Cullybackey or Cullybacky () is a large village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies 3 miles north-west of Ballymena, on the banks of the River Main, and is part of Mid and East Antrim district. It had a population of 2,569 people in the 2011 Census. History Cullybackey was part of the ancient kingdom of Dál nAraidi. Evidence of ancient dwellers in the area have been found throughout the years, including the remains of Crannogs and Souterrains. Christian Missionary Mackevet erected a monastery in the area. It is said that when Mackevet first approached the Irish Chieftain MacAfee about this matter the two began to argue over it and Mackevet, who was a large man raised his fist into the chieftains face and said "I'm a man of peace, but smell that MacAfee". This won him the argument and the monastery was built, supplying the area with a place of learning for many centuries afterwards. In 1778 a Volunteers company was raised by John Dickey of Cullybackey House, They named themselves 'The Cullybackey Volunteers'. In 1847, the village contained 235 residents and contained about 50 houses. Notable people Bruce Anstey, motorcycle racer William Arthur, father of Chester A. Arthur, 21st President of the United States of America Matilda Cullen Knowles, scientist, was born here in 1864. Jessica Kurten, Olympic horse rider and representative of Ireland. Neil 'Smutty' Robinson, a well-known motorcycle racer and British 250cc Championship winner, who was killed, aged 24, in 1986. Steven Davis - Rangers and Northern Ireland Footballer. Ella Young, Celtic poet, mythologist and Feminist activist was born here in 1867. Places of interest Arthur Cottage, the ancestral home of Chester A. Arthur, 21st President of the United States, from 1881 to 1885, is close to the village, on the B62 road from Ballymena. It is a restored 18th-century farmhouse with open flax-straw thatched roof. It is usually open to the public through the spring and summer months. The old Methodist church on the banks of the river was opened in 1839 as the Original Secession Church. It later became the United Free Church of Scotland. When the United Free clergy withdrew from Ireland in 1923, the congregation became Methodists. The Cuningham Memorial Presbyterian Church Craigs Church of Ireland, which was designed by celebrated 19th-century architect Sir Charles Lanyon and built in 1840. Attached to the church is a very old graveyard which contains 'The