Edit filter log

'{{Infobox UK place |official_name= Dungiven |irish_name= Dún Geimhin |scots_name= |local_name= |static_image=[[File:Dungiven Main Street.jpg|250px]] |static_image_caption= |map_type= Northern Ireland |label_position= none |latitude= 54.928 |longitude= -6.925 |belfast_distance= 53 miles |population= 2,993 |population_ref= <small>(2001 Census)</small> |irish_grid_reference=C689024 |unitary_northern_ireland= [[Limavady Borough Council|Limavady]] |country= Northern Ireland |post_town= LONDONDERRY |postcode_area= BT |postcode_district= BT47 |dial_code= 028, +44 28 |constituency_westminster= [[East Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)|East Londonderry]] |constituency_ni_assembly= [[East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)|East Londonderry]] |lieutenancy_northern_ireland= [[County Londonderry]] |website= |hide_services= yes }} '''Dungiven''' ({{Irish derived place name|Dún Geimhin|Gevin's fort}})<ref>[http://www.logainm.ie/2877.aspx Placenames Database of Ireland]</ref> is a small town and [[townland]] in [[County Londonderry]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It is on the main [[A6 road (Northern Ireland)|A6]] [[Belfast]] to [[Derry]] road. It lies where the rivers [[River Roe (Northern Ireland)|Roe]], Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the {{convert|1525|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Benbradagh]]. Nearby is the [[Glenshane Pass]], where the road rises to over {{convert|1000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It had a population of 2,993 people in the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], an increase of 6% over 1991.<ref name="PS">{{cite web | title=Dungiven Settlement Designation | work=Planning Service - Draft Northern Area Plan 2016 | url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/AreaPlans_Policy/Plans/Northern/draft_plan/Volume2/Part6/Towns/Dungiven_settlementdesignation.htm | accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> ==Features== Dungiven sprang up around [[Dungiven Castle]] and the [[Church of Ireland]] church at the eastern end of the town, later spreading westwards along Chapel Road and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe. Because of the River Roe's [[flood plain]] and the line of a proposed by-pass, housing development has been mostly to the east and north of the town. It is an important service centre for the surrounding rural hinterland; offering educational, health, commercial, social, community and recreational facilities.<ref name="PS"/> ==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 conceals a [[bullaun]] stone, visited for wart cures.<ref name="CN">{{cite web | title=Dungiven | work=Culture Northern Ireland | url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=444 | accessdate=2008-07-15 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080609022346/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=444 |archivedate = 2008-06-09}}</ref> Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the [[Ó Catháin]] clan, one of the most influential clans in [[Ulster]] and respected throughout [[Ireland]]. In the early 17th century they built [[Dungiven Castle]], which - having been substantially rebuilt in the 19th century - remains today as a restaurant and guesthouse. The world famous song ''[[Danny Boy]]'' is taken from a melody composed by Ó Catháin bard [[Ruairí Dall Ó Catháin]]. The original version concerns the passing of the Chief Cooey-na-Gall, whose death brought an end to the long line of O'Cahan chiefs.<ref name="CN"/> ===The Troubles=== {{main|The Troubles in Dungiven}} During [[The Troubles]] in Northern Ireland seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of them members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey who was beaten to death by police, is sometimes deemed the first person killed in the Troubles.<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1969.html Sutton Index of Deaths - 1969]</ref> ==Politics== The village is part of the [[East Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)|East Londonderry]] Parliamentary constituency, coterminous with the [[East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)|Northern Ireland Assembly]] constituency of the same name. It forms part of [[Limavady Borough Council]] district. ==Places of interest== *Near Dungiven are Banagher Glen (popular with [[Ornithology|birdwatchers]]) and Altaheglish Reservoir (an impressive lake set up in the mountains and surrounded by forest). *At Dungiven Castle, built during the reign of [[James I of