Dungannon

Coordinates: 54°30′N 6°46′W / 54.50°N 6.77°W / 54.50; -6.77

Dungannon
Scots: Rathgannon
Irish: Dún Geanainn
The south east of the town (Killyman Road, looking towards the town centre). St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Chapel in the background.
Dungannon  Dungannon shown within Northern Ireland
Population	11,139 (2001 Census)
Irish grid reference	H7962
- Belfast	40 miles
District	Dungannon
County	County Tyrone
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DUNGANNON
Postcode district	BT70 BT71
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Fermanagh and South Tyrone
NI Assembly	Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Website	http://www.dungannon.gov.uk
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Tyrone

Dungannon (from the Irish: Dún Geanainn meaning "Geanann's stronghold") is a town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county (after Omagh and Strabane) and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time. It contains the headquarters of the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.

Contents 1 History 1.1 After the O'Neills 1.2 The Troubles 2 Demographics 3 Places of interest 4 Economy 5 Education 6 Infrastructure 7 Other Transport Projects 8 People 9 Sport 9.1 Cricket 9.2 Rugby 9.3 Gaelic games 9.4 Soccer 9.5 Golf 10 References 11 See also 12 External links

History

Dungannon's fortunes have been closely tied to that of the O'Neill dynasty which ruled most of Ulster until the seventeenth century and was the most powerful Gaelic family. Dungannon was the clan's main stronghold which made it by default the most important settlement in Gaelic Ireland. The traditional site of inauguration for 'The O'Neill', was Tullyhogue Fort, an iron age mound some four miles northeast of Dungannon. The clan O'Hagan were the stewards of this site for the O'Neills.The last castle was located at what is today known as Castle Hill; the location was ideal for a fort as it was one of the highest points in Tyrone, and dominated the surrounding countryside with the ability to see seven counties depending on the weather. Its location ultimately led to the Army taking over the site for a security installation during The Troubles, only being returned to the local council in August 2007.

This castle was burned in 1602 by Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone as the English forces closed in on the Gaelic lords towards the end of the Nine Years' War (Ireland). In 1607, ninety-nine Irish chieftains and their followers, including Hugh O’Neill, set sail from Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, bound for the continent. What followed became known as the Plantation of Ulster and the town and its castle were granted to Sir Arthur Chichester, the architect of the Plantation.

The castle was partially excavated in October 2007, by the Channel 4 show 'Time Team', uncovering part of the moate and walls of the castle.^[1]

After the O'Neills

Dungannon remained the county seat of County Tyrone after the Plantation, but High Court judges who travelled to Dungannon to the courthouse were attacked in the village of Cappagh and the county town was then moved to Omagh^{[citation needed]}. In 1973, the town became the seat of the new district of Dungannon.

In 1782, the town was the location where the independence of the Irish Parliament was declared by members of the Protestant Ascendancy who controlled the parliament at the time.^[2]

The Troubles

• On 24 August 1968, the Campaign for Social Justice (CSJ), the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA), and other groups, held the first 'civil rights march' in Northern Ireland from Coalisland to Dungannon. The rally was officially banned, but took place and passed off without incident. The publicity surrounding the march encouraged other protesting groups to form branches of NICRA.^[3]
• Dungannon was one corner of the infamous murder triangle during the Troubles. For more information see The Troubles in Dungannon, which includes a list of incidents in Dungannon during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

Demographics

Dungannon is classified as a medium town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 11,139 people living in Dungannon. Of these:

• 24.0% were aged under 16 years and 17.8% were aged 60 and over
• 47.4% of the population were male and 52.7% were female
• 57.6% were from a Catholic background and 40.3% were from a Protestant background
• 3.7% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

N.B. Since the undertaking of the census in 2001, a number of migrant workers, especially Portuguese, have settled in the town mainly working in the food processing industry. As of 2004, there were around 1200 Portuguese living in the town.^[4]

Places of interest

An interesting feature of the town is the former police barracks at the top right-hand corner of the market square which is quite unlike any other barracks of a similar vintage in Ireland. A popular but apocryphal story relates that the unusual design of this building is due to a mix-up with the plans in Dublin which meant Dungannon got a station designed for the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan and they got a standard Irish barracks, complete with a traditional Irish fireplace.

Economy

The once-thriving linen industry has largely been replaced by glass-blowing, and the Tyrone Crystal factory is a major visitor attraction in Northern Ireland. Dungannon also has a brick-making industry using Coalisland fireclay. Dungannon has large numbers of migrant workers employed locally in factories including Moy Park and Dungannon Meats. The majority of these workers come from Portugal, East Timor, Brazil, Poland and Lithuania.

