The village hosts some of the district's key events each year, including the Derg Vintage Rally, Dergfest music festival, Red River Festival and the traditional Apple Fair.
Castlederg was a traveller's stop along the ancient pilgrimage route to Station Island on Lough Derg. The town boasts ancient ruins and monastic settlements.
History
Early history
Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of Cenél nEógain (later Tír Eoghain) and Connail (later Tír Chonaill - mostly modern County Donegal). This rivalry between the two powers continued until the 16th century when they combined in the defence of Ulster against the encroaching Elizabethan armies. The Castlederg area, lying within the new barony of Omagh, was granted to the English Attorney-General for Ireland, Sir John Davies. Two castles were constructed on his proportion, Castle Curlews (Kirlish Castle) outside Drumquin and Derg Castle, the ruins of which can be seen today on the northern bank of the River Derg at Castlederg.[6] A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.[7]
The population of the village increased during the 19th century:[3][10]
Year
1841
1851
1861
1871
1881
1891
Population
476
596
637
703
756
796
Horses
81
102
106
119
137
155
2011 Census
Castlederg is classified as an intermediate settlement by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 2,500 and 4,999 people).[11]
On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,976, accounting for 0.16% of the NI total.[12] Of these:
19.72% were under 16 years old and 16.97% were aged 65 and above;
48.42% of the population were male and 51.58% were female; and
55.36% were from a Catholic community background and 40.22% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background.
36.56% indicated that they had a British national identity, 34.54% had an Irish national identity, and 30.51% had a Northern Irish national identity.
2021 Census
On Census Day (21 March 2021) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,980.[5] Of these:
20.20% were aged under 16, 60.64% were aged between 16-65, and 19.16% were aged 66 and over.[13]
52.75% of the population were female and 47.25% were male.[14]
57.25% belong to or were brought up Catholic, 38.19% belong to or were brought up Protestant (including other Christian denominations), 0.94% belonged to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 3.62% did not adhere to or had no religion.[15]
39.83% indicated they had an Irish national identity,[16] 33.96% indicated they had a British national identity,[17] 32.38% indicated they had a Northern Irish national identity,[18] and .4.46% indicated they had an 'other' national identity.[19] (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)
Castlederg recorded Northern Ireland's lowest-ever recorded temperature of −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) on the morning of 23 December 2010.[23] The town recorded Northern Ireland's highest-ever recorded temperature of 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) on 21 July 2021. On the 22 July, Armagh reported 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) which has since been rejected by the UK Met Office, meaning Castlederg holds both the highest and lowest temperature records in Northern Ireland. Prior to the 21st and 22nd, the record was also broken on 17 July 2021 with a value of 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) at Ballywatticock.[24][25]
