Castledawson is a
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a town or city. Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New York City and the Saifi Village in...
in
County LondonderryCounty Londonderry or County Derry is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of Northern Ireland. It was named after its main town – and later city and administrative centre – Derry , which lies in the north-western corner of...
,
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in the
townlandA townland is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland, believed to be of Gaelic origin; the term was at one time also used in Scotland.-Etymology:...
of Shanemullagh ( meaning "the old summit"). The village lies four miles from the north-western shore of
Lough NeaghLough Neagh — — is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland.-Geography:With an area of 392 square kilometres , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe...
, close to the market town of
MagherafeltMagherafelt is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people recorded in the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of County Londonderry and is the social, economic and political hub of the area...
and at the foot of the
SperrinsThe Sperrins, or Sperrin Mountains, are a range of hills in Northern Ireland and one of the largest upland areas in Ireland. The Sperrins Region is located in the centre of Northern Ireland, stretching from the western shoreline of Lough Neagh in County Tyrone, to the southern portions of County...
. In 2001 it had a population of 2,089 according to the
CensusA nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census....
.
Originally, the village was known as "Dawson's Bridge" and had the distinction of having (at one time) the largest single span stone bridge in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
.
Castledawson is a
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a town or city. Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New York City and the Saifi Village in...
in
County LondonderryCounty Londonderry or County Derry is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Ulster and is part of Northern Ireland. It was named after its main town – and later city and administrative centre – Derry , which lies in the north-western corner of...
,
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in the
townlandA townland is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland, believed to be of Gaelic origin; the term was at one time also used in Scotland.-Etymology:...
of Shanemullagh ( meaning "the old summit"). The village lies four miles from the north-western shore of
Lough NeaghLough Neagh — — is a freshwater lake in Northern Ireland.-Geography:With an area of 392 square kilometres , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe...
, close to the market town of
MagherafeltMagherafelt is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people recorded in the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of County Londonderry and is the social, economic and political hub of the area...
and at the foot of the
SperrinsThe Sperrins, or Sperrin Mountains, are a range of hills in Northern Ireland and one of the largest upland areas in Ireland. The Sperrins Region is located in the centre of Northern Ireland, stretching from the western shoreline of Lough Neagh in County Tyrone, to the southern portions of County...
. In 2001 it had a population of 2,089 according to the
CensusA nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census....
.
History
Originally, the village was known as "Dawson's Bridge" and had the distinction of having (at one time) the largest single span stone bridge in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
. The village was named after its 'castle' (actually a large manor house) built by Joshua Dawson in 1713. He was
Chief Secretary for IrelandThe Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key office-holder of state in the British administration in Ireland. Towards the end of Crown rule in Ireland, he operated in a manner similar to that of the Prime Minister in the English and later British Parliament...
and founded the village in 1710. The Dawson estate, Shanemullagh, shares its name with the original townland name. The Dawson family also founded Christ Church, on the edge of that estate, in the early 1700s.
Places of interest
- The River Moyola
The River Moyola or Moyola River stretches for approximately 27 miles from the Sperrin Mountains to Lough Neagh. The Moyola starts a small river for the first few miles of its length and proceeds to expand to a medium sized river and then to a large river for its last couple of miles before...
, which dissects the village, is popular with anglers and has managed stocks of salmonSalmon is the common name for several species of fish of the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the family are called trout; the difference is often attributed to the migratory life of the salmon as compared to the residential behaviour of trout, a distinction that holds true for the Salmo...
(but also has perchThe European perch is a highly predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often referred to by the shortform perch. The species is very popular and has been widely introduced beyond its native area, into Australia,...
, eelTrue eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 19 families, 110 genera and approximately 600 species. Most eels are predators...
, troutTrout are a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the Salmonidae family. Salmon belong to some of the same genera as trout but, unlike most trout, most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
and breamBream is a general term for a number of species of freshwater and marine fish belonging to a variety of genera including: Abramis Bream is a general term for a number of species of freshwater and marine fish belonging to a variety of genera including: Abramis Bream is a general term for a number of...
) and is crossed in the village by the largest single-span stone bridge in Ireland. Dominating the horizon to the west of the village is a dramatic ráthRingforts are fortified settlements that are generally deemed to be from the Iron Age, Early Christian or possibly the Early Medieval period in Northern Europe, especially Ireland...
.
People
- Famous residents have included Lord Moyola
James Dawson Chichester-Clark, Baron Moyola, PC, DL was the penultimate Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and eighth leader of the Ulster Unionist Party between 1969 and March 1971. He was Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for South Londonderry for 12 years beginning at the by-election...
, a direct descendant of the Dawsons, who was the Prime Minister of Northern IrelandThe Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
from 1969 to 1971.
- The poet Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. He currently lives in Dublin.-Early life:...
, who was awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in LiteratureThe Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
, was born at a farm near Castledawson in 1939, although was brought up in the nearby village of BellaghyBellaghy is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies north west of Lough Neagh and about 5 miles north of Magherafelt. At the centre of the village lies the junction of three main roads leading to Magherafelt, Portglenone and Toome. It had a population of 1,063 people in the 2001...
.
- Novelist Anne Dunlop was born and grew up near Castledawson.
- American military history author, John McCann, was born and raised in the town. His book Passing Through: The 82nd Airborne Division In Northern Ireland 1943-44 chronicles the town's WWII past.
- Marian Donnelly
Marian Donnelly is a former President of The Workers' Party of Ireland and is a member of the District Policing Partnership for the Magherafelt district of Northern Ireland....
former President of The Workers' Party was born in Castledawson in 1938.
- The Forge Players of Hillhead were founded in Castldawson.
Economy
- Castledawson was the hub of the Mid-Ulster shirt-making industry, with its prime location midway between Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
and DerryDerry or Londonderry often called the Maiden City, is a city in Northern Ireland. It is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and fourth largest city in the island of Ireland...
being crucial. The village skyline was dominated by two impressive disused red brick chimneys - one (demolished 2005) previously part of a Nestle's chocolate factory (closed since the 1970s).
- The village has a small business park called Moyola Industrial Estate.
- Castledawson now has a small 12 bedroom hotel - The Inn at Castledawson - in the 200 year old Castledawson House. This closed in early 2009, but is currently being refurbished and will re-open under new management before Christmas 2009.
- The village is also home to the award-winning Ditty's Home Bakery - which successfully markets its products across the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
. One of its most famous customers happens to be Prince Charles, who visited the bakery on a day trip to Northern Ireland.
Transport
- Castledawson railway station opened on 10 November 1856, closed for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950, and finally closed altogether on 1 October 1959.
Sport
Castledawson is home to the football club Moyola Park, St Malachys G.A.C. Castledawson and the eighteen hole Moyola golf club.
2001 Census
Castledawson is classified as a village/town by the
NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,977 people living in Castledawson. Of these:
- 23.8% were aged under 16 and 14.6% were aged 60 and over
- 48.9% of the population were male and 51.1% were female
- 48.0% were from a Catholic
The word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective , meaning "universal". In the context of Christian ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages. For some, the term "Catholic Church" refers to the church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, made up of the Latin Rite and the 22...
background and 50.3% were from a ProtestantProtestantism is a branch within Christianity, containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines, that principally originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the major divisions within Christianity, together with the Roman...
background
- 2.5% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
- The average age of the population in Castledawson ward was 33.9 years
For more details see:
NI Neighbourhood Information Service
See also