Primary, Kilcooley Primary, Rathmore Primary, Towerview Primary, and Bangor Central Integrated Primary School. There are also
4278-456: The Northern Ireland railway network. Today the Belfast–Bangor line is operated by Translink 's Northern Ireland Railways , which runs trains to either Belfast or Portadown . Bangor is served by Ulsterbus , which aside from local town services, provides daily services to Belfast, Newtownards , Holywood and Donaghadee . In football, NIFL Championship sides Ards and Bangor play at Clandeboye Park on Clandeboye Road. Bangor also has
4371-519: The actions of anglers on the loch and ensure angling is carried out in accordance with permit conditions. Loch Lomond Golf Club is situated on the south-western shore. It has hosted many international events including the Scottish Open . Another golf club, "The Carrick" has opened on the banks of the Loch adjacent to the Loch Lomond Club. The West Highland Way runs along the eastern bank of
4464-632: The area, the Clandeboye Estate , which is a few miles from the city centre, belonged to the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava . Bangor hosts the Royal Ulster and Ballyholme yacht clubs . Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status. The name Bangor comes from Irish : Beannchar , from Middle Irish : Beannchor and Old Irish : Bennchor . This is thought to mean 'place of points' or 'horned curve', referring to
4557-559: The century (the 2001 census showed the population as 76,403). The 1970s saw the building of the Springhill Shopping Centre, an out-of-town development near the A2 road to Belfast and Northern Ireland's first purpose-built shopping centre . It has since been demolished to facilitate a modern Tesco supermarket. In the early 1990s, Bloomfield Shopping Centre, another out-of-town development, opened beside Bloomfield Estate . In 2007,
4650-573: The city became a location for sea bathing and marine sports, and the number of visitors from Great Britain increased during the Edwardian era at the beginning of the 20th century, which also saw the improvement of Ward Park . The inter-war period of the early 20th century saw the development of the Tonic Cinema , Pickie Pool and Caproni's ballroom . All three were among the foremost of their type in Ireland , although they no longer exist. However, there
4743-453: The cotton industries; today's seafront was the location of several large steam-powered cotton mills, which employed a large workforce. The end of the 18th century was a time of great political and social turmoil in Ireland. The United Irishmen , inspired by the American and French Revolutions , sought to achieve a greater degree of independence from Britain . On the morning of 10 June during
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#17328692611544836-458: The entire global population of Greenland white-fronted geese (around 200 individuals), and up to 3,000 greylag geese . In January 2023 RSPB Scotland released a family of beavers into the southeastern area of the loch under licence from NatureScot . The beaver family, consisting of an adult pair and their five offspring, were translocated from a site in Tayside, where beaver activity was having
4929-498: The explosion; the cost of the damage was later estimated at £2 million, as there was extensive damage to retail premises and Trinity Presbyterian Church, as well as minor damage to the local Church of Ireland Parish Church and First Bangor Presbyterian Church. The shield is emblazoned with two ships, which feature the Red Hand of Ulster on their sails, denoting that Bangor is in the province of Ulster . The blue and white stripes on
5022-546: The final stages of the last ice age , during a return to glacial conditions known as the Loch Lomond Readvance between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago. The loch lies on the Highland Boundary Fault , and the difference between the Highland and Lowland geology is reflected in the shape and character of the loch: in the north the glaciers dug a deep channel in the Highland schist , removing up to 600 m of bedrock to create
5115-513: The greatest monastic school in Ulster as well as one of the three leading monasteries of Celtic Christianity . The others were Iona , the great missionary centre founded by Columba , and Bangor on the Dee, founded by Dinooth; the ancient Welsh Triads also confirm the "Perpetual Harmonies" at the house. Throughout the sixth century, Bangor became famous for its choral psalmody . "It was this music which
5208-535: The highest peak in the area, Ben Lomond , Scottish Gaelic : Beinn Laomainn , meaning ‘beacon mountain’ i.e. a site for warning beacons. However, the region in which the loch is located is Scottish Gaelic : Leamhnacht anglicised as Lennox and Loch Lomond "was of old Loch Leamhna " after the River Leven which means ‘elm water’ in Gaelic. The depression in which Loch Lomond lies was carved out by glaciers during
5301-504: The horn-casting". Bangor Bay was originally called Inber Beg (Inver Beg), 'the little inlet or rivermouth', after the now-culverted stream which ran past the abbey. It was also recorded as Inber Bece . The area was also known as 'The Vale of Angels', as Saint Patrick is said to have once rested there and had a vision of angels . Bangor has a long and varied history, from the Bronze Age people whose swords were discovered in 1949 or
