Small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Human settlement in Northern Ireland
Dungiven (from Irish Dún Geimhin, meaning 'Gevin's fort')[1] is a small town, townland and civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the main A6 Belfast to Derry road, which bypasses the town. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1,525 ft (465 m) Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over 1,000 ft (300 m). It had a population of 3,346 people in the 2021 Census.[2] It is within Causeway Coast and Glens district council area.
History
There is evidence of settlement in the area for at least 1000 years. There may have been an abbey in the area around 700AD. The Augustinian abbey of St Mary's was built in the 11th century. Its ruins contain the tomb of O'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385.[3] A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags conceals a bullaun stone, visited for wart cures.[4]
Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the Ó Catháin clan, one of the most influential clans in Ulster
The town sprang up around Dungiven Castle and the Church of Ireland (Anglican church), later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe.[5]
Politics
The town is part of the East Londonderry UK Parliamentary constituency. The MP for the constituency since 2001 has been Gregory Campbell of the DUP. The UK constituency is coterminous with the Northern Ireland Assembly constituency of the same name. The five MLAs elected in 2017 were 2 DUP, 1 independent unionist, 1 Sinn Féin and 1 SDLP. It forms part of the Benbradagh district electoral area of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. In 2019 this area elected 3 Sinn Féin, 1 SDLP and 1 DUP councillors.
The Troubles
During The Troubles in Northern Ireland, seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of whom were members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey, was found beaten to death in disputed circumstances during street riots, in which the police were called to respond. He has sometimes been deemed as the first person killed in the last installment of the Troubles (1969-1997).[6]
Education
There are two secondary schools in the town, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and St. Patrick's College. Located on Main Street and Curragh Road respectively.[7][8] There are also two primary schools in the town, Gaelscoil Neachtain and St. Canice's Primary School.[9]
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and Gaelscoil Neachtain are both co-educational, interdenominational Irish-medium secondary and primary schools.[10][11]
Sport
Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area. St Canice's Dungiven is the local Gaelic football club;[12] the team plays at O'Cahan Park and have won the Derry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won the Ulster Senior Football Championship once, in 1997.
Kevin Lynch's is the local hurling club; they have won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship a record 22 times. The team plays at Kevin Lynch Park.
Dungiven Celtic F.C. is an association football club playing in the C&DL Premier League.
Demography
2021 Census
On Census day (21 March 2021) there were 3,346 people living in Dungiven.[2] Of these:
- 94.3% were from a Catholic background and 2.9% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.[13]
- 72.8% identified as Irish,[14] 24.1% identified as Northern Irish, and 5.9% identified as British.[15]
2011 Census
According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), on Census day (27 March 2011) there were 3,288 people living in Dungiven, an increase of 10% over the 2001 population of 2,993.[16][17] Of these:
- 24.57% were aged under 16 and 10.55% were aged 65 and over
- 48.87% of the population were male and 51.13% were female
- 95.41% were from a Catholic background and 3.65% were from a Protestant or other Christian background
- 8.63% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
Rivers
The River Roe is a major river in Northern Ireland and the largest river in the town. The river can be seen at the western end of Dungiven at Dungiven Bridge. It starts up the Glenshane Pass and flows in a northwestern way towards the town and then north through Burnfoot and then Limavady.
The Owenbeg River is a large tributary to the Roe it starts near Feeny and flows into the river downstream from Buttermilk Bridge.
The Owenreagh River is also a major tributary which starts up in Banagher Glen and flows into the river downstream from the new A6 Bridge.
The Pellipar Burn is a small river or stream which flows through the heart of the town mainly a polluted urban stream and parts flowing underground in culverts. The burn can be seen below New Bridge beside the Church on New Street. it flows into the Roe a short distance downstream from Pellipar Bridge. The burn is named after Pellipar House.
The Derryware Burn is another small stream that flows at the northern end of the town this burn is around the same size as the Pellipar and flows into the River Roe above Pellipar House Estate.
Popular culture
Dungiven is mentioned in the Brian Friel play Making History, as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after the Siege of Kinsale.
'Banagher old church' is said to be the resting place of Saint Murrough O'Heaney.[19] He is said to have tamed the dragon Paiste.[20]
