Overview
Armoy (Irish: Oirthear Maí) sits on the northern bank of the River Bush, in the hills behind the Antrim coast – 5.5 miles (9 km) south-west of Ballycastle and 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Ballymoney. It is a small place, just over 1,200 people, but it carries an outsized story: an early Christian round tower at one end of its history and an international road-racing dynasty at the other.
For most visitors Armoy is a short stop rather than a day out. Come for the round tower and the Armada mural, both free and in the village centre, and use it as a base for the Causeway Coast and the Dark Hedges a few minutes’ drive away. The one weekend it becomes a destination in its own right is the road race in high summer.
History
The settlement is traditionally tied to Saint Patrick, who is said to have founded a monastery on the Bush in the 5th century; finds from the 6th century confirm the site was important early on. The land was granted, by tradition, by Fergus Mór mac Eirc, remembered as Ireland’s first Christian king.
A round tower was built to keep the community safe from Viking raids. Only the 11-metre stump survives – a three-storey stone column with its doorway set five feet above the ground, reached in its day by a rope ladder that could be pulled up behind you. In the 17th century the village shifted down to the riverside to work water-powered mills. The Anglican Church of St Patrick, rebuilt in 1820 on the original monastic site, keeps some medieval fabric and a salmon-shaped weathervane; across the river, the Presbyterian church (1842) has a miniature Eiffel-tower spire topped by a Viking-ship vane – a nod to the Norse who once raided here.
Motorbike heritage
Armoy’s modern fame is built on motorbikes. In the late 1970s four local riders – Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Jim Dunlop – became the ‘Armoy Armada’ and made their name in international road racing. Their story is told in a mural by the West Belfast artist Oliver McParland, unveiled in 2020 and on permanent display in the village centre.
The Armoy Road Race is a three-mile street circuit run on the village’s own roads, with sections that echo the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT. It has been a fixture since 2009, usually in late July or early August, drawing up to 27 riders a race and fans from across the island. Buy tickets in advance, and be ready for road closures and crowds on race days – the flip side of racing through a working village.
Things to see and do
| Attraction | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Armoy Round Tower | The surviving stump of the 5th-century tower; the surrounding graveyard marks the old monastic enclosure. |
| St Patrick’s (Anglican) | Gothic basalt rubble, an 1820 rebuild, the salmon weathervane and stained-glass lancets. |
| Armoy Presbyterian Church | The Viking-ship weathervane and Eiffel-tower-inspired spire. |
| Armoy Armada Monument & Road Race Park | A riverside park to the racers, with the circuit mirroring parts of the North West 200 and the TT. |
| Gracehill House & Golf Club | A Georgian mansion (c. 1775) in parkland, with an 18-hole course among ponds and woodland. |
| The Dark Hedges (nearby) | The beech avenue made famous by Game of Thrones, a short drive from the village. |
| Limepark Farmstead | Restored Georgian cottages for self-catering, with swallows, pipistrelle bats and a yew-tree avenue in the grounds. |
| Ballypatrick Forest (nearby) | 400 ha of mixed woodland with marked trails along the River Bush – a gentle forest walk. |
Events and festivals
- Armoy Road Race – late July or early August; tickets in advance, racing over the three-mile village circuit.
- Armoy Armada mural – the tribute to the four racing legends, on permanent display in the centre since 2020.
- Summer community fair – usually August, on the village green, with local crafts, food and live music (dates vary).
Practical information
Getting there – Armoy is on the A44 (Hillside Road) between Ballycastle and Ballymoney. The nearest working railway station is Ballymoney (8 miles / 13 km) on the Belfast–Derry line; Ballycastle’s station closed for good in 1950. Ulsterbus services between Ballycastle and Ballymoney stop in Armoy.
Parking – free on-street parking in the village centre, with spaces by most of the attractions (the churches, round tower and park). Accommodation providers such as Limepark have their own parking for guests.
Accommodation – self-catering cottages and farm-stay options at Limepark make a comfortable base for families, pets and cyclists exploring the coast.
Visitor tips – the round-tower stump and churchyards are open year-round and free. The Road Race Park is open to the public outside race dates, with no entry fee. For race days, arrive early for a viewing spot and buy tickets ahead through the event’s official Facebook page. The Dark Hedges nearby get very busy and have no real parking at the avenue itself, so go early or late and park at the designated car park rather than on the road.
Nearby – the Dark Hedges, Gracehill Golf Club and Sheans Horse Farm are all within about 5 miles, which makes Armoy a handy hub for a day on the Causeway Coast. Ballypatrick Forest adds woodland walks along the River Bush.
Useful links