Curran, County Londonderry
Encyclopedia
Curran is a small village
and townland
in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 132 people. It is within the Magherafelt District Council
area, specifically within the Magherafelt Town District Electoral Area. The village is in the Mid-Ulster constituency for Westminster
and Northern Ireland Assembly
elections.
Once a thriving market village, Curran has been superseded in recent years by other surrounding towns and villages. The shop, post office and primary school have all closed, the latter being amalgamated with the new primary school in nearby Knockloughrim. Curran Presbyterian Church is a joint charge with Castledawson
Presbyterian Church. The main A6 Belfast
-Derry
road runs nearby. The majority of local Anglicans worship at Termoneeny Parish Church in Knockloughrim.
Curran Flute Band are a popular sight at parades in County Londonderry and further afield; they are one of only three surviving traditional 'kettle drum' flute bands left anywhere in Ireland. The other two are Moneymore Bible and Crown Defenders and Ballynenagh Flute Band, both of which are also in County Londonderry. Bands like this were once the norm in Orange circles, but have faded with the passing of the decades. Curran Flute Band, founded in 1931, keep that old tradition alive, and are highly popular as a result. They lead Curran Hamilton's True Blues LOL 121 on July 12th and Curran Golden Star RBP 446 on the Last Saturday in August every year.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , 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...
and townland
Townland
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...
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, 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...
. 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....
it had a population of 132 people. It is within the Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Council headquarters are in Magherafelt. The Council area stretches from Lough Neagh and the River Bann in the east and into the Sperrin Mountains in the west and is divided by the Moyola River. It covers...
area, specifically within the Magherafelt Town District Electoral Area. The village is in the Mid-Ulster constituency for Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
and Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
elections.
Once a thriving market village, Curran has been superseded in recent years by other surrounding towns and villages. The shop, post office and primary school have all closed, the latter being amalgamated with the new primary school in nearby Knockloughrim. Curran Presbyterian Church is a joint charge with Castledawson
Castledawson
Castledawson is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is mostly within the townland of Shanemullagh , about four miles from the north-western shore of Lough Neagh, and close to the market town of Magherafelt...
Presbyterian Church. The main A6 Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
-Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
road runs nearby. The majority of local Anglicans worship at Termoneeny Parish Church in Knockloughrim.
Curran Flute Band are a popular sight at parades in County Londonderry and further afield; they are one of only three surviving traditional 'kettle drum' flute bands left anywhere in Ireland. The other two are Moneymore Bible and Crown Defenders and Ballynenagh Flute Band, both of which are also in County Londonderry. Bands like this were once the norm in Orange circles, but have faded with the passing of the decades. Curran Flute Band, founded in 1931, keep that old tradition alive, and are highly popular as a result. They lead Curran Hamilton's True Blues LOL 121 on July 12th and Curran Golden Star RBP 446 on the Last Saturday in August every year.