Cookstown Explained

Official Name:Cookstown
Irish Name:An Chorr Chríochach
Scots Name:Cookestoun[1] or Cookstoon[2]
Static Image Name:Cookstown crest.jpg
Static Image Width:120px
Static Image Caption:Cookstown coat of arms
Static Image Alt:Coat of arms with a silver knight's helmet crowned by flames from which arises a firebird. Below the helmet, a shield bears two red right gloves beside a simple castle, above icons of twin bundles of flowers and a gear. A banner with the word FORWARD unfurls below the shield. Leaf-like decoration extends from the helmet, as a surround.
Map Type:Northern Ireland
Coordinates:54.647°N -6.745°W
Belfast Distance:47 miles
Unitary Northern Ireland:Mid-Ulster
Population:12,546
Population Ref:(2021 Census)
Irish Grid Reference:H8178
Country:Northern Ireland
Post Town:COOKSTOWN
Postcode Area:BT
Postcode District:BT80
Dial Code:028
Constituency Westminster:Mid Ulster
Constituency Ni Assembly:Mid Ulster
Lieutenancy Northern Ireland:County Tyrone
Website:http://www.midulstercouncil.org

Cookstown (ga|An Chorr Chríochach,[3] in Irish pronounced as /ənˠ ˌxoːɾˠ ˈçɾʲiːxəx/) is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the fourth-largest town in the county and had a population of 12,546 in the 2021 census. It, along with Magherafelt and Dungannon, is one of the main towns in the Mid-Ulster council area. It was founded around 1620 when the townlands in the area were leased by an English ecclesiastical lawyer, Dr. Alan Cooke, from the Archbishop of Armagh, who had been granted the lands after the Flight of the Earls during the Plantation of Ulster. It was one of the main centres of the linen industry west of the River Bann, and until 1956 the flax-related processes of spinning, weaving, bleaching and beetling were carried out in the town.

History

In 1609 land was leased to an English ecclesiastical lawyer, Dr Cooke, who fulfilled the covenants entered in the lease by building houses on the land. In 1628, King Charles I granted Letters Patent to Cooke permitting the holding of a twice-weekly market for livestock and flaxen goods.[4]

In 1641, the native Irish revolted against the Planters in a bloody rebellion and the town was destroyed.[4] The rebellion had a devastating effect on the town and development ceased for nearly a century. Over the succeeding years, the lands around Cookstown were progressively bought up by William Stewart of Killymoon until in 1671 all of Dr Cooke's lands were in the hands of the Stewart family. William Stewart and later his son James set out plans for the town soon after this. Inspired by the Wide Streets Commission's work in Dublin, they planned a new town to be built along a tree lined boulevard which was to be wide.[4]

In 1802, Colonel William Stewart (James Stewart's unmarried son) approached the London architect, John Nash, and requested that he visit the area to rebuild Killymoon Castle.[5] Nash also designed the Rectory at Lissan for the Rev John Molesworth Staples in 1807.[6]

With the establishment of Gunning's Linen Weaving Mill, with over 300 looms, Cookstown developed in the 19th century as the local centre of the linen trade.[7] Two railways established terminus railway stations at Cookstown - the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1856-1955) and the Great Northern Railway (1879-1959).[7]

Prominent developments in the second half of the 19th century included J.J. McCarthy's Church of the Holy Trinity on Chapel Street.[8]

On 17 June 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) raided the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in Cookstown,[9] with help from four sympathetic RIC officers. In a brief firefight, IRA member Patrick Loughran was killed. He was the first IRA man killed on active service in what became Northern Ireland.[10] [11]

Cookstown Town Hall was designed by the town surveyor, Charles Geoffrey Birtwell, and built on the Burn Road by James Corrigan of Pomeroy: it was officially opened on 27 May 1953.[12]

During the Troubles, Cookstown suffered from several bomb attacks: on 2 November 1990 an off duty soldier from the Ulster Defence Regiment was killed by a car bomb.[13]

Cookstown Town Hall was demolished in 1998[14] and the Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre opened on the site in 2000.[15]

Places of interest

Politics

In elections for the Westminster Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly it is part of the Mid Ulster constituency.[25]

