Dungiven
Dungiven (Irish: Dún Geimhín; meaning Given's fort) is a large village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the main Belfast to Derry road. It is situated where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg converge at the foot of the 1,535ft Benbradagh mountain, next to the Glenshane Pass where the road rises to over 1,000ft. It had a population of 2,993 people in the 2001 Census.
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History
An interesting site in Dungiven is the 11th century Augustinian priory of St Mary's and the tomb of O'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385. A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags, on the right, conceals a bullaun stone, visited for wart cures.
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in Dungiven, which includes a list of incidents in Dungiven during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Places of interest
- Near Dungiven are Banagher Glen, popular with ornithologists, and Altaheglish Reservoir, an impressive lake set up in the mountains, surrounded by forest.
- At Dungiven Castle, constructed during the reign of James I on the south side of the village, there is a 20 acre Environmental and Conservation Park consisting of Victorian Gardens, Wetlands, Woodlands, Nature Reserve, Duck Pond and Picnic Area.
People
- Dungiven is the home town of folk singer Cara Dillon.
- John Mitchel, a 19th century Irish patriot who inspired the Young Ireland Movement, was born in Camnish, near Dungiven and Burnfoot.
Transport
Dungiven was the terminus of the Limavady railway closed in 1950.
References in Popular Culture
Dungiven is mentioned in the Brian Friel play Making History. This is where Mabel Bagnel goes after the Battle of Kinsale
2001 Census
Dungiven is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2,993 people living in Dungiven. Of these:
- 29.3% were aged under 16 and 11.7% were aged 60 and over
- 50.4% of the population were male and 49.6% were female
- 96.8% were from a Catholic background and 3.1% were from a Protestant background
- 6.7% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see:NI Neighbourhood Information Service
References
External links
See also
