Dungiven

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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. The village forms part of the East Londonderry constituency and the elected MLA is Sinn Fein party member Francis Brolly.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Troubles 2 Sport 3 Demographics 4 Places of interest 5 People 6 Transport 7 References in Popular Culture 8 References 9 External links 10 See also

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sport

Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area. St Canices Dungiven is the local Gaelic football club and Kevin Lynchs is the local hurling club. St Canices play at O'Cahan Park, while Kevin Lynchs play at Kevin Lynch Park. Kevin Lynch's are the current county Derry hurling champions, for the second successive year. They were beaten Ulster finalists for the last two years.

[edit] Demographics

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] People

• Joe Brolly, Member of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team. Won All Stars in 1996 and 1997
• Cara Dillon, folk singer
• Liam Hinphey, Current Derry player
• Kevin Lynch, Hunger Striker
• Daragh McCloskey, BBC Northern Ireland news reader and TV presenter
• Paul McCloskey, professional boxer
• Brian McGilligan, Member of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team. Won All Stars in 1987 and 1993
• Kieran McKeever, Member of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team. Won an 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. The area Mitchel Park is named after him
• Paul Murphy, Current Derry player

[edit] Transport

• Dungiven was the terminus of the Limavady railway closed in 1950. Dungiven railway station opened on 4 July 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 1 January 1933 and finally closed altogether on 3 July 1950.^[1]

[edit] 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

[edit] References

• 12 Travel
• Culture Northern Ireland

[edit] External links

• Dungiven Priory and O'Cahan's Tomb
• The Dungiven Costume
• Dungiven Priory
• Dungiven GAC Website (local gaelic football club)
• Hands That Talk (Deaf Community organisation)

[edit] See also

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland

Coordinates: 54°56′N, 6°55′W