The local authority, Cookstown District Council, was established in 1973, and included part of County Londonderry, notably the villages of Moneymore, The Loup and Ballyronan.[26]

As part of the Local Government Reform (NI) Cookstown District Council merged with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and Magherafelt District Council to form a larger Mid-Ulster District Council in 2015.[27]

Townlands

The following is a list of townlands within Cookstown's urban area, alongside their likely etymologies:[28]

Cookstown townland

Cookstown townland itself is situated in the historic barony of Dungannon Upper and the civil parish of Derryloran and covers an area of 217 acres.[29]

The population of the townland increased overall during the 19th century:[30]

Year 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891
Population 27 - 16 123 119 93
Houses 5 1 4 23 28 22

Sport

Motorcycling

The town plays host to the Cookstown 100 Road Races, the longest running motorcycle road race in Ireland.[31] Held in April of each year the races are seen as the curtain raiser to the Irish National Road Racing Championship.[32]

Gaelic Football

Cookstown Fr. Rock's, the local Gaelic Athletic Association club,[33] won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship in 2013.[34]

Association Football

Local association football clubs include Cookstown Olympic F.C. (an intermediate-level football club),[35] Mid-Ulster Ladies F.C. (a women's football club),[36] Killymoon Rangers F.C.,[37] Coagh United F.C. and Sofia Farmer F.C. (clubs in the Cookstown District that play in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League).[38]

Hockey

Cookstown Hockey Club is the town's field hockey team.[39]

Demography

19th century population

The population of the town increased during the 19th century:[40] [41]

Year 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891
Population 3006 2993 3257 3501 3870 3841
Houses 550 576 600 728 822 835

Cookstown is classified as a medium town (i.e. with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people) by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).[42]

2021 Census

On census day in 2021 there were 12,546 people living in Cookstown.[43] Of these:

2011 Census

On census day (27 March 2011) there were 11,599 people living in Cookstown.[49] Of these:

2001 Census

On census day (29 April 2001) there were 10,646 people living in Cookstown. Of these:

Education

Secondary schools serving the area include Cookstown High School[51] and Holy Trinity College, Cookstown.[52]

At third level, the Loughry Campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise is 2miles south of Cookstown.[53] South West College (a technical college) is also in the area.[54]

Healthcare

The first community hub for primary care in the province is to be established in the town, backed by four local GP practices and the health board. It is to incorporate scanning facilities, a minor surgery suite, a pharmacy, out-of-hours consultations and community healthcare partnerships, with the possibility of developing supported living accommodation for older people.[55]

