Donaghcloney
| |
|---|---|
 St Patrick's church | |
  Location withinCounty Down | |
| Population | 1,977 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | J129537 |
| • Belfast | 23 mi (37 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CRAIGAVON |
| Postcode district | BT66 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
| |
Donaghcloney orDonacloney (fromIrishDomhnach Cluana, meaning 'church of the meadow')[1][2] is avillage,townland (of 300 acres) andcivil parish inCounty Down,[1][2]Northern Ireland. It lies on theRiver Lagan betweenLurgan andDromore. In the2021 census the village had a population of 1,977.[3] It is colloquially referred to as "The 'Cloney" by locals.[1]
Donaghcloney was reputedly established bySaint Patrick whilst travelling fromSaul toArmagh sometime in the 5th century CE.[4] A parish church was established overlooking the River Lagan, in what is today the village graveyard.
One of the first recorded mention of the village's name was in papal registers dated to 1422 asDomhnachcluana.[1] The spelling changed frequently throughout theMiddle Ages, during which time a new bell was installed in the parish church. The parish church suffered damage during the1641 Rebellion and theCromwellian campaign in Ireland.[4] During theWilliamite War in Ireland, Donaghcloney was the site of a clash between forces belonging toFrederick Schomberg andKing James II. During this battle the parish church bell was thrown into the River Lagan. In the early 1800s it was recovered and installed in a church in nearbyWaringstown.[4]
Donaghcloney is a typicalUlster village and has been linked to theIrish linen industry since at least 1742.[5] By 1840 Donaghcloney boasted a large bleaching green which was turning out 8000 pieces of fabric annually.[6] In 1866, William Liddell founded his linen company, headquartered at a new factory in Donaghcloney. William Liddell & Co. became the largestJacquard weaving company in Ireland.[7] At one point the company also owned a smaller mill at Banoge, on the outskirts of the village.
Donaghcloney grew during this time due to the employment created by Liddell's factory as well as his philanthropic efforts. The company provided housing for its workers and in 1877 established theFactory Society for the Sick to help its employees' families cover funeral costs.[8] It also built a church, a school, and a cricket pitch.
By the 1900s the company was the largest producer ofDamask Linen in the world[5] and its products were being used in hotels and ocean liners across Europe. Notably, the linen used onboardRMSTitanic was produced in Donaghcloney.[8][9] During theFirst andSecond World War, Donaghcloney Linen Factory served the war effort through production of airplane coverings, parachute harnesses, bullets, and munitions.[8]
In 1973 William Liddell & Co. merged with its long-time rival, William Ewart and Sons (founded inBelfast in 1814), forming the Ewart Liddell Company. Donaghcloney Linen Factory continued production, and its products were used byBloomingdale's,Harrods,Emirates,Qantas, theSavoy, andThe Ritz. It also supplied napkins and cushion covers forConcorde planes and airport lounges.[8]
By 2000, the company's fortunes had changed and the Donaghcloney Linen Factory was outdated and in need of expensive modernisation.[8] In 2001, it was acquired by the Baird McNutt Group, who closed the Donaghcloney Factory the following year.[5] The factory lay derelict until the early 2010s, when it was demolished leaving only the chimney.
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Donaghcloney has aNisa shop and petrol station, aPost Office, a primary school, a children's play-park, achippy, aChinese takeaway, anoff license, a pharmacist, a hairdresser, a butcher, and a café.
There areMethodist,Elim Pentecostal,Church of Ireland, andPresbyterian churches as well as aGospel Hall,Orange Hall, and aRoyal British Legion.
The village has a history of cricket playing over many generations with theDonaghcloney Mill Cricket Club, founded in 1888.[10] The club is based in aB2-listedEdwardian cricket pavilion,[11] located in the grounds of the former factory.
Donacloney Football Club, founded in 1890, have two men's teams both playing in theMid-Ulster Football League.[12] The club's home pitch is in the village alongside the River Lagan.
Donaghcloney Primary School is the only educational establishment in the village, catering for approximately 280 pupils. It was formed in 1979 to replace three smaller local schools, formerly located at Fortescue,[13] Blackskull, and Liddell.[14]
The nearest secondary schools areBanbridge High School,Banbridge Academy,Lurgan Junior High School, and Dromore High School.
Donaghcloney is served by theUlsterbus route 56, linking the village with Lurgan andBanbridge. It is situated on theB9 Road, connecting it with nearbyMoira, as well asDromore via the B2 andLurgan and Banbridge via theA26.
The nearest railway stations areMoira andLurgan, both around 6 miles away on theBelfast - Dublin mainline. Until 1956, the nearest station wasMullafernaghan on theGreat Northern Railway's line fromLisburn toNewcastle viaBanbridge.
Donaghcloney is classified as a small village by theNorthern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
| Census Year | Total Population | Age (%) | Sex (%) | Religious background (%) | Unemployed (%) | Sources | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged under 16 | Aged over 60 | Male | Female | Protestant | Catholic | Other | None | ||||
| 2001 (29 Apr) | 972 | 21.8 | 21.9 | 48.6 | 51.4 | 93.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | [15] |
| 2011 (27 Mar) | 1701 | 25.4 | 15.2 | 48.5 | 51.5 | 84.2 | 7.1 | 0.8 | 7.9 | 12 | [16] |
| 2021 (21 Mar) | 1977 | 23 | 10 | 50 | 50 | 78 | 7 | >1 | 15 | 2 | [17] |
The civil parish is situated in the historicbarony ofIveagh Lower, Upper Half and contains the following settlements:[20]
The civil parish contains the following townlands:[20]
