Carrickmore
| Carrickmore | |
| Tyrone | |
|---|---|
 Main Street, Carrickmore | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | H612725 |
| Location: | 54°35’51"N, 7°3’11"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 612 (2001) |
| Postcode: | BT79 |
| Dialling code: | 028 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Fermanagh and Omagh |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
West Tyrone |
Carrickmore is a village in Tyrone, sitting between Cookstown, Dungannon and Omagh. It had a population of 612 in the 2001 Census. The 2011 Census recorded 2,330 people in thr Carrickmore and Creggan areas together.
The name of the village is from the Gaelic an Charraig Mhór, meaning "The big rock".[1] It is in the Barony of Omagh East.
History
The current settlement can trace its origins back thousands of years to the pre-Christian era. A wide range of historic monuments can be found in the Carrickmore area, including cairns, stone circles, standing stones and raths. It lies in the centre of the county on a raised site colloquially called "Carmen". An alias name for Carrickmore village is Termon Rock, Termonn being the first element of the parish name Termonmaguirk (from Tearmann Mhig Oirc; ‘McGurk’s sanctuary’), while 'Rock' refers to the rocky hill on which the village stands. The McGurks were the Coarb family or hereditary lay custodians of the parish's church lands. The site of the former parish church is adjacent to the village of Carrickmore.
The Dean Brian Maguirc College, a second-level education school, is named for Dean Brian McGurk who was Vicar-General to St Oliver Plunkett during the Penal Times and died in Armagh Gaol, aged 91.[2]
The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway opened Carrickmore railway station on 2 September 1861. The Ulster Transport Authority closed the station on 5 October 1959 and the line on 15 February 1965.[3]
About the village
Mullinalap Monastic Settlement, an early Christian settlement, was located on the site of an older Celtic settlement. Pilgrims from across Ireland and Europe came to this site to seek spiritual renewal and cures from ailments as water from a well at the site was reputed to have healing power. St Colomba (Colmcille) founded a monastery here in 550. Situated on the hill beside St Colmcille's Roman Catholic Church, Creggan Road.
Dunmisk Fort is assumed to be one of the few industrial centres of Ireland during prehistoric times. The site is hugely significant in that it is the first evidence for glass-making to be published for Early Christian Ireland. It shows that both glass-making and glass-working occurred, and therefore that not all glass was imported. Evidence was found there during an archaeology survey in the 1980s. It was also discovered that the site was home to a complex monastic settlement and a cemetery of over 400 graves. It is accessed from the main Galbally to Carrickmore Road.[4]
Relignaman is a small sub-rectangular enclosure, approximately 62 feet across, surrounded by a grass covered stony bank, some with decoration. The name 'Relignaman' comes from the Irish relig na mban, meaning women’s graveyard. According to local tradition, it is located sufficiently far from St Colmcille’s church in Carrickmore so as the ringing of the bell will not wake the dead. Another tradition is that the saint decreed that no living woman or dead man should enter it, with another possibility being that it was a burial ground for a women's religious community. It probably dates to the early Christian period. The site can be accessed from both Quarry Road and Drumnakilly Road.
Creggandevesky Court Tomb was built between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in the late Stone Age. The chamber served as a tomb, and the courtyard to accommodate a ritual. It is accessed from the Loughmallon road, four miles from Carrickmore.[5]
Patrician Hall is a community, culture, arts and multi-purpose venue in the centre of the village. It was renowned across Ireland as one of the top venues for Showbands in the 1960s and 1970s. It hosts the annual Mid-Ulster Drama Festival every March as well as other festivals and events throughout the year.
Bernish Glen is an impressive landmark on the local countryside. Named after the renowned local highwayman Shane Bernagh Donnelly it was then made famous by Poet WF Marshall. The area is well known for its bilberries - known locally as 'blaeberries' or 'fraughan' - which would be picked annually at the Blaeberry Sunday festival on the last Sunday in July.
The Tree of Fortune is an old tree located beneath Mullinalap Monastic Settlement. There are several variations on this story with local custom saying that beneath it is a portal to the otherworld e.g. Mag Mell. Oral tradition has it that the Fear Dubh or dark man (i.e. malevolent spirit) would appear at the site and play a betting game with mortals, if they won their wishes would be granted, if they lost then their souls were his for eternity. The spirit was eventually banished by the Tuatha Dé Danann led by Lugh forcing it into the portal and sealing the entrance by planting a tree on top of it. Lugh was said to declare the area a sanctuary from the spirit and it is believed this is how the locality received the name Termon or Tearmann. It is said the tree is now guarded by the Aos Sí, the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann. It was believed that each time the tree dies the entrance can reopen and the Fear Dubh may return to play its game. A local brewery was named after the tree.[6]
Quinns Corner on the corner of Main Street and Creggan Road is an elevated platform in the centre of the village (formerly a Hotel and latterly a Public House) was the setting for speeches given by many prominent political figures, essentially republican nationalists. It is also the place the local sporting teams return to after winning contests. It now lies derelict.[7]
Carrickmore Airfield is a small airfield on the edge of Carrickmore offering flying lessons and pleasure flights over the local countryside. Run by the local C-More Flying club, it hosts annual fun days for the community which include 'Fly-In's' by aircraft from all over Ireland and Britain including the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter.[8]
Sport
- Gaelic sports:
- Carrickmore St Colmcille's: Gaelic football
- Éire Óg Hurling and Camogie Club
There are also local walking, running, cycling and special needs sporting clubs.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Carrickmore) |
References
- ↑ Carrickmore - Placenames NI
- ↑ Carrickmore, Dean Maguirc College. "Dean Maguirc College Carrickmore > Temp Offline". http://www.deanmaguirccollege.com.
- ↑ "Carrickmore station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf.
- ↑ Henderson, J., & Ivens, R. (1992). Dunmisk and glass-making in Early Christian Ireland. Antiquity, 66(250), 52-64. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00081035
- ↑ "Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork : School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast" (PDF). https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/CentreforArchaeologicalFieldworkCAF/PDFFileStore/Filetoupload,181006,en.pdf.
- ↑ "Pokertree Brewing Company - A Devil Of A Brew". 20 August 2014. http://www.belgiansmaak.com/pokertree-brewing-company/.
- ↑ Melaugh, Dr Martin. "CAIN: Paul Arthur (1974) The People's Democracy 1968-73 - Extracts". http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/pdmarch/arthur74b.htm.
- ↑ "C-More Flying School" (in en). https://www.c-moreflyingschool.com/.