Coalisland

Coordinates: 54°32′31″N 6°41′38″W / 54.542°N 6.694°W / 54.542; -6.694
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For similarly-named places, see Coal Island.
Coalisland
View from the north of the town
Coalisland is located in Northern Ireland
Coalisland
Location within Northern Ireland
Population5,682 (2011 Census)
• Belfast35 miles (56 km)
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDUNGANNON
Postcode districtBT71
Dialling code028
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Tyrone
54°32′31″N 6°41′38″W / 54.542°N 6.694°W / 54.542; -6.694

Coalisland (Irish: Oileán an Ghuail)[1] is a small town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with a population of 5,682 in the 2011 Census.[3] Four miles from Lough Neagh, it was formerly a centre for coal mining.

History

Coalisland in the early 1900s

Origins

In the late 17th century coal deposits were discovered in East Tyrone. While it was possible to exploit these resources, the difficulty was getting the coal to market in Dublin. In 1744 work began on the Coalisland Canal linking the coalfields to Lough Neagh. The town grew up around the canal workings.[4]

Twentieth century

On 24 August 1968, the Campaign for Social Justice (CSJ), the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA), among others, held the first civil rights march in Northern Ireland. The march went from Coalisland to Dungannon.[5]

The Troubles

See also: 1992 Coalisland riots

The town has traditionally been viewed as an IRA stronghold throughout the Twentieth Century, with deep and enduring links to republicanism in the vicinity. From 1969 to 2001, a total of 20 people were shot in or near Coalisland during the Troubles. The British Army killed a total of eight people, seven of whom were Provisional Irish Republican Army members and one a Catholic civilian,[6] and the IRA in turn killed five British soldiers, three Royal Ulster Constabulary policemen, one ex-Ulster Defence Regiment soldier, and two Catholic civilians, all in separate incidents. The Ulster Volunteer Force was responsible for the murder of a Catholic civilian in the nearby town of Aughamullan.[7]

Transport

The town was served by a canal (the Coalisland Canal or Tyrone Navigation), although this is now derelict. A campaign for its restoration is underway.

Coalisland railway station was opened on 28 July 1897, closed for passenger traffic on 16 January 1956 and for goods traffic on 5 October 1959, finally closing altogether on 1 April 1965. There are no remains of the railway other than the bridge on the Derry Road and an old goods shed and grown over platforms.[8]

Daily bus services operated by Ulsterbus go through the town.

Arts and culture

The Craic Theatre and Arts Centre is a performing arts venue built on the site of an old weaving factory. Each year it provides opportunities and entertainment for people of the area, through its in-house company Craic Players. It has a youth theatre programme for children and young people aged 4 – 18. It also offers professional touring companies the opportunity to stage shows, concerts and workshops.[9]

Education

Sport

Demography

19th century population

The population of the village increased during the 19th century:[10][11][12][13]

Year 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891
Population 451 627 661 598 677 785
Houses 103 120 143 135 159 191

Census 2011

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 5,682 people living in Coalisland.[3] Of these:

  • 25.5% were aged under 16 years and 10.0% were aged 65 and over
  • 49.1% of the population were male and 50.9% were female
  • 93.8% were from a Catholic background and 4.7% were from a Protestant or other Christian background
  • 7.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

People

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coalisland.
  1. ^ a b "Oileán an Ghuail/Coal Island". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ Ulster-Scots guide to Moira Station – Department of the Environment
  3. ^ a b "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Coalisland Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  4. ^ "The Typographical Dictionary of Ireland". Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  5. ^ "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1968". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Relatives for Justice".[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "CAIN (Conflict Archive on the Internet) - List of Deaths".[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Coalisland station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  9. ^ "Craic Theatre & Arts Centre". Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
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