Coordinates: 54°35′N 6°56′W / 54.59°N 6.93°W
| Pomeroy | |
| Irish: Cabhán an Chaorthainn | |
  Pomeroy
Pomeroy shown within Northern Ireland |
|
| Population | 604 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| District | Cookstown |
| County | County Tyrone |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNGANNON |
| Postcode district | BT70 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | Mid Ulster |
| NI Assembly | Mid Ulster |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Tyrone | |
Pomeroy is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, situated 10 miles (16 km) from Cookstown, 8 miles (13 km) from Dungannon and 18 miles (29 km) from Omagh. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 604 people.
Pomeroy is the highest village in County Tyrone. Its prominent site dominates the surrounding countryside, and is marked out by several church spires. From the Cookstown end, the road through the village gradually climbs a gradient up to the middle of the square, The Diamond. In The Diamond are the Altedesert Church of Ireland and the Central Bar on the opposite side of the road. The Diamond is a popular drinking area and Market Day is held there every Tuesday.
Several mountain ranges surround the village, including the Mountains of Pomeroy and the Sperrins. The countryside around consists of a mixture of moorland and bog land. Stone age and Bronze age cairns are situated in many places.
Contents |
History
At the end of the 17th Century there was no village in this area, just an extensive forest. During the plantation of Ulster, some eight townlands were granted by James I to Sir William Parsons, Surveyor General of Ireland. In 1729 the land was inherited by James Lowry on the death of his father, Robert of Aghenis Caledon.
In the eighteenth century, two new parishes were created in Tyrone - and the same family, the Lowerys (from whom issued the Earls of Belmore), was involved in the establishment of both. Pomeroy was created from part of Donaghmore, while Clogherny was taken from Termonmaguirc. The arrangement was validated in 1731 by an Order in Council, which had the same legal status as an Act of Parliament, and the articles of agreement under which it was conducted by the two parties involved, Lord Tyrone and Robert Lowery, suggest the tone: The name of each of the new erected parishes shall be wrote on a separate scrole of parchment, roll'd up and put into a hatt, to be held by an indeffernet peron,.. and that the said Marcus, Lord Viscount of Tyrone, and Robert Lowry shall each put his hand into the said hatt, and take thereout one of the said scroles, and that the advowson of that parish which shall be mentioned in the said scrole .. to be drawn out of the said hatte, by the said Lord Tyrone, shall stand and be the advowson of the said .. Tyrone, his heirs and assigns, for ever."
In 1750 Rev. James Lowry was granted the right to hold a weekly market in Pomeroy and an important event was the twice yearly Hiring Fair, held in May and November. Men and women from the surrounding countryside would gather at the fair and hire themselves out to work as farm labourers and servants. During the 1640’s the large forest had been stripped of timber and for many years after remained in a neglected state. In 1770, the Rev. James Lowry undertook its management replanted approximately 556 acres (2.25 km2) and bequeathed money to erect the mansion, Pomeroy House. The Lowry family played a prominent part in the life of the area for about two hundred years.
In the square is the Anglican Church which dates from the early 1840’s. The belfry and tower of the church were provided by the Lowry family as a token of their esteem for Pomeroy.
Much of the woodland is gone and the Georgian mansion demolished. All that remains is their burial vault on the Tanderagee Road. This was once approached by the longest avenue of Chilean Pine trees in Ireland.
The road leading from Pomeroy to the village of Donaghmore is known as the Royal Road because in 1689 King James II took this route to visit his troops in Derry during the historic siege. This route brought him through Cappagh and Altmore. Just outside Cappagh is King James’s Well, located by the road side.
The Troubles
Incidents in Pomeroy during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:
1973
- 16 August 1973 - Daniel McAnallen (27) and Patrick Quinn (18), both Catholic members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, were killed when their mortar bomb exploded prematurely, during an attack on Pomeroy British Army/Royal Ulster Constabulary base.
1975
- 25 November 1975 - Patrick Maxwell (36), a Catholic and Samuel Clarke (35), a Protestant, both members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, were shot and killed by Provisional Irish Republican Army snipers while on mobile patrol, near Pomeroy.
Places of interest
- There is a modern forestry school on the estate of the Rev. James Lowry, the 18th century planner of the village.
- Mountains of Pomeroy
- Carrickmore
- Altmore
- Gortavoy Bridge
- Cavanakeeran
People
- Philomena Begley, Irish country music singer
Sport
- Pomeroy Plunketts is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club.
Transport
- Pomeroy railway station opened on 2 September 1861 and finally closed on 15 February 1965. Throughout its time the station had held the title as the highest mainline station in Ireland.
Demography
Pomeroy is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). Pomeroy village is situated in the townland of Cavanakeeran (the round hill of the mountain ash.) It is the highest town in Ulster.
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 604 people living in Pomeroy.[1] Of these:
- 29.6% were aged under 16 years and 15.5% were aged 60 and over [1]
- 47.2% of the population were male and 52.8% were female [1]
- 92.7% were from a Roman Catholic background and 6.6% were from a Protestant background [1]
- 8.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed [1]
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
References
- ^ a b c d e "Pomeroy statistics". NINIS. 2007-04-30. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/pf_report.asp?settlementName=Pomeroy&BandName=Small%20Village,%20Hamlet%20and%20Open%20Countryside. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- Parish of Pomeroy
- County Tyrone.com
- Pomeroy GAA
- Pomeroy parish directory
See also
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
