Culmore
Culmore (from Irish Cúil Mór, meaning 'the great corner')[1] is a townland in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is at the mouth of the River Foyle. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 2,960 people. It is situated within Derry and Strabane district.
History
Nine Years' War
Sir Henry Docwra, 1st Baron Docwra of Culmore, was an English soldier who landed with a force of 4000 foot and 200 horse troops at Culmore on 16 May 1600, as part of an attempt to quell a war against the crown in Ulster. On 22 May he marched into Derry without resistance and occupied and fortified the town. From here he harassed some local Irish in such as a way as to make them sue for peace with him. Facing stronger local Irish opposition, Docwra's troops became almost prisoners, unable to make any progress while slowly starving until some powerful Irish became allies. For his service Docwra was granted 2000 acres (8 km²) in the Precinct of Liffer. He served as Governor of Loughfoyle, and on 15 May 1621, by a patent dated at Westminster, was created Baron Docwra of Culmore. He was also Treasurer at War and a member of the Privy Council. Sir Henry died on 18 April 1631.
O'Doherty's Rebellion
Culmore Fort was an important strategic position linked to the garrison town of Derry. In 1608 when Sir Cahir O'Doherty, a formerly loyal Gaelic leader, launched O'Doherty's Rebellion by seizing and burning Derry he began by first capturing a supply of arms from the arsenal at Culmore after capturing its commander Captain Henry Hart.
Recent history
Amelia Earhart landed in a pasture at Culmore after her 1932 transatlantic solo flight. A small museum, the Amelia Earhart Centre, has been built there, but the museum is presently closed due to vandalism.
Transport
Culmore railway station opened on 1 October 1853 and closed on 2 July 1973.[2] there is still a bus service every hour mon to sat and every 2 hours on Sunday part of the Foyle metro service operating as the 1A bus to muff via culmore point.
Sport
- Sailing is a popular activity on the River Foyle and Lough Foyle.in early September 2017 a new gaelic club started sessions with about 30 members they named it Culmore cù culling gaa
References in popular culture
The Hollywood feature film, L.A. Story, starring Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker is, according to Martin in "Born Standing Up", partly based on an Irish traditional song, "The Maid Of Culmore". It features a brief clip of the song and dramatizes one of its verses in the storyline:
If I had the power the storms for to rise
I would blow the wind high and I'd darken the skies
I would blow the wind higher and salt seas to roar
For the day that my darling sailed away from Culmore.
Hear the song sung by Cara Dillon on YouTube.
Demography
2001 Census
It had a population of 2960 people
- 90.2% were from a Catholic background and 8.2% were from a Protestant background
References
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ "Culmore station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