England|James I]] on the south side of the town, there is a {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} Environmental and Conservation Park consisting of Victorian gardens, wetlands, woodlands, a duck pond and picnic area. *Altahullion Wind Farm is near Dungiven and is owned by RES-Gen Ltd. It was designed and built by RES using local contractors and commissioned in 2003. Altahullion’s 20 turbines can generate up to 26MW. Electricity from the wind farm is sold to Belfast based Energia who supply hospitals, schools and Northern Ireland businesses. The public can visit the site by following the signs from the A6 Dungiven to Derry road. There is car parking, an information board and a path up to the visitor turbine. ==Sport== [[Gaelic games]] are the most popular sports in the area. [[Dungiven GAC|St Canice's Dungiven]] is the local [[Gaelic football]] club<ref>{{cite web | title=St Canice's GAC, Dungiven | work=St Canice's GAC website | url=http://www.dungivengac.com | accessdate=2012-04-18}}</ref> and [[Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club|Kevin Lynch's]] is the local [[hurling]] club. St Canices play at O'Cahan Park, while Kevin Lynch's play at Kevin Lynch Park. St Canice's have won the [[Derry Senior Football Championship]] 7 times, and won the [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] once, in 1997. Kevin Lynch's have won the [[Derry Senior Hurling Championship]] a record 22 times and are the current county champions, for the fourth successive year. ==Demographics== Dungiven is classified as an intermediate settlement by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (i.e. 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:[http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service] ==Transport== *Dungiven sits on the main [[A6 road (Northern Ireland)|A6 road]] and has good road links{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} to Derry (29&nbsp;km to the west) and [[Limavady]] (13&nbsp;km to the north). A proposed by-pass for Dungiven, following a route to the south west of the town, has been marked-out since the 1973 Limavady Area Plan.<ref name="PS"/> *Dungiven was the terminus of the [[Limavady railway]], which closed in 1950. Dungiven railway station opened on 4 July 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 1 January 1933 and closed altogether on 3 July 1950.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dungiven station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-12|format=PDF}}</ref> ==People== {{cleanup|section|date=December 2010}} *[[Francis Brolly]], former [[Sinn Féin]] [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] for [[East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)|East Londonderry]]. *[[Joe Brolly]], member of [[Derry GAA|Derry's]] [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993|1993 All-Ireland]] winning team. Won [[GAA All Stars Awards|All Stars]] in 1996 and 1997 *[[Cara Dillon]], Internationally recognised folk singer *[[Kevin Lynch (hunger striker)|Kevin Lynch]], hunger striker who died in 1981. The Dungiven [[hurling]] team was renamed [[Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club]] in his honour after his death. *[[Paul McCloskey]], professional boxer, former British and European light welterweight champion. *[[Brian McGilligan]], member of [[Derry GAA|Derry's]] [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993|1993 All-Ireland]] winning team. Won [[GAA All Stars Awards|All Stars]] in 1987 and 1993 *[[Geoffrey McGonagle]], former [[Derry GAA|Derry]] [[dual player]]. *[[Kieran McKeever]], member of [[Derry GAA|Derry's]] [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993|1993 All-Ireland]] winning team. Won an [[GAA All Stars Awards|All Star]] in 2000 *[[John Mitchel]], a 19th century Irish patriot who inspired the [[Young Ireland]] Movement, was born in Camnish, near Dungiven and [[Burnfoot, County Londonderry|Burnfoot]]. The area ''Mitchel Park'' is named after him. *[[John Eddie Mullan]], former [[Derry GAA|Derry]] player. *Eamonn O'Kane, professional boxer, [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] gold medallist at middleweight. *[[Eoghan Quigg]], singer. ==Popular culture== Dungiven is mentioned in the [[Brian Friel]] play ''[[Making History (play)|Making History]]'', as the place where Mabel Bagnel goes after the [[Siege of Kinsale]]. ==References== {{reflist}} {{County Londonderry}} [[Category:Villages in County Londonderry]] [[bg:Дънгивън]] [[de:Dungiven]] [[ga:Dún Geimhin]] [[it:Dungiven]] [[nl:Dungiven]] [[no:Dungiven]] [[sv:Dungiven]]'