Dungiven Explained

Official Name:Dungiven
Irish Name:Dún Geimhin
Static Image Name:Dungiven Main Street.jpg
Map Type:Northern Ireland
Label Position:none
Coordinates:54.928°N -6.925°W
Population:3,346
Population Ref:(2021 Census)
Irish Grid Reference:C689024
Country:Northern Ireland
Post Town:LONDONDERRY
Postcode Area:BT
Postcode District:BT47
Dial Code:028
Lieutenancy Northern Ireland:County Londonderry

Dungiven [1] is a small town, townland and civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the main A6 Belfast to Derry road, which bypasses the town. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1525feet Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over 1000feet. It had a population of 3,346 people in the 2021 Census. It is within Causeway Coast and Glens district council area.

History

There is evidence of settlement in the area for at least 1000 years. There may have been an abbey in the area around 700AD. The Augustinian abbey of St Mary's was built in the 11th century. Its ruins contain the tomb of O'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385.[2] A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags conceals a bullaun stone, visited for wart cures.[3]

Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the Ó Catháin clan, one of the most influential clans in Ulster

The town sprang up around Dungiven Castle and the Church of Ireland (Anglican church), later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe.[4]

Dungiven Priory

The Augustinian priory built in the 1100s stands on the foundations of earlier churches. St Nechtan died 679 may have established the first, and St Patrick the second in the 5th century.[5]

Politics

The town is part of the East Londonderry UK Parliamentary constituency. The MP for the constituency since 2001 has been Gregory Campbell of the DUP. The UK constituency is coterminous with the Northern Ireland Assembly constituency of the same name. The five MLAs elected in 2017 were 2 DUP, 1 independent unionist, 1 Sinn Féin and 1 SDLP. It forms part of the Benbradagh district electoral area of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. In 2019 this area elected 3 Sinn Féin, 1 SDLP and 1 DUP councillors.

The Troubles

See main article: The Troubles in Dungiven. During The Troubles in Northern Ireland, seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of whom were members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey, was found beaten to death in disputed circumstances during street riots, in which the police were called to respond. He has sometimes been deemed as the first person killed in the last installment of the Troubles (1969-1997).[6]

Education

There are two secondary schools in the town, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and St. Patrick's College. Located on Main Street and Curragh Road respectively.[7] [8] There are also two primary schools in the town, Gaelscoil Neachtain and St. Canice's Primary School.[9] Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and Gaelscoil Neachtain are both co-educational, interdenominational Irish-medium secondary and primary schools.[10] [11]

Sport

Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area. St Canice's Dungiven is the local Gaelic football club;[12] the team plays at O'Cahan Park and have won the Derry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won the Ulster Senior Football Championship once, in 1997.

Kevin Lynch's is the local hurling club; they have won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship a record 22 times. The team plays at Kevin Lynch Park.

Dungiven Celtic F.C. is an association football club playing in the C&DL Premier League.

Demography

2021 Census

On Census day (21 March 2021) there were 3,346 people living in Dungiven.[13] Of these:

2011 Census

According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), on Census day (27 March 2011) there were 3,288 people living in Dungiven, an increase of 10% over the 2001 population of 2,993.[23] [24] Of these:

Transport

Rivers

The River Roe is a major river in Northern Ireland and the largest river in the town. The river can be seen at the western end of Dungiven at Dungiven Bridge. It starts up the Glenshane Pass and flows in a northwestern way towards the town and then north through Burnfoot and then Limavady.

The Owenbeg River is a large tributary to the Roe it starts near Feeny and flows into the river downstream from Buttermilk Bridge.

The Owenreagh River is also a major tributary which starts up in Banagher Glen and flows into the river downstream from the new A6 Bridge.

The Pellipar Burn is a small river or stream which flows through the heart of the town mainly a polluted urban stream and parts flowing underground in culverts. The burn can be seen below New Bridge beside the Church on New Street. it flows into the Roe a short distance downstream from Pellipar Bridge. The burn is named after Pellipar House.

The Derryware Burn is another small stream that flows at the northern end of the town this burn is around the same size as the Pellipar and flows into the River Roe above Pellipar House Estate.

People

Popular culture

Dungiven is mentioned in the Brian Friel play Making History, as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after the Siege of Kinsale.

'Banagher old church' is said to be the resting place of Saint Murrough O'Heaney.[26] He is said to have tamed the dragon Paiste.[27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dún Geimhin/Dungiven. logainm.ie. 14 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Dungiven Priory . Roe Valley . 26 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Dungiven profile. Culture Northern Ireland. 2008-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022346/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=444. 9 June 2008. dead.
  4. Web site: Dungiven Settlement Designation. Planning Service - Draft Northern Area Plan 2016. 25 June 2008.
  5. Web site: Hunter . Jim . The Priory of Dungiven . NI Community Heritage Archive Causeway Coast and Glens Museum Services . CCGBC Museum Services . 11 October 2024.
  6. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1969.html Sutton Index of Deaths - 1969
  7. Web site: Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.
  8. Web site: St. Patrick's College . St. Patrick's College . 26 April 2020.
  9. Web site: St. Canice's Primary School . St. Canice's Primary School . 26 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Gaelcholáiste Dhoire . Gaelcholáiste Dhoire . 16 May 2020.
  11. Web site: Gaelscoil Neachtain . Gaelscoil Neachtain . 26 April 2020.
  12. Web site: St Canice's GAC, Dungiven. St Canice's GAC website. 18 April 2012.
  13. Web site: Settlement 2015 . NISRA . 21 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Preview data for your table NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  15. Web site: Preview data for Sex (MS-A07) NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  16. Web site: Religion or religion brought up in . NISRA . 21 August 2023.
  17. Web site: National Identity (Irish) . NISRA . 21 August 2023.
  18. Web site: Preview data for your table NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  19. Web site: Preview data for your table NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  20. Web site: Preview data for National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) (MS-B15) NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  21. Web site: Preview data for Knowledge of Irish (MS-B05) NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  22. Web site: Preview data for Knowledge of Ulster-Scots (MS-B08) NISRA Flexible Table Builder . 2024-03-27 . build.nisra.gov.uk.
  23. Web site: Census 2011 Population Statistics for Dungiven Settlement . Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) . 23 July 2019.
  24. Web site: Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) - Table view . Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) . 23 July 2019.
  25. Web site: Dungiven station. Railscot–Irish Railways. 12 October 2007. PDF.
  26. Web site: Legend of saint holds a blessing in disguise. 14 April 2023. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  27. Web site: Paiste | Dragons of Fame | The Circle of the Dragon. www.blackdrago.com. 14 April 2023.

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