Aghagallon
| |
---|---|
St Patrick's Catholic church, Aghagallon | |
Location within Northern Ireland | |
Population | 824 (2001) |
Irish grid reference | J104636 |
• Belfast | 22 mi (35 km) |
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CRAIGAVON |
Postcode district | BT67 |
Dialling code | 028, +44 28 |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Aghagallon (from Irish Achadh Gallan, meaning 'field of the standing stone') [1] is a small village and civil parish in County Armagh, [1] Northern Ireland. It is about ten miles west of Lisburn and three miles northeast of Lurgan and had a population of 824 in the 2001 Census.
Aghagallon has mainly developed along Aghalee Road in a linear fashion with development to the southeast along Colane Road. St Patrick's Church and the adjacent primary school are in the middle of the village. Although the village is named after the townland of Aghagallon, it lies almost wholly within neighbouring Derrynaseer townland.
The parish of Aghagallon consists of 13 townlands; Aghadrumglasny, Aghagallon, Ballycairn, Ballykeel, Ballymacilrany, Derryclone, Derryhirk, Derrymore, Derrynaseer, Drumaleet, Montiaghs, Tamnyvane, and Tiscallen,
An incident that took place in Aghagallon in 1790 became known as "The Battle of Annaghdroghal Bridge". A group of Protestant men from the nearby village of Waringstown, accompanied by flute and drum and under the command of Colonel Sharp, marched from Waringstown at the request of Lord Waring to plough and prepare a field in Aghagallon for a friend and fellow English landowner and Orangeman. Their journey from Waringstown to Aghagallon was a controversial one, with several incidents occurring along the way in the town of Lurgan.
As Col. Sharp and his men reached the Annaghdroghal Bridge just east of Aghagallon they were met by local men who refused them passage. A fight occurred and the Battle of Annaghdroghal began. Col. Sharp led his men in the first attack and was fatally wounded by "The Darkie" McStravick, receiving a chest wound from a three-pronged muck fork. McStravick fled the scene and dumped the fork ("The Three Pronged Revolver") down a dry well at Derryclone. According to rumour, Darkie Mcstravick had lived in Derryclone, which is why he fled there to dispose of the "Three Pronged Revolver". The fork was retrieved around 1890 from the well and was presented to a local museum by Phelim McStravick in 2008.
The village has two primary schools, St Patrick's Primary School (Aghagallon) and St Mary's Primary School, Gawley's Gate (Derrymore).
Aghagallon is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). [2]
On census day (29 April 2001) there were 824 people living in Aghagallon village. Of these:
In the 2001 census the resident population of Aghagallon Ward was 3,806 (including the village), of whom:
The population for the civil parish of Aghagallon in 2010 was estimated at 4,586, of which 25.4% were children, 32.1% were young working age adults, 29.9% were older working age adults and 12.6% were older people. Young working age adults are defined as 16- to 39-year-olds, and older working age adults as males 40–64 and females 40–59 years. This represents an increase of 20.1% (768 individuals) from the estimated mid-year ward population in 2001.
The Farm Census 2010 recorded 89 farms registered to addresses in Aghagallon, and the total agricultural labour force was 170 persons.
Aghagallon has one Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, Naomh Mhuire, which serves the areas of Aghagallon village, Gawley's Gate and Ballinderry, County Antrim after clubs in these areas folded over the years. They currently play in Division 2 of the Antrim All-County League and have a recently constructed playing field located on the Colane Road. Although the club is part of Antrim GAA, it has links to Armagh and fields some teams in the North Armagh leagues. Aghagallon competes in the Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, having won promotion from the Junior ranks in 2002. After a few seasons in the Senior Championship, the club will again compete in the IFC, against opposition such as Moneyglass, Rossa and St Enda's. The Senior Gaelic team is sponsored by Hannon Transport.
The local soccer team, Aghagallon Magners, are current holders of the winter league cup and are sponsored by the Derryhirk Inn.
Notable people who have lived in or been associated with the area include:
County Antrim is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic province of Ulster. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 3,086 square kilometres (1,192 sq mi) and has a population of 651,321, as of the 2021 census. County Antrim has a population density of 211 people per square kilometre or 546 people per square mile. It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland.