Education

• Aughamullan Primary School
• Bush Primary School
• Clintyclay Primary School
• Derrylatinee Primary School
• Donaghey Primary School
• Drumglass High School
• Dungannon Primary School
• Integrated College Dungannon
• Killyman Primary School
• Lisfearty Primary School
• Newmills Primary School
• The Royal School Dungannon is one of the oldest schools in Ireland. It was one of several royal schools chartered in 1608 by James I with the intended purpose "that there shall be one Free School at least appointed in every County, for the education of youth in learning and religion." These schools provided an English style education to the sons of landed settlers in Ireland, most of whom were of Scottish or English descent. A royal charter of May 13 1614 records the appointment of John Bullingbroke as the first Headmaster.
• St. Mary's Primary School
• St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon is one of top three ranked Grammar schools in Northern Ireland for academic success^{[citation needed]}. The school has numerous sporting achievements, including two MacCrory Cups and a Hogan Cup, as well as success in Gaelic football, ladies football, hurling and soccer. The academy, previously split up into separate boys and girls schools, was amalgamated in 2003 to form one school.
• St. Patrick's Primary School
• Tamnamore Primary School
• Tullyroan Primary School
• Walker Memorial Primary School
• Windmill Integrated Primary School

Infrastructure

Dungannon was served by four different rail systems which stretched throughout Northern Ireland, into Derry, Co. Donegal and deep into southern Ireland. At the turn of the last century, Clones was one of the major junctions from Derry, Omagh, and Belfast to north Leinster, in particular, the major market towns of Athlone, Cavan, and Mullingar via the Inney junction. This back-bone rail infrastructure was administered by Midland Great Western Railway which also linked to other major centres namely, Sligo, Tullamore, via Clara, other destinations such as Dublin, Limerick, and other market centres of the south coast.

There is a town bus service that runs daily that serves the town's suburbs.

Other Transport Projects

• Transport 21

People

One of Dungannon's most famous sons is Thomas J. Clarke (although he was actually born on the Isle of Wight), the first signatory of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic (Poblacht na hÉireann). Clarke was a key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising and was executed by the British authorities on 3 May 1916, aged 59, for his role in the Rising. The Dungannon GAA club is named after him.

Dungannon is the birthplace of professional golfer Darren Clarke, motorcycle racer Ryan Farquhar, artist Victor Sloan, snooker player Patrick Wallace and TV presenters Adrian Logan and Joanne Salley.

Dungannon is also the birthplace of actor Birdy Sweeney, who appeared in numerous television programmes and motion pictures.

Pittsburgh industrialist Henry W. Oliver and his brother, United States Senator George T. Oliver, were born in Dungannon in 1840 and 1848 respectively.

Sport

Cricket

Dungannon Cricket Club is the oldest sporting club in Dungannon dating back to at least 1865. This was again due to the influence of the Royal School who were playing in 1861 and probably earlier. The club played continuously through to 1914 with a break from 1901 to 1904 when Lord Ranfurly was Governor of New Zealand and there was no ground available until his return. The club became affiliated to the NCU in 1913 and played in the Junior Cup in 1913 and 1914 until the club was discontinued during the Great War. Attempts were made to reestablish the club after the war and this was done in 1929 and survived until 1933 when Lord Ranfurly died to again leave the club without a ground. Cricket was kept alive by the Royal School, Bankers and the RUC until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. The club was reformed in 1948 mainly due to the efforts of Eddie Hodgett and the NCU leagues in 1952 and continues to do so to the present time. The club has never quite reached senior cricket as it has limited resources and relies on the District Council for a ground. The club has played on at least five different locations during its existence.

Rugby

Dungannon was one of the first towns in Ireland to form a rugby club, probably due to the Royal School. Dungannon's rugby team's most recent success was sharing the Ulster Senior League title with Ballymena. They were also the first Ulster club to win the All Ireland League. At least one player from Dungannon is listed in the first ever Irish side. The rugby club was founded in 1873, was the sixth club in Ireland and a founder member of the IRFU. Despite being a rugby union club since inception its official title is Dungannon Football Club. This was in common with other clubs, such as the now defunct North of Ireland club from Belfast, who were founded prior to the formal division of the different styles of football into Association (soccer) and rugby. The town also has connections to New Zealand rugby. The Earl of Ranfurly presented the Ranfurly Shield to the NZRFU.

Gaelic games

The town has also achieved much success in Gaelic games, Gaelic football and hurling. Dungannon has produced many footballers, especially for the Tyrone County Team, who won the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Championship in 2003, 2005 and 2008, in particular, Gerard Cavlan and Thomas "Tommy C" Colton. The local Gaelic Football club is Dungannon Thomas Clarkes (Thomáis Uí Chléirigh Dún Geanainn)and the local Hurling club is Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon(Cumann Iomanaiocht Eoghan Ruadh Dún Geanainn),the reigning tyrone senior hurling champions.

Soccer

Dungannon Swifts F.C. is the town's local team, which plays in the IFA Premiership, and is Tyrone's only representative in the league, following Omagh Town's collapse. The club represented Northern Ireland in European competition in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Golf

PGA Tour golfer Darren Clarke grew up in Dungannon, and was a member of Dungannon Golf Club. The club is one of the oldest 18-hole courses in Northern Ireland, being founded in 1890. Six new greens were recently designed by Patrick Merrigan.

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Towns in County Tyrone

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Tyrone)
• Ballysaggart Lough
• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of villages in Northern Ireland

External links

• Dungannon Life
• A Flavour of Tyrone - Dungannon
• inthedistrict.com a Dungannon District Directory

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