Draperstown
Encyclopedia
Draperstown (ˈdrɛpərzˈtəun or ˈdriːpərzˈtəun) is a village
in the Sperrin Mountains
of County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. It had a population of 1,638 people in the 2001 Census
.
was sometimes called Draperstown. It is commonly called by locals Ballynascreen or Ballinascreen, the former being the civil parish spelling of the name, and the latter the Roman Catholic parish spelling. It is also known in Irish
as either Baile na Scríne or Baile na Croise.
the escheated land was distributed among the Established Church and the twelve London Livery Companies that were to form the new county of Londonderry. The Ballinascreen area was divided between the Drapers'
and the Skinners'
companies, and the crossroads formed the boundary between the two. The area west of the crossroads which included Straw, Sixtowns and Moneyneena was part of the Skinner's portion. East of the crossroads belonged to the Drapers. The area was largely forgotten by the two companies until the turn of the nineteenth century, the land and properties being leased out to others.
The present town was founded in 1798 by Laughlin McNamee, who had a public house in Moneyneena
, 3.5 km north west of the crossroads. When he realised that his business was going to suffer when the local fair was to be moved, he transferred his premises to the crossroads and built a number of houses alongside. Laughlin is buried in the front graveyard of the Catholic parish church, St Columba's, Straw (1.5 km SW of Draperstown). The new settlement was referred to by different names: the Cross of Ballinascreen, Moyheeland, and Burboy.
In 1812 the Drapers' Company had a resurgent interest in their portion, and built a new planned town in the western reaches of their land, overlooking and adjoining the crossroads. This they referred to as Draperstown, and this was the name subsequently recognized by the Post Office. The properties within the area in the present day which still belong to the original Drapers Company include the 'Fair Hill' area and the 'Gate House' on the Magherafelt(Gortnaskey)Road.
In the 1840s the town received notoriety as a place with a severe, albeit unusual drug problem. This has been described in detail by Dr Nagle who made a report on licit and illicit drugs on behalf of the Consumer Union in the mid nineteenth century where he stated:
"About 1840 a Catholic priest, Father Matthew, led a great temperance crusade through England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was one of the most successful that ever occurred; thousands took the pledge. One of them was an alcoholic physician named Kelly who practiced in Draperstown, in the north of Ireland. Aghast at the pleasure he had given up, but not wishing to break his pledge, [Dr. Kelly] cast about for a substitute. He had prescribed ether
by mouth on occasion and knew of its pleasant effects. After a few personal experiments he imparted the knowledge to his friends and patients who had also taken the pledge. Ether sniffing became endemic in Draperstown. Fifteen years later, when the British government placed a stiff tax on alcoholic beverages and when the constabulary clamped down on home distilled Irish whiskey, Kelly's discovery was recalled and exploited to the hilt. Ether, which was not subject to the tax, was distilled in London and shipped to Draperstown and other places in Northern Ireland by the ton. Ether was preferred in some ways, and especially among the poor, to the now-expensive whiskey. The drink was quick and cheap, and could be achieved several times a day without hangover. If arrested for drunkenness, the offender would be sober by the time the police station was reached."
A surgeon visiting Draperstown in 1878 remarked that:
"The main street smelled like his surgery, where ether was used as an anesthetic. Old ether topers, he added, could finish off a three-ounce wineglassful at a single swig, without even water for a chaser. Everyone who discussed this particular phenomenon admitted that there appeared to be less chronic damage than
with alcohol. But hazards were also noted: chronic gastritis, deaths from overdosage, and fatal burns from smoking while drinking–– for ether is extremely flammable."
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Idle Hour Stock Farm
horse breeder Edward R. Bradley
's Family originates from the Sixtowns area of Ballinascreen, five kilometres west of Draperstown. Hero of the American Civil War
, Captain Charles McAnally originally from Sixtowns, emigrated to the United States and joined the Union Forces, the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers, at the outset of the war. As well as taking part in the crucial action of Pickett's Charge
at the Battle of Gettysburg
, He was awarded the Medal of Honor
after his exploits during the Battle of Spotsylvania. He is listed in the Roll of Honour that "In a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy captured a flag, was wounded in the act, but continued on duty until he received a second wound." He survived the war and ended his days near Austin, Texas.
is held near Draperstown. Local bands, as well as some more famous names appear. This year's event is due to be held on Saturday 23 July 2011.
