Coordinates: 55°12′13″N 6°31′24″W / 55.2037°N 6.5232°W / 55.2037; -6.5232

Bushmills
Irish: Muileann na Buaise[1]
Bushmills shown within Northern Ireland
Population	1,319 (2001 Census)
District	Moyle
County	County Antrim
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BUSHMILLS
Postcode district	BT57
Dialling code	028
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	North Antrim
NI Assembly	North Antrim
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Antrim

Bushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine. The village owes its name to the River Bush and to a large watermill that was built there in the early 17th century.^[1]

Demographics[link]

Bushmills is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).^[2] On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,319 people living in Bushmills.^[3] Of these:

• 19.9% were aged under 16 and 22.1% were aged 60 and over
• 49.2% of the population were male and 50.8% were female

Places of interest[link]

The village is best known as the location of the Old Bushmills Distillery, founded in 1608, which is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. The distillery's range includes the Bushmills Original and Black Bush blends and the 10, 12, 16, and 21 year old Bushmills Single Malts.

The world famous Giant's Causeway which attracts over two million visitors per year is also located a short distance away, being located 2 miles (3 km) north of the town. There is a narrow-gauge steam train running in the summer from Bushmills to the Giant's Causeway.

Transport[link]

Bushmills railway station opened on 28 January 1883, but finally closed on 1 October 1949.^[4]

Railway Access[link]

The Belfast-Derry railway line run by Northern Ireland Railways connects to Coleraine and along the branch line to Portrush. Local Ulsterbus provide connections to the railway stations. There is a scenic walk of 7 miles from Portrush alongside Dunluce Castle and the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway.

Twin towns[link]

Bushmills is twinned with Louisville, Kentucky in the United States.^[5]

Education[link]

Schools in the area include Dunluce school and Bushmills Primary School

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bushmills

• Bushmills Presbyterian Church

Vance performing in 2005 at Pete Townshend's studio.

Foy Vance is a musician from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. His first single "Gabriel and the Vagabond" was released on 18 December 2006 on Wurdamouth Records. The single's B-side was "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness". The songs "Homebird" and "Gabriel and the Vagabond" were both featured in the second season of the US TV drama Grey's Anatomy.^[1]

"Indiscriminate Act of Kindness" is featured in a TV commercial for Great Ormond Street Hospital, which was aired in the UK up until Christmas of 2006.^[2] Foy often uses alternative tunings for his guitar, for example the song "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness" he uses the tuning CGDGCe.^{[citation needed]} Foy has previously released two limited edition EPs on Wurdamouth Records, Live Sessions and the Birth of the Toilet Tour and Watermelon Oranges.^[3] His regular piano player is London based composer Jules Maxwell^{[citation needed]}.

On 21 July 2007 Foy's debut album Hope was released on Wurdamouth Records.^[4] The album track "Two Shades of Hope" contains a hidden recording of Foy's daughter Ella singing "You are my sunshine" at the end.^[5]

In 2010 Foy, along with David Holmes composed the music for a short film by director Terry George, and as a result was offered a part in the director's next feature film (Whole Lotta Sole) as a busker. The short film, entitled The Shore, won a 2012 Academy Award. Foy has also said that he will release a new EP entitled Melrose in early 2012.

Discography[link]

Album[link]

• Hope - 2007, Wurdamouth Records

EPs[link]

• Live Sessions and the Birth of the Toilet Tour - 2005
• Watermelon Oranges - 2006
• Gabriel and the Vagabond - 2006
• Be with me Remix by The Free Association - 2008
• Portraits of the Artist - 2009
• Time Lays Low - 2009
• Live with the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront Hall Belfast - 2009
• "Melrose EP" - 2012

Television[link]

On 4 June 1994 Foy appeared as Andrew Strong of The Commitments on the TV talent show Stars in Their Eyes.^[6].

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Foy Vance Website
• Foy Vance Interview
• Paste Magazine profile by writer Taylor Bruce

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