Ballygawley
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 Picture taken on 29 September 2005 | |
  Location withinNorthern Ireland | |
| Population | 976 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | H630574 |
| • Belfast | 52 mi (84 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNGANNON |
| Postcode district | BT71 |
| Dialling code | 028, +44 28 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
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Ballygawley orBallygawly (fromIrishBaile Uí Dhálaigh, meaning 'Ó Dálaigh's town')[1][2] is atown inCounty Tyrone,Northern Ireland. It is about 20 kilometres southwest ofDungannon, near the meeting of theA5Derry–Dublin andA4 Dungannon–Enniskillen roads.[3]
An American visitor in 1925 commented on the way the village was laid out: "...Ballygawley, which I found to be a village or settlement on two streets (or possibly on one street which turned at right angles to my left as I stood looking at the buildings when I came in sight of the place). It was a wide street, with excellent cement sidewalks not very wide, and the buildings came up flush with the sidewalks, and there were no alleys, driveways or paths between the buildings."[4]
It is a compact village around the L-shaped Main Street and Church Street, formerly Meeting House Street, with a second cluster of development to the southwest. The main cluster inholds most of the village's facilities; two primary schools, churches and a range of shops and services. The cluster of development to the southwest inholds a secondary school and housing.[3] Ballygawley had a population of 642 at the2001 census.[citation needed]
Ballygawley is also known as "Errigal-Kerogue" or "Errigal-Kieran", supposedly from the dedication of an ancient church to St. Kieran (Ciarán of Clonmacnoise). It was in the barony ofClogher, along theRiver Blackwater. Some of the remains of the old church were known, and an ancient Franciscan friary, founded byConn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone. In the churchyard was a large stone cross, and aholy well.[5]
For more information seeThe Troubles in Ballygawley, which includes a list of incidents in Ballygawley duringthe Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities, as well as:
Ballygawley is acquiring extensive development with the major upgrade to the A4 and the building of the new roundabout to accommodate the traffic congestion from the mainAughnacloy road. These road improvements many contractors have been submitting plans for extensive housing developments. The most exciting of all being the redevelopment of Main st leading onto Church Street, with plans for new bars and restaurants. There is speculation of the Stewart Arms hotel being reopened and other developments such as the health spa at 'Grangemount'. There are other developments such as the rebuilding of Loughrans Castle as a historical building to house historical items from the surrounding area. The Ballygawley River is a major tourist attraction supplying the finest of fresh water fishing in Ireland. The original hydro-electric station at the old Dungannon rd is being rebuilt to provide a large amount of the town's energy.
Although having anIrish nationalist majority, Ballygawley is paraded through by theunionist loyal orders without any incident and last held theOrange Orders "Twelfth" celebrations in 2018,[6] and theRoyal Black Institutions "Black Saturday" demonstration in 2011.[7]
Outdoor activity centre Todds Leap is located in Ballygawley hosting various events and outdoor activities.
Ballygawley railway station (on the narrow gaugeClogher Valley Railway) opened on 2 May 1887 but was shut on 1 January 1942.[8]
The town is served by Bus Eireann Expressway Route 32, connecting the town to both Dublin and Letterkenny.
Schools in the area include Richmond Primary School, St. Mary's Primary School andSt Ciaran's College.[citation needed]
Errigal Ciarán GAC is the localGaelic Athletic Association club.[citation needed]
The population of the village decreased during the 19th century:[9][10]
| Year | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 881 | 768 | 680 | 560 | 446 | 397 |
| Houses | 166 | 145 | 147 | 126 | 136 | 126 |
On census day in 2011 (27 March 2011), the usually resident population of Ballygawley Settlement was 711.[11] Of these:
Ballygawleytownland is situated in the historicbarony ofClogher and thecivil parish ofErrigal Keerogue and covers an area of 123 acres.[14]
The population of the townland declined during the 19th century:[15][16]
| Year | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 84 | 73 | 62 | 68 | 49 | 34 |
| Houses | 19 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
The townland contains one Scheduled Historic Monument: a Castle (grid ref: H6324 5749).[17]
This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under theOpen Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.When he moved to Ballygawley in Tyrone in the early '90s, he transferred from his native Derrylin to Errigal Ciarán.
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