Ayrshire is a traditional county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr and Kilmarnock. The town of Troon (pop. 20,000) on the coast hosts the British Open Golf Championship every seven years, including the most recent one in 2004. Approximately 200,000 visitors come to Troon during this period.
Ayrshire is one of the most agriculturally fertile regions of Scotland. Potatoes are grown in fields near the coast, using seaweed-based fertiliser, and in addition the county produces pork products, other root vegetables, cattle (see below) and summer berries such as strawberries are grown abundantly.
It became part of the kingdom of Scotland during the 11th century. In 1263, the Scots successfully drove off a group of Norwegian Vikings in a skirmish known as the Battle of Largs.
A notable historic building in Ayrshire is Turnberry Castle , which dates from the 13th century or earlier, and which may have been the birthplace of Robert the Bruce.
Historic sub-regions of Ayrshire included:
The Ayrshire breed of cattle originated here, prior to 1800.
The newly created Strathclyde administrative Region included Ayrshire in 1975. When the two-tier system was abandoned, Ayrshire split into the council regions of East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and North Ayrshire, although the later also includes part of the county of Bute.
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, serving Glasgow, Scotland, is located in Ayrshire.
Some notable people born in Ayrshire
- Sir Thomas Brisbane (1773-1860), Scottish soldier and colonial administrator after whom the city of Brisbane, is named.
- Robert Burns (1759-1796), poet, in Alloway;
- John Dunlop, (1840-1921), Scottish inventor of the pneumatic tire, in Dreghorn.
- Andrew Fisher, (1862-1928), prime minister of Australia;
- Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), inventor/discoverer of penicillin, in Darvel;
- John Galt, (1779-1839), author;
- John McAdam, (1756-1836), engineer, responsible for a system of road design;
- Bill Shankly, (1913-1981), successful football manager
- William Wallace (c1270-1305), one of Scotland's greatest national heroes, in Ellerslie (now Elderslie).
