The Story of the Cushendall Name

The name Cushendall comes from the Irish Cois Abhann Dalla, meaning “foot of the River Dall.” Cois means “foot” or “lower end,” while abhann means “river.” The River Dall flows through the village before reaching Cushendall Bay. The name was gradually shortened and anglicized into the form we know today.

Cushendall sits in a particularly beautiful corner of County Antrim, where three of the Glens—Glenaan, Glenballyemon and Glencorp—meet the coast. The village lies beneath the distinctive slopes of Lurigethan, and its position made it a natural stopping place for travelers moving along the Antrim coast.

The settlement was known for a time as Newtownglens, but the older name Cushendall eventually returned. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the village developed into a small market and coastal settlement, with fairs, markets and fishing helping to sustain the local community.

Much of Cushendall's character today comes from the period when Francis Turnly developed the village in the early nineteenth century. Turnly had made a fortune working with the East India Company and purchased the Cushendall estate in 1809. He invested heavily in the village, building houses and creating the remarkable Curfew Tower, which still stands at the heart of Cushendall.

The village became known for its picturesque setting and was increasingly visited by travelers exploring the Antrim coast and the road toward the Giant's Causeway. By the nineteenth century, writers were praising its scenery and its position among the Glens.

Cushendall also has a long tradition of fairs and gatherings. In the nineteenth century, the village held numerous annual fairs, drawing people from the surrounding countryside and reflecting the importance of Cushendall as a local meeting place. That tradition of community celebration continues in modern times through events such as the Heart of the Glens Festival.

Today, Cushendall remains one of the most distinctive villages of the Antrim coast. Its colorful streets, historic buildings, river, bay and surrounding mountains all belong to the same story preserved in its ancient name.

Cushendall means “Foot of the River Dall”—a name that places the village exactly where it belongs, at the meeting of river, coast and the great Glens of Antrim.