Magherafelt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Magherafelt | |
| Irish: Machaire Fiolta | |
  Magherafelt shown within Northern Ireland |
|
| Population | 8372 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| - Belfast | 35 miles |
| District | Magherafelt |
| County | County Londonderry |
| Constituent country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAGHERAFELT |
| Postcode district | BT45 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| European Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | Mid Ulster |
| NI Assembly | Mid Ulster |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • County Londonderry | |
Magherafelt (from the Irish: Machaire Fiolta meaning "Plain of Fioghalta") is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people in the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of County Londonderry and is the social, economic and political hub of the area. Magherafelt District Council is based in the town.
Contents |
[edit] History
- It is a Plantation town built around a central Diamond, which forms the heart of the town. However, the origins of the town predate the Plantation and go back to 1425.
[edit] The Troubles
- For more information see The Troubles in Magherafelt, which includes a list of incidents in Magherafelt during the Troubles resulting in one or more fatalities.
[edit] Transport
- Magherafelt railway station opened on 10 November 1856, closed for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and finally closed altogether on 1 October 1959.[1]
[edit] Education
- Naíscoil an tSeanchaí Website
- Woods Primary School
- Magherafelt Controlled Primary School
- Holy Family Primary School
- Saint Pius X College
- Rainey Endowed School
- St. Mary's Grammar School
- Magherafelt High School
- Sperrin Integrated college
[edit] Sport
Magherafelt has several sporting teams, consisting of O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt GAC, the Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club, Magherafelt, and Magherafelt Sky Blues FC soccer club.
[edit] 2001 Census
Magherafelt is classified as a Small Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 8,372 people living in Magherafelt. Of these:
- 27.1% were aged under 16 years and 13.7% were aged 60 and over
- 48.7% of the population were male and 51.3% were female
- 56.2% were from a Catholic background and 41.8% were from a Protestant background
- 3.4% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
[edit] People
- Barry Gillis - Current Derry Gaelic footballer.
- Joe Keenan - Current Derry Gaelic footballer.
- Peter Doherty - former footballer and manager of Northern Ireland[2]
- William McCrea MP & MLA
- Dean Shiels - current player for Hibernian
- Terry McFlynn - current player for Sydney FC was born in Magherafelt but raised in Swatragh.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Magherafelt station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
- ^ Peter Doherty