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, near the southern shore of Lough Neagh. Lurgan is about 18 miles (29 km) south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway and the Belfast–Dublin railway line. It had a population of about 28,634 at the 2021 UK census and is within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. For some purposes, Lurgan is treated as part of the "Craigavon Urban Area" along with neighbouring Craigavon and Portadown.
Craigavon is a town in northern County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Its construction began in 1965 and it was named after the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland: James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be the heart of a new linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan was mostly abandoned and later described as having been flawed. Among local people today, "Craigavon" refers to the area between the two towns. It is built beside a pair of artificial lakes and is made up of a large residential area (Brownlow), a second smaller one (Mandeville), plus a central area (Highfield) that includes a substantial shopping centre, a courthouse and the district council headquarters. The area around the lakes is a public park and wildlife haven made up of woodland with walking trails. There is also a watersports centre, golf course and ski slope in the area. In most of Craigavon, motor vehicles are completely separated from pedestrians, and roundabouts are used extensively. It hosted the headquarters of the former Craigavon Borough Council.
Ahoghill is a large village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, four miles from Ballymena. It is located in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area. It had a population of 3,417 people at the 2011 Census.
Newtownabbey is a large settlement north of Belfast city centre in County Antrim, north of Ireland. It is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course, but it still forms part of the Belfast metropolitan area. It surrounds Carnmoney Hill, and was formed from the merging of several small villages including Whiteabbey, Glengormley and Carnmoney. At the 2021 census, Metropolitan Newtownabbey Settlement had a population of 67,599, making it the third largest settlement in Northern Ireland and 7th on the seventh on the Island of Ireland. It is part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Bleary is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is near the County Armagh border and the settlements of Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown. In the 2011 Census its population was counted as part of Craigavon. It lies within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area.
Keady is a village and civil parish in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is south of Armagh and near the border with the Republic of Ireland. It is situated mainly in the historic barony of Armagh with six townlands in the barony of Tiranny. It had a population of 3,051 people in the 2011 Census.
Aghalee is a village, townland and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is three miles from the southeast corner of Lough Neagh on the main road between Lurgan and Antrim and about 13 kilometres west of Lisburn. The village lies on the steep wooded slopes of Friar's Glen and is beside the now disused Lagan Navigational Canal. In the 2001 Census, Aghalee had a population of 774.
Cogry-Kilbride is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, about 4 km west of Ballyclare. The village encompasses the two townlands of Cogry and Kilbride. It had a population of 1,195 people in the 2001 census. Kilbride is also a civil parish. It is situated in Antrim and Newtownabbey district.
Dollingstown is a large village in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying between Lurgan and Magheralin. It is within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 2,103 people. Dollingstown is in the townland of Taughrane, which may come from Irish Tóchar Rathain.
Donaghcloney or Donacloney is a village, townland and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Lagan between Lurgan and Dromore. In the 2011 census it had a population of 1701. It is colloquially referred to as "The 'Cloney" by locals.
Drumbeg is a small village, townland and civil parish on the south bank of the River Lagan in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village is covered by the Lisburn City Council area and forms part of the suburban fringe of Belfast.
Richhill is a large village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies between Armagh and Portadown. It had a population of 2,738 people in the 2021 Census.
Waterfoot or Glenariff is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is at the foot of Glenariff, one of the Glens of Antrim, within the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parishes of Ardclinis and Layd. The village is in the townland of Warren, 16 miles (26 km) north-east of Ballymena. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 504 inhabitants.
Waringstown is a large village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies southeast of Lurgan, within the parish of Donaghcloney, and the barony of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 3,683 people. Over the years, the village has been bestowed numerous awards, including "Best Kept Small Town" for its floral displays and pleasant appearance.
Lower Ballinderry is a small village to the west of Upper Ballinderry in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland and civil parish of Ballinderry and the historic barony of Massereene Upper. The village lies a short distance to the southeast of Portmore Lough and Lough Neagh, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of Lisburn. In the 2011 census it had a population of 912.
Broomhedge is a small village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near Lisburn, approximately 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Belfast. It lies within the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area, and the Maghaberry electoral ward.
Kilcoo is a small village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies between Rathfriland and Castlewellan and is within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. The village is on the A25 Dublin Road 6 kilometres (4 mi) south-west of Castlewellan. Kilcoo had a population 1415 people in the 2001 Census.