Troon

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Troon
population= 14,766 (2001 Census)
os_grid_reference= NS345255
latitude=55.49
longitude=-4.61
map_type= Scotland
unitary_scotland= South Ayrshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Ayrshire and Arran
constituency_westminster= Central Ayrshire
constituency_scottish_parliament= Ayr
post_town= Troon
postcode_district = KA10
postcode_area= KA
dial_code= 01292

Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on the west coast, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services — the P&O Express to Larne and a yacht marina. In May 2006, a ferry service to Campbeltown was added.

In the 2001 census the population of Troon, not including the nearby village of Loans but including the Barassie area, was estimated at 14,766 — a 4.77% increase on the 1991 estimate of 14,094 [General Register Office for Scotland] .

Troon is famous for its Royal Troon golf course, one of the hosts to the Open Golf Championship. The course is chosen to host this annual event roughly every seven years.

Troon Harbour played a notable part in the development of the town for many years. It was home to the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, which constructed many vessels for worldwide customers but mainly small passenger and various merchant vessels. The fishing fleet from Ayr moved to Troon Harbour and a revitalisation of the abandoned section of the harbour started. An approach road was constructed to connect to a P&O terminal which operates a service to Ireland. The Seacat high speed ferry service briefly operated from Troon Harbour but has now ended.

Troon Harbour is now a fishing port, yachting marina, seasonal passenger ferry port and Ro-Ro ferry terminal for timber and containers. The shipbuilding industry at Troon Harbour ended in 2000 [ [http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/Ayrshire/troon-harbour.asp Visit Ayrshire and Arran: Troon Harbour and Marina] ] .

The name 'Troon' is derived from the Gaelic "An t-Sron", meaning 'The Nose' or 'The bill' and a look at a map shows how it got this name. This could equally, however, have derived from Old Welsh. In various deeds, the spelling is given as "Trune", "Trone", "Truyn", and "Trwyn". Nevertheless, the Scots Gaelic etymology is consistent with that of Stranraer (An t-Sròn Reamhar - The Fat Nose) located further south on the coast. [I.M. McIntosh, Old Troon, 1969]

The town is served by Troon railway station. Troon has its own secondary school, Marr College.

Troon is also the birthplace of C.K. Marr, who left a considerable fortune upon death to the people of Troon. [ [http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/MERC/page6.html Marr Educational Resources Centre] ]

eaCat service

SeaCat were most notable for opening Troon as a passenger harbour back in 1999. They were "copied" by P&O Irish Sea in 2003. SeaCat closed the following year in 2004.

Notable residents

* Johnny Adair, loyalist paramilitary and former member of the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/northernirelandassembly/story/0,,1713177,00.html 'I'm no threat to anyone.' Why the war is over for Mad Dog Adair] — "The Guardian" newspaper article, 19 February 2006.]
*Alan Hutton, footballerFact|date=August 2008
*Colin Montgomerie, golferFact|date=August 2008
*Gary Jardine, fisherFact|date=August 2008
*Andrew Cotter, BBC Sports BroadcasterFact|date=August 2008
*Liam James Troon, local bush man with a passion for fashionFact|date=September 2008
*Richard McTaggart, boxerFact|date=August 2008
*Ronni Ancona, actressFact|date=August 2008

Further reading

* McPherson, I (2000) "Old Troon"
* Wylie, Stewart C. and Wilson, James (1991) "Troon in Old Picture Postcards"
* MacIntosh, I.M. (1969) "Old Troon"

References

ee also

* Colin Montgomerie - Golfer
* Gordon Brown (rugby player) - the legendary "Broon frae Troon"
* James Logan (footballer) - Footballer
* Laigh Milton viaduct - the Kilmarnock and Troon rail-way or tramway.

External links

*http://www.welcometotroon.uk.com
*http://www.troon-promotions.com [Click on the above for Troon Business, Tourism & Community Information ]