Dungiven
Encyclopedia
Dungiven is a small town and townland
in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. It is on the main A6
Belfast
to Derry
road. It lies where the rivers Roe
, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1525 ft (464.8 m) Benbradagh
. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass
, where the road rises to over 1000 ft (304.8 m). It had a population of 2,993 people in the 2001 Census
, an increase of 6% over 1991.
and the Church of Ireland
church at the eastern end of the town, later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe. Because of the River Roe's flood plain and the line of a proposed by-pass, housing development has been mostly to the east and north of the town. It is an important service centre for the surrounding rural hinterland; offering educational, health, commercial, social, community and recreational facilities.
(Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385. A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags, on the right, conceals a bullaun
stone, visited for wart cures.
Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the O'Cahan
clan, one of the most influential clans in Ulster
and respected throughout Ireland
. During the days of James I they built Dungiven Castle, which remains today as a restaurant and guesthouse. World famous song Danny Boy
is taken from a melody composed by O’Cahan bard Rory Dall O’Cahan. The original version concerns the passing of the Chief Cooey-na-Gall, whose death brought an end to a long line of O’Cahan chiefs in northern Ireland.
in Northern Ireland seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of them members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey, is sometimes deemed the first person killed in the Troubles.
Parliamentary constituency, coterminous with the Northern Ireland Assembly
constituency of the same name. It forms part of Limavady Borough Council
district.
are the most popular sports in the area. St Canice's Dungiven
is the local Gaelic football
club and Kevin Lynch's
is the local hurling
club. St Canices play at O'Cahan Park, while Kevin Lynch's play at Kevin Lynch Park.
St Canice's have won the Derry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won the Ulster Senior Football Championship
once, in 1997.
Kevin Lynch's have won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship a record 22 times and are the current county champions, for the fourth successive year.
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,993 people living in Dungiven. Of these:
For more details see:NI Neighbourhood Information Service
play Making History
, as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after the Siege of Kinsale
.
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...
. It is on the main A6
A6 road (Northern Ireland)
The A6 road in Northern Ireland runs from the Belfast to Derry, via Antrim. Mostly single carriageway, there is a short dual carriageway section forming the Toome bypass. Towards Derry, there is also a short section of dual carriageway at Altnagelvin. This is one of Northern Ireland's most...
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...
to 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. It lies where the rivers Roe
River Roe (Northern Ireland)
The River Roe flows north from Glenshane in the Sperrin Mountains to Lough Foyle, via the settlements of Dungiven, Burnfoot, Limavady and Myroe. The river is contained within County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.- Etymology :...
, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1525 ft (464.8 m) Benbradagh
Benbradagh
Benbradagh is a mountain in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is the second most northerly summit in the Sperrin Mountains area and the 564th highest summit in Ireland. Its summit rises to . The mountain is located to the east of Dungiven....
. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass
Glenshane Pass
The Glenshane Pass is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is in the townland of Glenshane on the main Derry to Belfast route, the A6.-Features:It is a Special Area of Conservation...
, where the road rises to over 1000 ft (304.8 m). It had a population of 2,993 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....
, an increase of 6% over 1991.
Features
Dungiven sprang up around Dungiven CastleDungiven Castle
Dungiven Castle, in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, dates back to the seventeenth century although most of the current building dates from the 1830s....
and the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
church at the eastern end of the town, later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe. Because of the River Roe's flood plain and the line of a proposed by-pass, housing development has been mostly to the east and north of the town. It is an important service centre for the surrounding rural hinterland; offering educational, health, commercial, social, community and recreational facilities.
History
An interesting site in Dungiven is the 11th century Augustinian priory of St Mary's and the tomb of O'CahanO'Cahan
O'Cahan is the name of a significant clan in Ulster, a province of Ireland. It has been angiclized to O'Kane, Kane and variations including, O'Keane, O'Kean, O'Keen, O'Keene, Keen, Keene, Kain, O'Kaine, and similar variations thereof. They are descended from Eógan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
(Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385. A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags, on the right, conceals a bullaun
Bullaun
A bullaun is the term used for the depression in a stone which is often water filled. Natural rounded boulders or pebbles may sit in the bullaun...
stone, visited for wart cures.
Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the O'Cahan
O'Cahan
O'Cahan is the name of a significant clan in Ulster, a province of Ireland. It has been angiclized to O'Kane, Kane and variations including, O'Keane, O'Kean, O'Keen, O'Keene, Keen, Keene, Kain, O'Kaine, and similar variations thereof. They are descended from Eógan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
clan, one of the most influential clans in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and respected throughout Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. During the days of James I they built Dungiven Castle, which remains today as a restaurant and guesthouse. World famous song Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
is taken from a melody composed by O’Cahan bard Rory Dall O’Cahan. The original version concerns the passing of the Chief Cooey-na-Gall, whose death brought an end to a long line of O’Cahan chiefs in northern Ireland.
The Troubles
During The TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of them members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey, is sometimes deemed the first person killed in the Troubles.
Politics
The village is part of the East LondonderryEast Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)
East Londonderry is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Londonderry constituency...
Parliamentary constituency, coterminous with the Northern Ireland Assembly
East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)
East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
constituency of the same name. It forms part of Limavady Borough Council
Limavady Borough Council
Limavady Borough Council is a Local Council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Limavady. The Borough has a population of over 32,000 with 63% of the population living in a rural setting. It covers an area of 586 square kilometres and includes the valley...
district.
Places of interest
- Near Dungiven are Banagher Glen (popular with birdwatchersOrnithologyOrnithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
) and Altaheglish Reservoir (an impressive lake set up in the mountains and surrounded by forest). - At Dungiven Castle, built during the reign of James IJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
on the south side of the town, there is a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) Environmental and Conservation Park consisting of Victorian gardens, wetlands, woodlands, a duck pond and picnic area. - Altahullion Wind Farm is near Dungiven and is owned by RES-Gen Ltd. It was designed and built by RES using local contractors and commissioned in 2003. Altahullion’s 20 turbines can generate up to 26MW. Electricity from the wind farm is sold to Belfast based Energia who supply hospitals, schools and Northern Ireland businesses. The public can visit the site by following the signs from the A6 Dungiven to Derry road. There is car parking, an information board and a path up to the visitor turbine.
Sport
Gaelic gamesGaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
are the most popular sports in the area. St Canice's Dungiven
Dungiven GAC
St. Canice's GAC Dungiven is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football. The hurling club in the town is Kevin Lynch's....
is the local Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club and Kevin Lynch's
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for hurling. The Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football team in the town is St...
is the local hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
club. St Canices play at O'Cahan Park, while Kevin Lynch's play at Kevin Lynch Park.
St Canice's have won the Derry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won the Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
once, in 1997.
Kevin Lynch's have won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship a record 22 times and are the current county champions, for the fourth successive year.
Demographics
Dungiven is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,993 people living in Dungiven. Of these:
- 29.3% were aged under 16 and 11.7% were aged 60 and over
- 50.4% of the population were male and 49.6% were female
- 96.8% 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 3.1% were from a Protestant background - 6.7% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see:NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Transport
- Dungiven sits on the main A6 roadA6 road (Northern Ireland)The A6 road in Northern Ireland runs from the Belfast to Derry, via Antrim. Mostly single carriageway, there is a short dual carriageway section forming the Toome bypass. Towards Derry, there is also a short section of dual carriageway at Altnagelvin. This is one of Northern Ireland's most...
and has good road links to Derry (29 km to the west) and LimavadyLimavadyLimavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
(13 km to the north). A proposed by-pass for Dungiven, following a route to the south west of the town, has been marked-out since the 1973 Limavady Area Plan. - Dungiven was the terminus of the Limavady railwayLimavady railwayThe Limavady Railway link by means of a branch line to the main Derry - Belfast line was closed on 2 May 1955. The spur ran from Limavady Junction to Limavady Station. The line then continued a further 7 miles to Dungiven...
