placenamesCloyfin
An Chloich Fhionn
Cloyfin’s history includes the religious revival of 1859 and the long industrial life of Ballyrashane Creamery on Creamery Road.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- An Chloich Fhionn · Irish · main form · validated name
- Cloyfin · English · main form
Place & story
Prayer meetings in 1859
A report in the Coleraine Chronicle of 18 June 1859 preserves the Reverend John Alexander’s description of the religious revival around Ballyrashane. He recorded evening prayer meetings at Cloyfin, Ballyrashane meeting house and Damhead, and large gatherings elsewhere in the district. His account places Cloyfin within a network of neighbouring communities experiencing the revival, rather than attributing the events of the whole district to one settlement. [2]
Ballyrashane Creamery at Cloyfin
Lakeland Dairies identifies its Ballyrashane works at Creamery Road, Cloyfin. The creamery was established in 1896 and developed a lasting connection with milk supplied by local farms. Butter, cream and liquid milk became its characteristic products. The site’s Ballyrashane name and Cloyfin address reflect the overlapping ways in which the local dairy industry and its surrounding district are identified. [3] [4]
A new phase of investment
In June 2026, Invest Northern Ireland announced a£24.5million investment programme for the Ballyrashane works. The proposed improvements included additional capacity for packing liquid milk and producing butter, alongside measures to improve environmental performance. Invest NI offered£2.5million in support through its Agri-Food Investment Initiative. The announcement records a further planned stage in the creamery’s development, more than a century after its foundation. [5]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Cloyfin. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Cloyfin1859: transcription from the Coleraine Chronicle,18June1859 · UK Wells; report supplied by the Reverend John Alexander
- Celebrating130years of Lakeland Dairies Ballyrashane · Lakeland Dairies
- Locations and offices: Ballyrashane · Lakeland Dairies
- Lakeland Dairies announces£24.5million investment to support growth and exports,3June2026 · Invest Northern Ireland
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2010-04-19. How this page was prepared.