Notable people

Arts

Business

Sport

Politics

Medical

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cookstown District Council . 15 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120904064725/http://www.cookstown.gov.uk/ . 4 September 2012 . dead .
  2. Web site: Ulster-Scots guide to Beaghmore stone circles – Department of the Environment . 17 July 2012 . 1 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001234533/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/beaghmoreus.pdf . live .
  3. Web site: An Chorr Chríochach/Cookstown . Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie) . . 12 November 2020.
  4. Book: Coyle, Cathal. The Little Book of Tyrone. 2014. History Press. 978-0750962841. 49.
  5. Web site: 1803 - Killymoon Castle, Cookstown, County Tyrone. 29 November 2012 . Archiseek. 29 November 2022.
  6. Web site: 1807 - Lissan Rectory, Cookstown, County Tyrone. 13 November 2012 . Archiseek. 29 November 2022.
  7. Web site: Cookstown Directory . 1880. 29 November 2022.
  8. Web site: 1860 - Holy Trinity Church, Cookstown, County Tyrone. 15 February 2017 . Archiseek. 29 November 2022.
  9. Book: Hezlet. Sir Arthur. The 'B' Specials. 1972. Tom Stacey. London. 0-85468-272-4. 10.
  10. Lawlor, Pearse. The Outrages: The IRA and the Ulster Special Constabulary in the Border Campaign. Mercier Press, 2011. pp.28-29
  11. http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/june_1920.htm Chronology of Irish History 1919 - 1923 - June 1920
  12. Web site: Cookstown Town Hall. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130162536/https://coaghinww1.co.uk/docs/b014.pdf . 2022-11-30 . live. 40. Mid-Ulster Local History Journal. 4.
  13. Web site: Political violence during the Troubles: 1990-1994. 15 September 2017 . Alpha History. 29 November 2022.
  14. News: Town hall to be demolished. 10 September 1998. The Irish Times. 29 November 2022.
  15. Web site: Annual Report 2000/21. https://web.archive.org/web/20150828082936/http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/images/uploads/publications-documents/ACNI_Annual_Report_2000-2001.pdf . 2015-08-28 . live. 7. Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 29 November 2022.
  16. Book: O'Neill . B. . 2002 . Irish Cathedrals, Churches and Abbeys . Caxton Editions . London . 63.
  17. Web site: Beaghmore Stone Circle Complex . Megalithics . 1 December 2007.
  18. Web site: Tullaghoge Fort. Discover Northern Ireland. 29 November 2022.
  19. Web site: Donaghrisk Churchyard, Cookstown, Co Tyrone. YouTube. 29 November 2022.
  20. Book: Lehane, Brendan . The Companion Guide to Ireland. 437. 2001. Companion Guides. 978-1900639347.
  21. Web site: Killymoon Castle . The Chrono Centre - Queens University Belfast . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718135046/http://www.chrono.qub.ac.uk/local/tyrone/Killymoon/ . 18 July 2011 .
  22. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ricksmith61/richardson/ps20/ps20_426.html Alexander Richardson
  23. Web site: St Luaran's Church. Cookstown Parish. 19 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120613041822/http://www.cookstownparish.com/2010/08/st-luarans-church/. 13 June 2012. dead.
  24. Web site: Derryloran Old Church Cookstown . My Cookstown.
  25. Web site: Statement of Persons Nominated – Mid Ulster. 8 April 2022.
  26. Book: Transport Year Book 2006. 18 November 2005 . Stationery Office. 66. 9780117035850 . 30 November 2022.
  27. Web site: Electoral Areas. Mid-Ulster District Council. 30 November 2022.
  28. Web site: Northern Ireland Placenames Project . placenamesni.org . 2012-08-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101001193620/http://www.placenamesni.org/Index.html . 1 October 2010.
  29. Web site: Townlands of County Tyrone. IreAtlas Townland Database. 19 March 2013. 28 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628231757/http://www.thecore.com/seanruad/. live.
  30. Web site: Census of Ireland 1851. Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. 19 March 2013.
  31. https://roadracingnews.co.uk/ignore-the-doom-mongers-cookstown-100-will-run/
  32. https://roadracingnews.co.uk/tag/cookstown-100/
  33. Web site: All-Ireland Club IFC final: All-Ireland glory for Cookstown . 27 February 2013 . . 9 February 2013.
  34. Web site: All-Ireland Club IFC final: All-Ireland glory for Cookstown . 27 February 2013 . . 9 February 2013.
  35. Web site: CYFC 1sts vs Cookstown Olympic F.C. (Cookstown Cup). YouTube. 30 November 2022.
  36. Web site: McWilliams . Nikki . Referee decides to end match 17 minutes early . Belfast Telegraph . 2014-05-24 . 2016-01-19.
  37. News: Killymoon Rangers hoping to add to 50th anniversary celebrations with cup success. 5 May 2022. Belfast Live. 30 November 2022.
  38. Web site: Pre-season: v Sofia Farmer . YouTube. 30 November 2022.
  39. Web site: Cookstown triumph in Kirk final. BBC Sport. 2 June 2007. 26 December 2006.
