Castlederg

Updated on Nov 09, 2023

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Population 2,935 (2008 estimate) County County Tyrone Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Monday 10:47 AM District Strabane District Council Ni assembly West Tyrone		Irish grid reference H262845 Country Northern Ireland Post town CASTLEDERG Province Ulster Dialling code 28 UK parliament constituency West Tyrone

Weather 4°C, Wind W at 3 km/h, 91% Humidity

Castlederg (earlier Caslanadergy, from Irish: Caisleán na Deirge, meaning "castle on the Derg") is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is near the border with County Donegal. It stands in the townlands of Castlesessagh and Churchtown, in the historic barony of Omagh West and the civil parish of Urney. The village has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den. It had an estimated population of 2,935 people in 2008.

Map of Castlederg, UK

The village hosts some of the district's key events each year, including the Derg Vintage Rally, Dergfest musical festival, Derg Soapbox Derby and the traditional Apple Fair which sees the apple growers of County Armagh visit to sell their wares.

Traditionally, Castlederg was a traveller's stop along the ancient pilgrimage route to Station Island on Lough Derg. The town boasts ancient ruins and monastic settlements.

The Troubles

During the Troubles, 25 people were killed in and around Castlederg (including Killeter and Killen) and there were many bombings in the village. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed 11 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Ulster Constabulary, four fellow IRA members whom it accused of being informers, and three Ulster Protestant civilians. Four IRA members were also killed when their bombs exploded prematurely. Ulster loyalist paramilitaries killed three Catholic civilians. For more information, see The Troubles in Castlederg.

2010 temperature record

Castlederg recorded a Northern Ireland record low temperature of −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) on the morning of 23 December 2010.

Transport

The narrow-gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was built in 1883, to link the village with the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) at Victoria Bridge. Castlederg railway station opened on 4 July 1884, but was finally closed on 17 April 1933.

Education

Saint Francis Of Assisi Primary School, Drumnabey, Castlederg

Saint Patrick's Primary School

Edwards Primary School

Castlederg High School

Erganagh primary school

Gaelscoil na Deirge

Killen Primary School

Football

Dergview F.C.

St Patricks F.C.

Killen Rangers F.C.

Gaelic games

Aghyaran St. Davog's

Castlederg St. Eugene's

19th century population

The population of the village increased during the 19th century:

21st century population

Castlederg is classified as an intermediate settlement by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census Day 29 April 2001 the resident population of Castlederg ward was 2,074. Of this population:

23.0% were under 16 years old and 22.7% were aged 60 and above;

48.2% of the population were male and 51.8% were female; and

59.0% were from a Catholic community background and 40.5% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background.

6.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

References

Castlederg Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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