Sperrins Balloon Festival also is held in Draperstown every year, with hot air balloon enthusiasts gathering in Draperstown. Weekly live music gigs take place in The Cellar Bar.
with an intermediate station at Desertmartin
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Sperrin Mountains
Sperrins
The Sperrins or Sperrin Mountains are a range of mountains in Northern Ireland and one of the largest upland areas in Ireland. The range stretches the counties of Tyrone and Londonderry from south of Strabane eastwards to Maghera and north towards Limavady...
of County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It had a population of 1,638 people in the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
.
Name
Draperstown was founded in 1798 and received its name in 1818 after the London Drapers' Company. Before this, the nearby town of MoneymoreMoneymore
Moneymore is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,369 in the 2001 Census.It is an example of a Plantation village in Mid-Ulster. It was the first town in Ulster to have piped water.-Geography:...
was sometimes called Draperstown. It is commonly called by locals Ballynascreen or Ballinascreen, the former being the civil parish spelling of the name, and the latter the Roman Catholic parish spelling. It is also known in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
as either Baile na Scríne or Baile na Croise.
History
Historically it is a union of two settlements. In Elizabethan times the crossroads that was later to become Draperstown heralded a toll gate and a duckpond adjoining an earthen fort. At the onset of the Plantation of UlsterPlantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
the escheated land was distributed among the Established Church and the twelve London Livery Companies that were to form the new county of Londonderry. The Ballinascreen area was divided between the Drapers'
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London; it has the formal name of The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London but is more usually known...
and the Skinners'
Worshipful Company of Skinners
The Worshipful Company of Skinners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was originally an association of those engaged in the trade of skins and furs...
companies, and the crossroads formed the boundary between the two. The area west of the crossroads which included Straw, Sixtowns and Moneyneena was part of the Skinner's portion. East of the crossroads belonged to the Drapers. The area was largely forgotten by the two companies until the turn of the nineteenth century, the land and properties being leased out to others.
The present town was founded in 1798 by Laughlin McNamee, who had a public house in Moneyneena
Moneyneany
Moneyneany or Moneyneena is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 162. It is in the Magherafelt District Council area....
, 3.5 km north west of the crossroads. When he realised that his business was going to suffer when the local fair was to be moved, he transferred his premises to the crossroads and built a number of houses alongside. Laughlin is buried in the front graveyard of the Catholic parish church, St Columba's, Straw (1.5 km SW of Draperstown). The new settlement was referred to by different names: the Cross of Ballinascreen, Moyheeland, and Burboy.
In 1812 the Drapers' Company had a resurgent interest in their portion, and built a new planned town in the western reaches of their land, overlooking and adjoining the crossroads. This they referred to as Draperstown, and this was the name subsequently recognized by the Post Office. The properties within the area in the present day which still belong to the original Drapers Company include the 'Fair Hill' area and the 'Gate House' on the Magherafelt(Gortnaskey)Road.
In the 1840s the town received notoriety as a place with a severe, albeit unusual drug problem. This has been described in detail by Dr Nagle who made a report on licit and illicit drugs on behalf of the Consumer Union in the mid nineteenth century where he stated:
"About 1840 a Catholic priest, Father Matthew, led a great temperance crusade through England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was one of the most successful that ever occurred; thousands took the pledge. One of them was an alcoholic physician named Kelly who practiced in Draperstown, in the north of Ireland. Aghast at the pleasure he had given up, but not wishing to break his pledge, [Dr. Kelly] cast about for a substitute. He had prescribed ether
Ether
Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'. A typical example is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether"...
by mouth on occasion and knew of its pleasant effects. After a few personal experiments he imparted the knowledge to his friends and patients who had also taken the pledge. Ether sniffing became endemic in Draperstown. Fifteen years later, when the British government placed a stiff tax on alcoholic beverages and when the constabulary clamped down on home distilled Irish whiskey, Kelly's discovery was recalled and exploited to the hilt. Ether, which was not subject to the tax, was distilled in London and shipped to Draperstown and other places in Northern Ireland by the ton. Ether was preferred in some ways, and especially among the poor, to the now-expensive whiskey. The drink was quick and cheap, and could be achieved several times a day without hangover. If arrested for drunkenness, the offender would be sober by the time the police station was reached."
