Castlecaulfield

Castlecaulfield
Tyrone
Main Street, taken on 7 April 2010
Location
Grid reference:	H754627
Location:	54°30’28"N, 6°50’10"W
Data
Population:	659  (2011)
Post town:	Dungannon
Postcode:	BT70
Dialling code:	028
Local Government
Council:	Mid-Ulster

Castlecaulfield is a village in Tyrone, two miles west of Dungannon. The village is mostly within the townland of Drumreany, although part of it extends into Lisnamonaghan. It is situated in the Barony of Dungannon Middle. It has been called "Caufle" by local people for upwards of two hundred years as evidenced by a sketch of the Castle c1830 in which the artist Robert O'Callaghan Newenham refers to it as 'Castle Coffell'.

St Michael's Church of Ireland

The ruins of the castle

The Caufeild family, from which the village derives its name (although spelt differently for the last few hundred years), were also responsible for founding the settlement of Caulfeild, West Vancouver, Canada in 1898/99.

History

The townland the village is in was formerly known as Ballydonnelly (Baile Ui Dhonnaile), and was the stronghold of the O'Donnelly (Ui Donnghaile) sept, who had held the role of marshalls to the O'Neills of Tyrone. According to Irish tradition the O'Donnellys were part of the Cenél nEoghain making them kin of the O'Neills. In their role as Marshalls to the O'Neills they were responsible for fostering the children of 'The O'Neill'. The O'Donnellys reached the height of their role during the time of Shane O'Neill when Dean Terrence Danyell (Turlough O'Donnelly) of Armagh played a key role in communications between Shane O'Neill and Elizabeth I. The earliest mention of Ballydonnelly is the Annals of the Four Masters in 1531 when it is said Baile-Ui-Donnghaile was assaulted by Niall Oge, son of Art, son of Con O'Neill. He demolished the castle; and he made a prisoner of the son of O'Neill, who was foster-son of O'Donnelly, and carried him off, together with the horses and the other spoils of the town.” At the Plantation Ballydonnelly was allocated as a 'Servitor' portion and as such was granted to Sir Toby Caulfeild who had served in the Crown forces during the 'Nine Years War'. The Castle to which the name refers is atypical of most Plantation structures in that it is not the more usual fortified tower house and was built by Sir Toby Caulfeild in the style of an Oxfordshire Manor House. Castle Caulfield was badly damaged by fire during the 1641 rebellion and was only reused in a limited capacity thereafter by the descendants of the Caulfeild family.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the village was a centre for the developing linen industry and many Mills and farms where located in and around the village involved in linen production. This culminated in the building of the Acheson & Smith Works (later David Acheson Ltd) in 1874. The factory was in operation until 1978/79 before closure. It was a major employer within the district.

About the village

• Castle Caulfield, built by Sir Toby Caulfield between 1611 and 1619 is in the village. The gatehouse has murder-holes and a display of the Arms of the Caulfield family.
• St Michael's And All Angel's Church of Ireland built c1681
• Parkanaur House, a Tudor revival country house, founded c1804 by the 'Burges' family who occupied the property until their departure in 1955. It is now known as Parkanaur College and the surrounding estate is a Forest park under the care of the NI Forest Service.
• Castlecaulfield Presbyterian Church

Events

• Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society hold a show every year in August to which people are encouraged to enter horticultural and handicraft items for prizes. The society also holds fundraising events throughout the year to support its yearly show.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Castlecaulfield)