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Dungiven

Coordinates: 54°56′N 6°55′W / 54.933°N 6.917°W / 54.933; -6.917
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Dungiven (Irish: Dun Geimhín; meaning Given's fort) is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the main Belfast to Derry road. It is situated where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg converge at the foot of the 1,535ft Benbradagh mountain, next to the Glenshane Pass where the road rises to over 1,000ft. It is designated as a Small Town and had a population of 2,993 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of 6% over 1991.[1]

Features

The original nucleus of Dungiven was established in the vicinity of the Castle and the Church of Ireland church at the eastern end of the town, later developing westwards along Church Street and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe. Because of the location of the flood plain of the River Roe, and the line of the proposed by-pass route defined by both previous area plans, residential development has been concentrated to the east and north of the town. It functions as an important retail, service and employment centre for the surrounding rural hinterland, providing a comprehensive range of educational, health, commercial, social, community and recreational facilities.[1]

History

An interesting site in Dungiven is the 11th century Augustinian priory of St Mary's and the tomb of O'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385. A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags, on the right, conceals a bullaun stone, visited for wart cures.[2]

Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the O'Cahan clan. During the days of James I they built Dungiven Castle which remains today as a restaurant and guesthouse. World famous song Danny Boy is taken from a melody composed by O’Cahan bard Rory Dall O’Cahan. The original version concerns the passing of the Chief Cooey-na-Gall whose death brought an end to a long line of O’Cahan chiefs in Northern Ireland.[2]

During the Northern Irish Troubles seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of them members of the security forces. The one civilian, Frances McCloskey, is sometimes considered to be the first person killed in the Troubles.[3]

See also: The Troubles in Dungiven

Politics

The town forms part of the East Londonderry constituency and the elected MLA is Sinn Féin party member Francis Brolly.

Places of interest

  • Near Dungiven are Banagher Glen, popular with ornithologists, and Altaheglish Reservoir, an impressive lake set up in the mountains, surrounded by forest.
  • At Dungiven Castle, constructed during the reign of James I on the south side of the village, there is a 20 acre Environmental and Conservation Park consisting of Victorian Gardens, Wetlands, Woodlands, Nature Reserve, Duck Pond and Picnic Area.
  • Altahullion Wind Farm, is situated near Dungiven and is owned by RES-Gen Ltd. It was designed and built by RES using local contractors and commissioned in 2003. Altahullion’s 20 turbines can generate up to 26MW. Electricity from the wind farm is sold to Belfast based Energia who supply hospitals, schools and Northern Ireland businesses. The public can visit the site by following the signs from the A6 Dungiven to Derry road. There is car parking, an information board and a special path up to the visitor turbine.
  • McCloskeys Newsagents is now recognised as the oldest standing building in Dungiven. Limivady Council has backed the findings from Dr Pwalo De Walkingshaw, Archaeology department of Ulster University. The original building was said to have been a horse shed. Later the building was developed in to a two story home. Now it is a commercial property that serves the community.

Sport

Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area. St Canice's Dungiven is the local Gaelic football club[4] and Kevin Lynch's is the local hurling club. St Canices play at O'Cahan Park, while Kevin Lynch's play at Kevin Lynch Park.

St Canice's have won the Derry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won the Ulster Senior Football Championship once, in 1997.

Kevin Lynch's have won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship 20 times, a record,and are the current county champions, for the second successive year. They were beaten Ulster finalists for the last two years.

Demographics

Dungiven is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,993 people living in Dungiven. Of these:

  • 29.3% were aged under 16 and 11.7% were aged 60 and over
  • 50.4% of the population were male and 49.6% were female
  • 96.8% were from a Catholic background and 3.1% were from a Protestant background
  • 6.7% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see:NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Transport

  • Dungiven has good road links to Londonderry 29km to the west and Limavady 13km to the north. It is located on the main A6 road and is well served in terms of public transport connections. A proposed by-pass for Dungiven, following a route to the south west of the town, has been identified since the 1973 Limavady Area Plan.[1]
  • Dungiven was the terminus of the Limavady railway closed in 1950. Dungiven railway station opened on 4 July 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 1 January 1933 and finally closed altogether on 3 July 1950.[5]

People

Popular Culture

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

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dungiven Settlement Designation". Planning Service - Draft Northern Area Plan 2016. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  2. ^ a b "Dungiven". Culture Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  3. ^ [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1969.html Sutton Index of Deaths - 1969
  4. ^ "St Canice's GAC, Dungiven". St Canice's GAC website. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  5. ^ "Dungiven station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-10-12.

54°56′N 6°55′W / 54.933°N 6.917°W / 54.933; -6.917

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