Notable Natives
- Professor Darwin Caldwell, robotics expert and leader of iCub project
- Alexander Campbell was from the town. Campbell was a leader in the Restoration Movement.
- Sir Roger Casement, campaigner for the Congolese people and Irish revolutionary was educated in the town and his father buried there.
- Ian Cochrane, novelist.
- Sir Samuel Curran, physicist, inventor of the Scintillation Counter, and founder of Strathclyde University was born in Ballymena.
- Steven Davis, Southampton F.C. and Northern Ireland International midfielder was born in Ballymena, though raised in Cullybackey.
- Joseph Dyas, led the Forlorn Hope at the Storming of Badajoz on two occasions in 1811 whilst serving with 51st ( 2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Light Infantry. He was buried in Ballymena in 1850.
- Timothy Eaton, the Canadian businessman who founded the Eaton's department store, was born in Ballymena.
- Graham Forsythe, the Canadian artist, was born in Ballymena.
- Jackie Fullerton, BBC Sports broadcaster.
- Jamie Hamilton, motorcycle racer.
- Joanne Hogg, a vocalist, was born in Ballymena.
- David Humphreys, Ulster and Ireland fly half is from this town.
- Ian Humphreys, Ulster and Ireland fly half and brother of David.
- David Kennedy, Ireland international cricketer and top order batsman for Ballymena CC.
- Matt McCullough, Ulster and Ireland rugby lock.
- James McHenry, signatory of the United States Constitution, was also from Ballymena.
- Thomas "Tom" McKinney, Jed-Forest rugby union; Salford, Warrington, St Helens, Great Britain rugby league footballer.
- George Millar, singer, founding member of musical group The Irish Rovers, born and raised in Ballymena.
- Dr. Syd Millar, the former Ireland rugby player and current chairman of the IRB, was born in Ballymena and in 2004 was awarded the Freedom of the town.
- Colin Murdock, Accrington Stanley F.C. and former Northern Ireland International.
- Liam Neeson, the Oscar-nominated actor, was born and raised in Ballymena.
- James Nesbitt, actor, born 15 January 1965 in Ballymena.
- Ian Paisley, the Free Presbyterian Church minister and politician, was born in Armagh but raised in Ballymena.
- Mary Peters, Northern Irish Olympian, was raised in Ballymena.
- Joe Rea professional boxer, participant in Prizefighter.
- Brian Eddie Reynolds lead singer, Creation's Tears
- Nigel Worthington, the former Northern Ireland, Ballymena United and Sheffield Wednesday left back. As well as being the former International team manager.
- Alexander Wright, a Victoria Cross recipient during the Crimean War, was born in the town.
- Bryan Young, Ulster and Ireland international rugby player.
Read more about this topic: Ballymena
Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or natives:
“Every notable advance in technique or organization has to be paid for, and in most cases the debit is more or less equivalent to the credit. Except of course when it’s more than equivalent, as it has been with universal education, for example, or wireless, or these damned aeroplanes. In which case, of course, your progress is a step backwards and downwards.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“The partridge and the rabbit are still sure to thrive, like true natives of the soil, whatever revolutions occur. If the forest is cut off, the sprouts and bushes which spring up afford them concealment, and they become more numerous than ever. That must be a poor country indeed that does not support a hare. Our woods teem with them both.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)