, which closed in 1950. Dungiven railway station opened on 4 July 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 1 January 1933 and closed altogether on 3 July 1950.
People
- Francis BrollyFrancis BrollyFrancie Brolly is a musician, retired teacher and republican politician from Dungiven, Northern Ireland. He was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007 as a Sinn Féin member for the East Londonderry constituency...
, former Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
MLAMember of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)Member of the Legislative Assembly is a representative elected by the voters to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Northern Ireland.- About :...
for East LondonderryEast Londonderry (Assembly constituency)East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
. - Joe BrollyJoe BrollyJoe Brolly is an Irish barrister, TV pundit, and ex Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side in 1993 and also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League...
, member of Derry'sDerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
1993 All-IrelandAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning team. Won All StarsGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
in 1996 and 1997 - Cara DillonCara DillonCara Dillon is an Irish folk singer. In 2001, she launched her career as a solo artist in the UK with the eponymous Cara Dillon album...
, Internationally recognised folk singer - Kevin Lynch, hunger striker who died in 1981. The Dungiven hurlingHurlingHurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
team was renamed Kevin Lynch's Hurling ClubKevin Lynch's Hurling ClubKevin Lynch's Hurling Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for hurling. The Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football team in the town is St...
in his honour after his death. - Paul McCloskeyPaul McCloskeyPaul McCloskey is an Irish southpaw professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division....
, professional boxer, former British and European light welterweight champion. - Brian McGilliganBrian McGilliganBrian McGilligan is a former dual GAA player, who is most notable for being a Gaelic footballer for the Derry senior football team in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the 1993 team. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side and also won two Ulster Championships with the side...
, member of Derry'sDerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
1993 All-IrelandAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning team. Won All StarsGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
in 1987 and 1993 - Geoffrey McGonagleGeoffrey McGonagleGeoffrey McGonagle is an Irish dual GAA player who played Gaelic football and hurling for Derry in the 1990s and 2000s.McGonagle plays club football for St. Canice's Dungiven and club hurling for Kevin Lynch's. He has had a highly successful career with both clubs.McGonagle is a fan favourite for...
, former DerryDerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
dual playerDual playerDual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
. - Kieran McKeeverKieran McKeeverKieran McKeever is a former Irish dual player who played Gaelic football and hurling with Derry in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He is chiefly known as a footballer and was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, also won Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1993...
, member of Derry'sDerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
1993 All-IrelandAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning team. Won an All StarGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
in 2000 - John MitchelJohn MitchelJohn Mitchel was an Irish nationalist activist, solicitor and political journalist. Born in Camnish, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, Ireland he became a leading member of both Young Ireland and the Irish Confederation...
, a 19th century Irish patriot who inspired the Young IrelandYoung IrelandYoung Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
Movement, was born in Camnish, near Dungiven and Burnfoot. The area Mitchel Park is named after him. - John Eddie MullanJohn Eddie MullanJohn Eddie Mullan was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1940s and 1950s. He was part of the first Derry side to win the National Football League and also won two Dr. McKenna Cups and three Dr. Lagan Cups with the county.For most of his career he played club football for St...
, former DerryDerry GAAThe Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
player. - Eamonn O'Kane, professional boxer, 2010 Commonwealth Games2010 Commonwealth GamesThe 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
gold medallist at middleweight. - Eoghan QuiggEoghan QuiggEoghan Quigg is an Irish pop singer and occasional actor from Dungiven in Northern Ireland, who finished third in the fifth series of the British television music talent contest The X Factor in 2008...
, singer.
Popular culture
Dungiven is mentioned in the Brian FrielBrian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
play Making History
Making History (play)
Making History is a play written by Irish playwright Brian Friel in 1989. It is set in Ireland in August 1591 and focuses on the real-life plight of Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone, who led an Irish and Spanish alliance against the English in an attempt to drive them out of Ireland. The play is...
, as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after the Siege of Kinsale
Siege of Kinsale
The Siege or Battle of Kinsale was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland. It took place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, at the climax of the Nine Years War - a campaign by Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill and other Irish clan leaders against English rule...
.