| Type: | Village |
| Official Name: | Castlecaulfield |
| Irish Name: | Baile Uí Dhonnaíle |
| Scots Name: | Caufle |
| Static Image Name: | Main Street,Castlecaulfield - geograph.org.uk - 1803663.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Main Street, taken on 7 April 2010 |
| Map Type: | Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates: | 54.5078°N -6.8361°W |
| Population: | 659 |
| Population Ref: | (2011 Census) |
| Irish Grid Reference: | H 75422 62736 |
| Unitary Northern Ireland: | Mid Ulster |
| Country: | Northern Ireland |
| Lieutenancy Northern Ireland: | County Tyrone |
| Post Town: | DUNGANNON |
| Postcode Area: | BT |
| Postcode District: | BT70 |
| Dial Code: | 028 |
| Label Position: | none |
| Hide Services: | yes |
Castlecaulfield (Irish: Baile Uí Dhonnaíle, meaning 'town or territory of O'Donnelly'[1]) is a village in the south-east of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It lies about 2 miles west of Dungannon and is part of the Mid Ulster District Council area. The village is mostly within the townland of Drumreany, although part of it extends into Lisnamonaghan. It is situated in the historic Barony of Dungannon Middle and the civil parish of Donaghmore.[2]
The Caufeild family, from which the village derives its name (although spelt differently for the last few hundred years), were also responsible for founding the settlement of Caulfeild, West Vancouver, Canada in 1898/99.
Through the work of the 'Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society' the village was 'Village Category' winner of 'Ulster In Bloom' in 2015, 2016 and 2017. It was also 'Village Category' winner of 'Britain in Bloom' in 2016 and 2018. In 2017 the village was a category winner of 'Communities in Bloom' receiving the award in Canada. The same year 'Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society' received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Castlecaulfield was awarded 'Best Kept Small Village' in 2016 and 2017.[3]
The townland the village is in was formerly known as Ballydonnelly (Irish: Baile Uí Dhonnaíle[1]), and was the stronghold of the O'Donnelly (Uí Donnghaile) sept,[1] [4] who had held the role of marshalls to the O'Neills of Tyrone. According to Gaelic Irish tradition, the O'Donnellys were part of the Cenél nEoghain making them kin of the O'Neills. In their role as Marshalls to the O'Neills they were responsible for fostering the children of 'The O'Neill'. The O'Donnellys reached the height of their role during the time of Shane O'Neill when Dean Terrence Danyell (Turlough O'Donnelly) of Armagh played a key role in communications between Shane O'Neill and Elizabeth I. The earliest mention of Ballydonnelly is the Annals of the Four Masters in 1531 when it is said Baile-Ui-Donnghaile was assaulted by Niall Oge, son of Art, son of Con O'Neill. He demolished the castle; and he made a prisoner of the son of O'Neill, who was foster-son of O'Donnelly, and carried him off, together with the horses and the other spoils of the town.” At the start of the Plantation of Ulster, Ballydonnelly was allocated as a 'Servitor' portion and as such was granted to Sir Toby Caulfeild who had served in the Crown forces during the 'Nine Years War'. The 'castle' to which the placename refers is atypical of most Plantation structures, in that it is not the more usual fortified tower house, and was built for Sir Toby Caulfeild in the style of an Oxfordshire manor house. This manor house, called Castle Caulfield, was badly damaged by fire during the 1641 rebellion and was only reused in a limited capacity thereafter by the descendants of the Caulfeild family.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the village was a centre for the developing linen industry, and many mills and farms located in and around the village were involved in linen production. This culminated in the building of the Acheson & Smith Works (later David Acheson Ltd) in 1874. The factory was in operation until 1978/79 before closure. It was a major employer within the district.
Motorbike rider
The population of the village increased slightly overall during the 19th century:[5] [6]
| Year | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 167 | 172 | 208 | 185 | 220 | 170 |
| Houses | 37 | 45 | 43 | 37 | 38 | 40 |