Coalisland
Encyclopedia
Coalisland is a small town
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
, with a population of 4,917 people (in the 2001 Census
). As its name suggests, it was formerly a centre for coal mining
.
(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 the NICRA.
to 2001
, a total of 20 people were shot in or near Coalisland as part of the Troubles. The British Army
killed a total of 8 people, 7 of whom were IRA
members (see below) and one a Catholic civilian, and the IRA in turn killed 2 British soldiers
, 3 RUC
policemen, 3 UDR soldiers
, 1 ex-UDR soldier, and 2 Catholic civilians, all in separate incidents. The UVF was responsible for the murder of 1 Catholic in the nearby town of Aughnamullan.
or Tyrone Navigation), although this is now derelict. A campaign for its restoration is underway. A separate navigation Dukart's Canal
ran from the town to nearby coalpits.
called Brackaville and, over time, the urban area spread into the neighbouring townlands.
These include:
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, with a population of 4,917 people (in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
). As its name suggests, it was formerly a centre for coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
.
History
On 24 August 1968, the Campaign for Social JusticeCampaign for Social Justice
Campaign for Social Justice was an organisation based in Northern Ireland which campaigned for civil rights in the country.The Campaign for Social Justice in Northern Ireland was inaugurated on 17 January, 1964...
(CSJ), the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was an organisation which campaigned for equal civil rights for the all the people in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
(NICRA), and other groups, held the first 'civil rights march' in Northern Ireland from Coalisland to Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county 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...
. 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 the NICRA.
The Troubles
From 19691969 in Northern Ireland
-Events:*1 January - The People's Democracy civil rights march leaves Belfast for Derry.*4 January - Militant loyalists, including off-duty members of the Ulster Special Constabulary , attack the civil rights marchers at Burntoilet bridge in County Londonderry.*5 January - Riots in Derry leave over...
to 2001
2001 in Northern Ireland
-Events:*29 April - 2001 Census carried out. Northern Ireland population: 1,685,267.*15 June - Dispute arose between local loyalist and republican activists on the Crumlin Road peace line in North Belfast over the flying of loyalist paramilitary flags. Loyalists began to picket the nearby Holy...
, a total of 20 people were shot in or near Coalisland as part of the Troubles. The British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
killed a total of 8 people, 7 of whom were IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
members (see below) and one a Catholic civilian, and the IRA in turn killed 2 British soldiers
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, 3 RUC
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
policemen, 3 UDR soldiers
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
, 1 ex-UDR soldier, and 2 Catholic civilians, all in separate incidents. The UVF was responsible for the murder of 1 Catholic in the nearby town of Aughnamullan.
Canal
The town was served by a canal (the Coalisland CanalCoalisland Canal
Coalisland Canal is a canal in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and is about long. Construction of the canal began in 1733, but progress was slow and it was not officially opened until 1787. The canal was built to reduce the cost of transporting coal from the Tyrone coalfields to Dublin...
or Tyrone Navigation), although this is now derelict. A campaign for its restoration is underway. A separate navigation Dukart's Canal
Dukart's Canal
Dukart's Canal was built to provide transport for coal from the Drumglass Colleries to the Coalisland Canal, in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1777, and used three inclined planes, rather than locks, to cope with changes in level...
ran from the town to nearby coalpits.
Rail
Coalisland railway station was opened on 28 July 1897, closed for passenger traffic on 16 January 1956 and for goods traffic on 5 October 1959, finally closing altogether on 1 April 1965. There is no remains of the railway other than the bridge on the Derry Road and an old goods shed and grown over platforms.Townlands
Coalisland sprang up in a townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
called Brackaville and, over time, the urban area spread into the neighbouring townlands.
These include:
- Annagher/Anagher (likely from Eanach Thoir meaning "eastern marsh")
- Brackaville (likely from Bréachmhaoil meaning "wolf hill")
- Derry (from Doire meaning "oak grove")
- Gortgonis (likely from Gort Gonaidh meaning "field of the firewood" or Gort Gabha an Easa meaning "smith's field near the waterfall")
- Gortnaskea (from Gort na Sceach or Gort na Sgeach meaning "field of the thorns")
- Lisnastrane (likely from Lios an tSruthan meaning "ringfort of the streamlet")
Education
- Gaelscoil Ui Neill
- Primate Dixon Primary SchoolPrimate Dixon Primary SchoolPrimate Dixon Primary School is a Catholic school in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The school was founded through the work of Father Peter Quinn and the original buildings first opened on April 23, 1913 with an enrollment of 324 students. The current headmaster is Sean Dillon. A...
- St. John's Primary School
- St Joseph's High SchoolSt Joseph's High School, CoalislandSt Joseph's High School is a Catholic secondary school located in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is within the Southern Education and Library Board area.*Address: 29 School Lane, Coalisland, BT71 4NWh...
Sport
- Coalisland Na FiannaCoalisland Na FiannaCoalisland Fianna is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Coalisland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.-Honours:*Tyrone Senior Football Championship Winners: 1904/05, 1907/08, 1928, 1930, 1946, 1955, 1989, 1990, 2010....
is the local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club. Its website is coalisland fianna
2001 Census Information
Coalisland is classified by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) as a Small Town (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 4,917 people living in Coalisland. Of these:- 29.6% were aged under 16 years and 12.4% were aged 60 and over
- 48.2% of the population were male and 51.8% were female
- 95.8% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 3.8% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 4.6% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
People
- 1985 Snooker World Champion Dennis TaylorDennis TaylorDennis Taylor is a retired snooker player, and current BBC snooker commentator. Winner of two ranking events, he is best known for winning the 1985 World Championship, beating World number one Steve Davis on the final black in one of the sport's most memorable finals...
. - Light middleweight bronze medalist Tom CorrTom CorrThomas Corr is a former amateur boxer. He was born in Ireland. Corr won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Munich, West Germany in the welterweight division.- 1982 World championships record :...
, in the 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships1982 World Amateur Boxing ChampionshipsThe Men's 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Munich, West Germany from May 4 to 15. The third edition of this competition, held two years before the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing AIBA.- Medal winners...
. - Northern Ireland internationalNorthern Ireland national football teamThe Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
footballer Sean WebbSean WebbSeán Michael Webb is a former Northern Irish footballer.-Club career:Webb began his career with Dungannon Swifts where he came through the youth team and made his debut at 16 years old in December 1999. In September 2000 he moved to Scottish Football League club Ross County, where he initially...
.