Rathlin

Rathlin, a crescent-shaped island off the coast of Antrim, 6½ miles N. of Ballycastle. Measuring 6½ by 1½ miles, and 3398 acres in area, it has fine cliffs, consists of columnar basalt and limestone, and attains a maximum altitude of 449 feet. The soil in the valleys is fertile, but fishing is the leading industry, the kelp-manufacture being quite extinct. Rathlin is identified with the Ricinia of Ptolemy, Ricinia of Pliny, and Raghlin or Ragherin ('fortress of Ireland') of later writers. St Columba established a church here in the 6th century; and Bruce in 1306 took refuge in a castle, now a ruin. Pop. (1841) 1039; (1891) 365.