A surgeon visiting Draperstown in 1878 remarked that:
"The main street smelled like his surgery, where ether was used as an anesthetic. Old ether topers, he added, could finish off a three-ounce wineglassful at a single swig, without even water for a chaser. Everyone who discussed this particular phenomenon admitted that there appeared to be less chronic damage than
with alcohol. But hazards were also noted: chronic gastritis, deaths from overdosage, and fatal burns from smoking while drinking–– for ether is extremely flammable."
Local landmarks
The following are local listed buildings or special conservation areas:- St. Columba's Church, Church of Ireland, Tobermore Road, built 1888
- Courthouse, 20 High Street, built 1839
- Presbyterian Meeting House, 47 High Street, built 1843
- The core of the village was designated a Conservation AreaConservation areaA conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1979.
Demographics
Draperstown is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,638 people living in Draperstown. Of these:- 24.4% were aged under 16 and 15.0% were aged 60 and over
- 48.9% of the population were male and 51.1% were female
- 96.7% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 2.8% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 4.3% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Famous people
The famous KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
Idle Hour Stock Farm
Idle Hour Stock Farm
Idle Hour Stock Farm was a 400 acre thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm near Lexington, Kentucky, United States established in 1906 by Colonel Edward R...
horse breeder Edward R. Bradley
Edward R. Bradley
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century...
's Family originates from the Sixtowns area of Ballinascreen, five kilometres west of Draperstown. Hero of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Captain Charles McAnally originally from Sixtowns, emigrated to the United States and joined the Union Forces, the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers, at the outset of the war. As well as taking part in the crucial action of Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, He was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
after his exploits during the Battle of Spotsylvania. He is listed in the Roll of Honour that "In a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy captured a flag, was wounded in the act, but continued on duty until he received a second wound." He survived the war and ended his days near Austin, Texas.
Events
The annual Glasgowbury FestivalGlasgowbury Festival
The Glasgowbury Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.-History:The Glasgowbury Music Festival made its first appearance in the summer of 2000 as a gathering of local bands, acts and showcases to raise awareness for the local charity,...
is held near Draperstown. Local bands, as well as some more famous names appear. This year's event is due to be held on Saturday 23 July 2011.
Sperrins Balloon Festival also is held in Draperstown every year, with hot air balloon enthusiasts gathering in Draperstown. Weekly live music gigs take place in The Cellar Bar.
Transport
Draperstown railway station opened on 20 July 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 1 October 1930 and finally closed altogether on 3 July 1950. The Draperstown branch ran from MagherafeltMagherafelt
Magherafelt is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people recorded 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...
with an intermediate station at Desertmartin
Desertmartin
Desertmartin is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is four miles from Magherafelt, at the foot of Slieve Gallion. In the 2001 Census Desertmartin greater area had a population of 1,276. It had a population of 2257 in 1837 and 3101 in 1910. It lies within Desertmartin...
.
Education
- Naíscoil na Speiríní. An Irish Language pre-school, in which all subjects are taught in Irish.
- Gaelscoil na Speiríní. An Irish Language primary-school, in which all subjects are taught in Irish.
- St Mary's Primary School
- St Colm's High SchoolSt Colm's High School, DraperstownSt Colm's High School is a secondary school located in Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The school opened in September 1961. It is within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.-References:*...
Sport
- St. Colms's GAC BallinascreenBallinascreen GACSt Colm's Ballinascreen GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballinascreen, which includes the town of Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA...
(CLG Naomh Colm Baile na Scrine) is the local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
(GAA) club. The club provides teams in Gaelic football, hurling, ladies football and camogie. Dean McGlinchey Park is the club's ground. St. Colms camogie team also won the all Ireland Championship. - Draperstown Celtic FCDraperstown Celtic FCDraperstown Celtic is a football club from the village of Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club, founded in 1968, plays its home matches at Cahore Playing Fields. Club colours are green and white. The current manager is Martin McGuigan....
is the local soccer team who play at Cahore playing fields.