5394-419: The house which became one of the largest monasteries in Europe. Saint Malachy was elected abbot of the monastery in 1123, a year before being consecrated Bishop of Connor . His extensive travels around Europe inspired him to rejuvenate the monasteries in Ireland, and he replaced the existing wooden huts with stone buildings. The modern city had its origins in the early 17th century when James Hamilton ,
5487-429: The island of Inchmurrin (i.e. Mirin's Island) in Loch Lomond and a farm called Knockmurran (i.e. Mirin's Hill) near Coylton in Ayrshire are named after him. St Mirin's Well can be found near Kilsyth in Stirlingshire . A pedestal of blond sandstone , designed by landscape architect Daniel McKendry, bearing the inscription taken from the Aberdeen Breviary At Length Full of Sanctity and Miracles, Mirin Slept in
5580-503: The islands of Loch Lomond on the return from their tour of the Western Isles in 1773, the area was already firmly enough established as a destination for Boswell to note that it would be unnecessary to attempt any description. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland's premier boating and watersports venues, with visitors enjoying activities including kayaking , Canadian canoeing , paddle boarding , wake boarding , water skiing and wake surfing . The national park authority has tried to achieve
5673-482: The islets, which court the gazer at a distance, disgust him at his approach, when he finds, instead of soft lawns and shady thickets, nothing more than uncultivated ruggedness. The Scottish dock ( Rumex aquaticus ), sometimes called the Loch Lomond dock, is in Britain unique to the shores of Loch Lomond, being found mostly on around Balmaha on the eastern shore of the loch. It was first discovered growing there in 1936 (else it grows eastwards through Europe and Asia all
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#17328692611545766-417: The king fell ill and roared in pain for three days and nights. In desperation the king sought out Mirin and granted him all he wished, including the right to go out and preach the Gospel to the men of his camp. In response to these concessions St Mirin prayed on his behalf and he was freed from his pain. Around 580 he was appointed to the west of Scotland and, after a long and difficult journey, arrived where
5859-470: The loch is the A82 road which runs the length of its western shore, following the general route of the Old Military Road. The road runs along the shoreline in places, but generally keeps some distance to the west of the loch in the "lowland" section to the south. Much of the southern section of the road was widened to a high quality single carriageway standard over the 1980s, at an estimated cost of £24 million (£102 million as of 2023), while Luss itself
5952-484: The loch such as The Brigadier . Police Scotland also operates on the loch using RIBs and jet skis and work in conjunction with the national park authority. The loch has served as the venue for the Great Scottish Swim , which is held each year in August. Fly and coarse fishing on Loch Lomond is regulated by the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association (LLAIA), who issue permits to members and visiting anglers. The association employ water bailiffs to monitor
6045-499: The loch, and Inveruglas on the western bank is the terminus of the Loch Lomond and Cowal Way . The West Loch Lomond Cycle Path runs from Arrochar and Tarbet railway station , at the upper end of the loch, to Balloch railway station , at the south end. The 17-mile-long (28 km) long cycle path runs along the west bank. At the southern end of the loch near Balloch is a large visitor and shopping complex named Loch Lomond Shores. As with all land and inland water in Scotland there
6138-420: The loch, as it runs across the islands of Inchmurrin , Creinch , Torrinch and Inchcailloch and over the ridge of Conic Hill . To the south lie green fields and cultivated land; to the north, mountains. The loch contains thirty or more other islands, depending on the water level. Several of them are large by the standards of British bodies of freshwater. Inchmurrin , for example, is the largest island in
6231-493: The monastery and thus became the prior of Bangor Abbey, where he accepted visitors and sojourners. Later on, St Mirin travelled to the camp of the High King of Ireland with the purpose of spreading the Christian faith . Having heard of Mirin's arrival, the king refused to allow the saint to enter the camp. Mirin, thus slighted, was said to have prayed to God that the king might feel his wife's labour pangs, her time being near. The legend continues that, just as St Mirin had prayed,
6324-419: The national nature reserve and the SAC. Loch Lomond is also a designated Ramsar site , again for the presence of Greenland white-fronted geese. The loch and its surrounding are designated as a national scenic area , one of forty such areas in Scotland, which have been defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development. People first arrived in