  40. Web site: Census of Ireland 1851. Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. 22 March 2013. 13 January 2013. https://archive.today/20130113225406/http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/13130/eppi_pages/336886. dead.
  41. Web site: Census of Ireland 1891. Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. 22 March 2013.
  42. Web site: NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) . Statistical Classification and Delineation of Settlements . Table 3 / Band C - Large Town . February 2005 . 26 September 2018 . 1 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180601041210/http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/documents/ur_report.pdf . live .
  43. Web site: Settlement 2015 . NISRA . 18 August 2023.
  44. Web site: Age . 2024-07-04 . NISRA.
  45. Web site: Sex (MS-A07) . 2024-07-04 . NISRA.
  46. Web site: Religion or religion brought up in . NISRA . 15 August 2023.
  47. Web site: Knowledge of Irish (MS-B05) . 2024-07-04 . NISRA.
  48. Web site: Knowledge of Ulster-Scots (MS-B08) . 2024-07-04 . NISRA.
  49. Web site: Census 2011 Population Statistics for Cookstown Settlement . Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) . 26 September 2021 . 23 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523140625/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Cookstown%40Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name%3A%20%40Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name%3A%20Cookstown%4023%3F . live . This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  50. Web site: NI Neighbourhood Information Service NISRA . 18 December 2005 . 6 August 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070806064627/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ . live .
  51. Web site: Cookstown High School. Education Authority Northern Ireland. 30 November 2022.
  52. Web site: Holy Trinity College, Cookstown. Education Authority Northern Ireland. 30 November 2022.
  53. Web site: CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise) - Loughry Campus. NI Direct. 30 November 2022.
  54. Web site: South West College. The Alliance for Sustainable Leadership in Education. 30 November 2022.
  55. News: £8m health village plan 'well advanced'. 25 May 2018. Mid Ulster Mail. 9 May 2018. 26 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526041633/https://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/health/8m-health-village-plan-well-advanced-1-8491210. live.
  56. Web site: Cookstown-born comic Jimmy Cricket awarded knighthood by the Pope. 19 September 2015. Northern Ireland World. 30 November 2022.
  57. News: Cookstown poet a Queen's Professor. Tyrone Courier. 14 May 2019. 30 November 2022.
  58. News: John. McGurk. Cookstown singer Eamonn McCrystal set for stardom in US. Belfast Telegraph. 4 September 2012. 30 November 2022.
  59. Web site: O'Neill. Emma. Owen O'Neill is Cookstown's Comedy King. CultureNorthernIreland. 1 October 2013. 5 September 2009.
  60. Web site: Sheppard, Oliver. Dictionary of Irish Biography. 30 November 2022.
  61. Book: Evans, Rosemary. Ireland. 123. 1994. Moorland. 978-1564404770.
  62. News: How Fat White Family's studied his way out of a town he hated. 9 April 2019. Loud and Quiet. 10 December 2022.
  63. News: Maynard . Micheline . 2001-06-17 . Private Sector; To the Rescue, Quietly, at Hyundai . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-07-22 . 0362-4331.
  64. Web site: My Journey: David Ames. YouTube. 30 November 2022.
  65. Web site: Jacqueline gets gold. 6 June 2014. Cookstown High School. 30 November 2022.
  66. Web site: Stuart Dallas . 11 April 2021 . irishfa.com . Irish Football Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414055851/https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/senior-men/stuart-dallas . 14 April 2021.
  67. News: Niall Gartland. Terry Devlin – from Cookstown to Pompey. 28 July 2023. WeAreTyrone. 26 September 2023.
  68. Book: Coyle, Cathal. The Little Book of Tyrone. 2014. History Press. 978-0750962841. 126.
  69. News: Mulligan ready to keep working to bring more success to Tyrone. 28 September 2021. The Irish News. 30 November 2022.
  70. News: Ian Sloan eyes Great Britain coaching job as he makes early plans for life after fruitful playing career. 3 December 2020. The Belfast Telegraph. 30 November 2022.
  71. News: Cookstown hockey stars show their class at Masters tournament. 23 September 2014. 30 November 2022.
  72. http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/biographies.html "Biographies of all Members of Parliament in the Northern Ireland House of Commons"
  73. News: People: Bernadette McAliskey: 'I am astounded I survived. I made mad decisions'. 22 September 2016. The Irish Times. 30 November 2022.
  74. Web site: Charles, Sir (Richard) Havelock. Dictionary of Irish Biography. 30 November 2022.
  75. Web site: On This Day: "Typhoid" Mary Mallon was born in Co Tyrone. 23 September 2022. Irish Central. 30 November 2022.

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