Lisburn

City in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the River Lagan, 14 km/9 mi from Belfast; population (2001, Lisburn Urban Area) 71,400. The main industries are engineering and the production of soft drinks, yarn and thread, and packaging; it is a busy shopping centre. Many inhabitants commute to Belfast. Lisburn was founded in the 17th century and planted with English settlers and French Huguenot refugees.

The development of the linen industry, which came to be important in the town, owed much to the Huguenot settlers. The Church of Ireland cathedral was built in 1623.

There is a monument to Bishop Jeremy Taylor (died 1667) in the cathedral; Lisburn is the seat of the bishop of Connor. Lisburn Museum, in the Assembly Rooms, has exhibitions on the linen industry; and 2 km/1 mi from Lisburn, in Lambeg village, is a linen research institute. Lisburn was made a city in 2002 after winning a national contest to mark the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Lisburn

Administrative region in the east of Northern Ireland, serving an area in the southwest of County Antrim and northwest of County Down; area 447 sq km/173 sq mi; population (2001) 108,700. The towns under the council's remit include Lisburn, Hillsborough, Dromore, Aghalee, and Moira. The principal sources of employment include textiles, aeronautical engineering, retail, agriculture, the automotive industry, packaging, and distribution.