Larne
Larne
Larne is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was named when Lathar, the son of an Irish High King, was granted lands on the north eastern coastline of Ireland. The area became known as Lathar-na, or “the lands of Lathar”, anglicised to “Larne”. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is now mostly used by freight.
During the 18th century many Irish emigrated to America from the port of Larne. A monument in Curran Park commemorates the Friends Goodwill, the first emigrant ship to sail from Larne in May 1717, heading for Boston in the United States. Boston’s long-standing Irish roots can be traced to Larne. As with western and southern Ireland, Larne was hugely affected by the Irish Famine of the mid 19th century.
In 1914, Loyalists opposed to the Home Rule Act 1914 prepared for armed resistance. In an episode known as the Larne Gun Running, German weapons and ammunition were transported into the port of Larne at dead of night, and distributed all over the country.