6417-455: The north east of Bangor is Ballyholme Bay, named for the township of Ballyholme in the east of the town. During World War II the bay was used as a base for American troops training for the Normandy Landings . Two ships have been named SS Ballyholme Bay . In 1903 a Viking grave was found on the shore at Ballyholme Bay: it contained two bronze brooches, a bowl, a fragment of chain and some textile material. It has been said that "Ballyholme Bay
6510-407: The old children's paddling pool). Also, the Pickie Puffer steam train has been given an updated route and the swans have a new lagoon. During World War II , General Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed Allied troops in Bangor, who were departing to take part in the D-Day landings . In 2005, his granddaughter Mary-Jean Eisenhower came to the city to oversee the renaming of the marina's North Pier to
6603-464: The outflow into Loch Lomond at Inveruglas is 277 m. The loch is featured in a well-known song which was first published around 1841. The chorus is: The song has been recorded by many performers over the years. The original author is unknown. One story is that the song was written by a Scottish soldier who awaited death in enemy captivity; in his final letter home, he wrote this song, portraying his home and how much he would miss it. Another tale
6696-452: The record high is 28.8 °C (83.8 °F), owing to the moderating influence of the sea. The lowest recorded temperature is −6.2 °C (20.8 °F). Temperatures above 25 °C (77 °F) in Bangor can be uncomfortable due to the high humidity, with an apparent temperature in the high 20s. Bangor has had a number of extreme weather events, including hot summers in 2006, 2013 and 2018. The summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009 were some of
6789-509: The sea, the river lamprey here remain in freshwater all their lives, hatching in the Endrick Water and migrating into the loch as adults. The surrounding hills are home to species such as black grouse , ptarmigan , golden eagles , pine martens , red deer and mountain hares . Many species of wading birds and water vole inhabit the loch shore. During the winter months large numbers of geese migrate to Loch Lomond, including over 1% of
6882-582: The sectarian violence during The Troubles , Bangor was the site of some major incidents. During the Troubles there were eight murders in the city including that of the first Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) woman to be murdered on duty; 26-year-old Mildred Harrison was killed by an explosion from a UVF bomb while on foot patrol in the High Street on 16 March 1975. On 23 March 1972 the IRA detonated two large car bombs on
6975-400: The shield show that Bangor is a seaside city. Supporting the shield are two sea-horses, signifying Bangor's links with the sea. Each is charged with a gold roundel; the left featuring a shamrock to represent Ireland , and the right featuring a bull's head, possibly in reference to the derivation of the city's name. The arms are crested by a haloed St Comgall , founder of the city's abbey, who
7068-553: The shoreline of Bangor Bay. The Old Irish tale, Táin Bó Fraích , gives a fanciful explanation for the name. It tells how the Connacht warrior Fráech and the Ulster warrior Conall Cernach were returning to Ireland from the Alps with Fráech's cattle. When they came to shore at what is now Bangor Bay, the cattle shed their horns, thus giving rise to the name Trácht mBennchoir , "the strand of
7161-520: The sunniest climates in Northern Ireland , and receives about 970 millimetres (38 in) of rain per year. Snow is rare but occurs at least once or twice in an average winter and frost is not as severe as areas further inland. This is due to the mild winters and close proximity to the sea. Winter maxima are about 8 °C (46 °F) but can reach as high as 17 °C (63 °F). Average maxima in summer are around 20 °C (68 °F), and
7254-509: The town centre. He is also commemorated by St Mirren Street which links Paisley Cross to Causeyside Street. Since the closure of St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School (formerly St Mirin's Academy) in 2001, there has been no school in the town dedicated to the saint. However, there is a St Mirin's Primary School in the Simshill area of the neighbouring city of Glasgow . Elsewhere in Scotland ,
7347-467: The town of Paisley now stands. The area had recently been abandoned by the Romans and was in the possession of a powerful local chieftain. This chief took a liking to Mirin and the saint was allotted a small field near the river in the southern part of town. This plot was called St Mirin's Croft. He founded the first church in Paisley, thought to be at Seedhill and after his death the shrine of Saint Mirin became
7440-559: The town's main street. On 30 March 1974, paramilitaries carried out a major incendiary bomb attack on the main shopping centre in Bangor. On 21 October 1992, an IRA unit from the lower Ormeau exploded a 200-pound (91 kg) bomb in Main Street, causing large amounts of damage to nearby buildings. Main Street sustained more damage on 7 March 1993, when the IRA exploded a 500-pound (230 kg) car bomb. Four RUC officers were injured in
7533-521: The way to Japan). Powan are one of the commonest fish species in the loch, which has more species of fish than any other loch in Scotland, including lamprey , lampern , brook trout , perch , loach , common roach and flounder . The river lamprey of Loch Lomond display an unusual behavioural trait not seen elsewhere in Britain: unlike other populations, in which young hatch in rivers before migrating to
