Dungannon
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Template:Infobox Irish Place Dungannon (Dún Geanainn in Irish) is a town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It had a population of 11,139 people in the 2001 Census. Dungannon has won the Best Kept Town award on several occasions. It contains the headquarters of the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.
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History
At one stage Dungannon was the capital of Ireland in the early 1600's due to the fact that the King of Ireland Hugh O'Neill situated there. Dungannon was one corner of the infamous murder triangle during the Troubles.
Places of interest
An interesting feature of the town is the former Police barracks at the top right hand corner of the market square which is quite unlike any other barracks of a similar vintage in Ireland. The unusal design of this building is apparently due to a mix up with the plans in Dublin which meant Dungannon got a station designed for the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan and they got a standard Irish barracks, complete with a traditional Irish fireplace.
Economy
The once thriving linen industry has largely been replaced by glass-blowing, and the Tyrone Crystal factory is a major visitor attraction in Northern Ireland. Dungannon also has brick making industry using Coalisland fireclay.
Schools
The Royal School Dungannon is one of the oldest schools in Ireland. It was one of several royal schools chartered in 1608 by King James I with the intended purpose "that there shall be one Free School at least appointed in every County, for the education of youth in learning and religion." These schools provided an English style education to the sons of landed settlers in Ireland, most of whom were of Scottish or English descent. A royal charter of May 13 1614 records the appointment of John Bullingbroke as the first Headmaster.
St. Patrick's Academy is one of top three ranked Grammar schools in Northern Ireland for academic success. The school has numerous sporting achievements, including two MacCrory Cups and a Hogan Cup, as well as success in Gaelic football, ladies football, hurling and soccer.
Sport
Dungannon has also achieved much sporting success within it's history. It was one of the first towns in Ireland to form a rugby club, probably due to the Royal School. Dungannon's rugby team's most recent success was sharing the Ulster Senior League title with Ballymena. They were also the first Ulster club to win the All Ireland League
At least one player from Dungannon is listed in the first ever Irish side. The rugby club was founded in 1873, was the sixth club in Ireland and a founder member of the IRFU. Despite being a rugby union club since inception it's official title is Dungannon Football Club. This was in common with other clubs, such as the now defunct North of Ireland club from Belfast, who were founded prior to the formal division of the different styles of football into Association (soccer) and rugby. The town also has connections to New Zealand rugby. The Earl of Ranfurly presented the Ranfurly Shield to the NZRFU.
The town has also achieved much success in Gaelic games, Gaelic football and hurling. Dungannon has produced many footballers, especially for the Tyrone County Team, who won the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Championship in 2003 and 2005. The local GAA club is Thomas Clarke's Dungannon GFC (Thomáis Uí Chléirigh Dún Geanainn).
People
One of Dungannon's most famous sons is Thomas J. Clarke, the first signatory of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic (Poblacht na hÉireann as gaeilge). Clarke was one of the main leaders and key figures in the 1916 Easter Rising and was executed by the British on May 3rd at the age of 59 for his role in the rising. Dungannon GAA club is named after him.
Dungannon is the birthplace of professional golfer Darren Clarke, and top TV presenter Adrian Logan.
2001 Census
Dungannon is classified as a Medium Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 11,139 people living in Dungannon. Of these:
- 24.0% were aged under 16 years and 17.8% were aged 60 and over
- 47.4% of the population were male and 52.7% were female
- 57.6% were from a Catholic background and 40.3% were from a Protestant background
- 3.7% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service