Dungiven
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  Location withinNorthern Ireland | |
| Population | 3,346 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | C689024 |
| • Belfast | 53 miles (85 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDONDERRY |
| Postcode district | BT47 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
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Dungiven (fromIrishDún Geimhin, meaning 'Gevin's fort')[1] is a small town,townland andcivil parish inCounty Londonderry,Northern Ireland. It is near the mainA6Belfast toDerry road, which bypasses the town. It lies where the riversRoe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1,525 ft (465 m)Benbradagh. Nearby is theGlenshane Pass, where the road rises to over 1,000 ft (300 m). It had a population of 3,346 people in the2021 Census.[2] It is withinCauseway Coast and Glens district council area.
There is evidence of settlement in the area for at least 1000 years. The Boviel Wedge cairn is located two miles east of Dungiven. Excavations in 1938 uncovered cremated bones from theNeolithic period, pottery sherds, scrapers, an arrowhead and a polished stone axe.[3] There may have been an abbey in the area around 700AD. TheAugustinian abbey of St Mary's was built in the 11th century. Its ruins contain the tomb ofO'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385.[4] A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags conceals abullaun stone, visited for wart cures.[5]
Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by theÓ Catháin clan, one of the most influential clans inUlster
The town sprang up aroundDungiven Castle and theChurch of Ireland (Anglican church), later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe.[6]
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TheAugustinian priory built in the 1100s stands on the foundations of earlier churches. StNechtan died 679 may have established the first, andSt Patrick the second in the 5th century.[7]
The town is part of theEast Londonderry UK Parliamentary constituency. The MP for the constituency since 2001 has beenGregory Campbell of theDUP. The UK constituency is coterminous with theNorthern Ireland Assembly constituency of the same name. The fiveMLAs elected in 2017 were 2DUP, 1 independent unionist, 1Sinn Féin and 1SDLP. It forms part of the Benbradagh district electoral area ofCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Council. In 2019 this area elected 3Sinn Féin, 1SDLP and 1DUP councillors.
DuringThe 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).[8]
There are two secondary schools in the town,Gaelcholáiste Dhoire andSt. Patrick's College. Located on Main Street and Curragh Road respectively.[9][10] There are also two primary schools in the town, Gaelscoil Neachtain and St. Canice's Primary School.[11] Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and Gaelscoil Neachtain are both co-educational, interdenominational Irish-medium secondary and primary schools.[12][13]
Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area.St Canice's Dungiven is the localGaelic football club;[14] the team plays at O'Cahan Park and have won theDerry Senior Football Championship 7 times, and won theUlster Senior Football Championship once, in 1997.
Kevin Lynch's is the localhurling club; they have won theDerry Senior Hurling Championship a record 22 times. The team plays at Kevin Lynch Park.
Dungiven Celtic F.C. is anassociation football club playing in the C&DL Premier League.
On Census day (21 March 2021) there were 3,346 people living in Dungiven.[2] Of these:
According to theNorthern 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.[24][25] Of these:
TheRiver 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.
TheOwenbeg River is a large tributary to the Roe it starts nearFeeny 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.
Dungiven is mentioned in theBrian Friel playMaking History, as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after theSiege of Kinsale.
'Banagher old church' is said to be the resting place of Saint Murrough O'Heaney.[27] He is said to have tamed the dragon Paiste.[28]
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