7626-452: The west of Scotland , where he died "full of sanctity and miracles". In 590, the fiery Colombanus , one of Comgall's leaders, set out from Bangor with twelve other brothers, including Saint Gall who planted monasteries throughout Switzerland. In Burgundy, Columbanus established a severe monastic rule at Luxeuil which mirrored that of Bangor. From there he went to Bobbio in Italy and established
7719-582: The western shore of the loch just north of Arrochar and Tarbet railway station . There is a further station alongside the loch at Ardlui . This line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The railway system also reaches the loch at Balloch railway station , which
7812-520: The wettest on records with flooding in June 2007. The Autumn of 2006 was also the warmest recorded. December 2010 saw record snowfall fall on the town, with temperatures below −7 °C (19 °F). On 21 December 2010 an unofficial weather station staffed by a retired meteorological officer in the Springhill area recorded a low of −8.1 °C (17.4 °F), and a high of −2.0 °C (28.4 °F). Snow lay to
7905-450: Was prior of Bangor Abbey in County Down , Ireland before making his missionary voyage to Scotland . Much of what is known about Mirin is difficult to separate from fable, however it is believed that he was of noble birth. While still a young boy, his mother took him to the monastery of Bangor Abbey in County Down in the north east of Ireland , where he was placed under the care of St. Comgall . St Mirin later took oversight of
7998-580: Was "the singular respect we have for the glorious confessor, Saint Mirin". There is a chapel within Paisley Abbey , dedicated to Mirin containing a sculptured stone frieze depicting the life of the saint. The Roman Catholic St Mirin's Cathedral is also named in his honour. St Mirren F.C. , a football club from Paisley , is named after him. The St Mirin Burn flows into the White Cart Water close to
8091-524: Was acquired by the BCDR in 1884. and closed to goods traffic on 24 April 1950. Bangor West railway station was opened by the BCDR on 1 June 1928. Most of the BCDR's network was shut down by its successor, the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) in 1950, two years after nationalisation and only the branch to Bangor survived. The line received a further blow in 1965 when it was isolated from the rest of
8184-456: Was an important and influential monastery founded in the 6th century by Saint Comgall . Bangor grew during the 17th century Plantation of Ulster , when many Scottish settlers arrived. Today, tourism is important to the local economy, particularly in the summer months, and plans are being made for the long-delayed redevelopment of the seafront; a notable historical building in the city is Bangor Old Custom House . The largest plot of private land in
8277-441: Was an important figure in the spread of Christianity . The motto reads Beannchor , the archaic form of the city's name in Irish. Bangor is administered by Ards and North Down Borough Council which is based at Bangor Castle . Bangor lies on the east coast of Northern Ireland, on the south shore of the mouth of Belfast Lough , north east of central Belfast . Bangor city includes the following townlands : The sea area to
8370-554: Was built to protect themselves against the Highland tribes during their invasion of Scotland . Known as a “glen-blocker” fort, it dates back to the Flavian dynasty (69 – 96 AD). The crannog known as "The Kitchen", located off the island of Clairinsh , may have later been used as a place for important meetings by Clan Buchanan whose clan seat had been on Clairinsh since 1225: this usage would be in line with other crannogs such as that at Finlaggan on Islay , used by Clan Donald . During
8463-482: Was carried to the continent by the Bangor missionaries in the following century". Divine services of the seven hours of prayer were carried out throughout Bangor's existence, however the monks went further and carried out the practice of laus perennis. In the twelfth century, Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of Comgall and Bangor, stating, "the solemnization of divine offices was kept up by companies, who relieved each other in succession, so that not for one moment day and night
8556-403: Was possible, and working-class people could afford for the first time to holiday in the city. Bangor soon became a fashionable resort for Victorian holidaymakers, as well as a desirable home to the wealthy. Many of the houses overlooking Bangor Bay (some of which have been demolished to make way for modern flats) date from this period. The belief in the restorative powers of the sea air meant that
8649-593: Was there an intermission of their devotions." This continuous singing was antiphonal in nature, based on the call and response reminiscent of Patrick's vision, but also practised by St. Martin's houses in France. Many of these psalms and hymns were later written down in the Antiphonary of Bangor which came to reside in Colombanus' monastery at Bobbio , Italy. In 580, a Bangor monk named Mirin took Christianity to Paisley in
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