Castlederg
| Castlederg | |
| Tyrone | |
|---|---|
 The Diamond, Castlederg | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | H262845 |
| Location: | 54°42’30"N, 7°35’36"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,976 (2011) |
| Post town: | Castlederg |
| Postcode: | BT81 |
| Dialling code: | 028 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Derry City and Strabane |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
West Tyrone |
Castlederg is a small town in Tyrone, on the River Derg. Here stands a ruined castle, Castlderg Castle. which once controlled the passage between Tyrone and Donegal.
It stands close to the border with County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland. The village has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den. It had a population of 2,976 people at the 2011 Census.
The older name of the village was Caslanadergy, which is from the Gaelic Caisleán na Deirge, meaning "Castle on the Derg.[1]
The town is in the townlands of Castlesessagh and Churchtown, in the Barony of Omagh West.
The village hosts some of the key events of the area's social calendar, including the Derg Vintage Rally, Dergfest music festival, Red River Festival and the traditional Apple Fair.
History
This town was a traveller's stop along the ancient pilgrimage route to Station Island on Lough Derg. It has ancient ruins and monastic settlements.
A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.[2]
Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of Cenél nEógain (later Tír Eoghain ,whence the name of Tyrone) 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, the poet Sir John Davies. Two castles were constructed on his proportion, Castle Curlews (Kirlish Castle) outside Drumquin and the bulk of what can be seen today on the northern bank of the Derg at Castlederg.[3]
The narrow-gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was built in 1883, to link the village with the Great Northern Railway at Victoria Bridge. Castlederg railway station opened on 4 July 1884, but was finally closed on 17 April 1933.[4]
Sport
- Football: *Dergview F.C.
- Gaelic games: Castlederg St. Eugene's
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Castlederg) |
References
- ↑ Castlederg - Placenames NI
- ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (14 May 2011). "Castlederg bronze cauldron, 700-600 BC" (in en). https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/castlederg-bronze-cauldron-700-600-bc-1.571970.
- ↑ "Castlederg Castle". https://discovernorthernireland.com/Castlederg-Castle-Castlederg-P3493.
- ↑ "Castlederg station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf.