Armoy is a small village between Ballymoney and Ballycastle, on the River Bush, sitting between two of the nine Glens of Antrim - Glenshesk and Glentaisie - in the shadow of Knocklayd mountain. It’s a genuine waypoint on the road to several better-known Causeway Coast stops, but it has a real story of its own worth stopping for.
The Armoy Armada
In the late 1970s, four road racers from this small village - Joey Dunlop, his brother Jim Dunlop, Mervyn Robinson, and Frank Kennedy - became known as the Armoy Armada, racing together from 1977 to 1979. Joey Dunlop went on to become one of the most successful road racers in history (see this site’s Ballymoney guide for his full record), but the Armada’s shared roots in this one small village became a genuine inspiration for the generation of Northern Irish road racers who followed.
The Armoy Road Races
That legacy lives on today as the Armoy Road Races - The Race of Legends, held annually since 2009 on the last Friday and Saturday of July. Up to 27 motorcyclists race a 3-mile course along public roads through the village itself, drawing thousands of visitors to what’s otherwise a quiet rural spot for the rest of the year.
Getting There
Armoy sits on the A44 between Ballymoney and Ballycastle, a natural stop if you’re driving the road route to Ballycastle, Kinbane Castle, or the wider Causeway Coast from the Ballymoney direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Armoy known for? The Armoy Armada, a group of four road racers from the village who raced together in the late 1970s, including Joey Dunlop, and the annual Armoy Road Races held in their honour since 2009.
When are the Armoy Road Races? The last Friday and Saturday of July each year.
