Ballycraigy
Ballycraigy is a townland in the Civil Parish of Carnmoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located near the Sandyknowes Junction where the A8 motorway spur diverges from the M2 motorway. The neighbouring townlands are Kingsbog, Ballyearl and Ballyhenry to the east, Ballyrobert, Carnanee and Craigarogan to the west and Ballyvesey to the south. To the north it is bordered by the Belfast to Derry railway line. The townlands is the site of the Ballycraigy Housing Estate in Antrim, south of Greystone and about north of Belfast.
Ballycraigy is well known for having its own band "Ballycraigy Sons of Ulster" with purple/lilac attire for their uniform. The Ballycraigy estate is made up of mostly Protestant religious groups. Every 12 July many of them celebrate by lighting a bonfire in the centre of the estate. In 2007 there was a legal threat over the inclusion of hundreds of tyres in the bonfire with the fear that excessive toxic fumes would be emitted, however it was not possible to establish who had been involved in placing them there, and the bonfire was allowed to go ahead.
On the Ballycraigy estate is a memorial garden dedicated to Billy Wright, leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force paramilitary organisation.
Ballycraigy Manor, a country house with a tower and crenellated battlements was built here in 1869, the residence of James Chaine, a businessman involved in shipping and a Conservative Party politician.Census
According to the census for Ballycraigy ward the estate has approximately 865 residents.
