Fivemiletown
Encyclopedia
Fivemiletown is a village
and townland
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. It is 16 miles (26 km) east of Enniskillen
and 26 miles (43 km) west-south-west of Dungannon
, on the A4
Enniskillen-to-Dungannon road. Its population as of 2009 is estimated to be 1,128. The village is most famous for its creamery, which was begun as a cooperative in 1898 by Hugh de Fellonburg Montgomery. Fivemiletown Creamery originally made butter and milk, but now exports speciality cheeses across Europe and North America.
name comes from its location five Irish miles (1 Irish mile = 1.27 statute miles = 2044 m) from its nearest neighbours: Clogher
, Brookeborough
and Tempo
.
The Clogher Valley Railway
ran from Tynan
, County Armagh
, to Maguiresbridge
, County Fermanagh
, with Fivemiletown being one of its main stations. The old station house is still one of the landmarks in the village. The trains stopped at the Buttermarket on Main Street and the creamery to be loaded or unloaded with goods.
After the Second World War, the growth of road transport made railways almost redundant and when the Northern Ireland Government
learned that the Clogher Valley Railway had operated as a loss for 27 years because of growing road transport, it recommended the shutting of the line. The last train ran on the last day of 1941, bringing to an end one of Fivemiletown’s most characteristic features. It’s said that a wake
lasted for three days and three nights to mark the end of a narrow gauge in the area.
1993
9 miles (14.5 km) northwest, lies Murley Mountain. This mountain rises to a peak of 312 metres (1,023.6 ft) above sea level and marks the western edge of the Clogher Valley. On the summit is the Lendrums Bridge wind farm, one of the biggest in Ireland
, with 20 wind turbines. Another ten are planned for the neighbouring Hunter's Hill. Murley Mountain's location is lonely and exposed, especially to prevailing southwesterly winds. This makes it a prime site for wind-generated power.
The River Blackwater
runs through counties Tyrone and Armagh, as well as County Monaghan
. The source of the Blackwater is to the north of Fivemiletown. There are also several small lakes around the village which draw many anglers.
The biggest of these settlements, Fivemiletown, will be bypassed. The village currently has a one-way system to cope with the heavy traffic on the narrow main street, but this stalls long-distance traffic and is a big inconvenience to residents of the village.
The new road will be built to 2+1 standard, meaning that there will be one lane in one direction, with two in the opposite direction to permit overtaking. On longer routes, such as this one, the overtaking lane usually alternates giving an overtaking opportunity to traffic in each direction. The scheme will compliment a 2+1 scheme completed on the A4 outside Fivemiletown in 2004.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
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...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, 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 is 16 miles (26 km) east of Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
and 26 miles (43 km) west-south-west of Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, on the A4
A4 road (Northern Ireland)
The A4 is a major road in Northern Ireland. It travels through County Armagh, County Tyrone and County Fermanagh and continues to Sligo in the Republic of Ireland as the N16....
Enniskillen-to-Dungannon road. Its population as of 2009 is estimated to be 1,128. The village is most famous for its creamery, which was begun as a cooperative in 1898 by Hugh de Fellonburg Montgomery. Fivemiletown Creamery originally made butter and milk, but now exports speciality cheeses across Europe and North America.
Name
Fivemiletown's English languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
name comes from its location five Irish miles (1 Irish mile = 1.27 statute miles = 2044 m) from its nearest neighbours: Clogher
Clogher
Clogher is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Blackwater, south of Omagh. The United Kingdom Census of 2001 recorded a population of 309.-History:...
, Brookeborough
Brookeborough
Brookeborough is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It lies between Enniskillen and Belfast just off the A4 trunk road, about five miles from the County Tyrone boundary....
and Tempo
Tempo, County Fermanagh
Tempo, historically called Tempodeshel , is a small village at the foot of Brougher Mountain in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The Census of 2001 recorded a population of 533 people...
.
History
Fivemiletown is within the townland of the same name, which was historically known as Ballylurgan .The Clogher Valley Railway
Clogher Valley Railway
The Clogher Valley Railway was a 37 mile long narrow gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It opened in May 1887 and closed on 1 January 1942 .-Route:...
ran from Tynan
Tynan
Tynan is a village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies within the civil parish of Tynan and barony of Tiranny.- History :Tynan won the status as the most well preserved rural Irish village in 1993...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, to Maguiresbridge
Maguiresbridge
Maguiresbridge is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The village is named after the bridge over the Colebrooke River, first built by the local Maguire family about 1760. The village is 8 miles from Enniskillen and 3 miles from Lisnaskea....
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, with Fivemiletown being one of its main stations. The old station house is still one of the landmarks in the village. The trains stopped at the Buttermarket on Main Street and the creamery to be loaded or unloaded with goods.
After the Second World War, the growth of road transport made railways almost redundant and when the Northern Ireland Government
Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
learned that the Clogher Valley Railway had operated as a loss for 27 years because of growing road transport, it recommended the shutting of the line. The last train ran on the last day of 1941, bringing to an end one of Fivemiletown’s most characteristic features. It’s said that a wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
lasted for three days and three nights to mark the end of a narrow gauge in the area.
The Troubles
Incidents in Fivemiletown during the Troubles resulting in two or more deaths:1993
- 12 December 1993 - Andrew Beacom (46) and Ernest Smith (49), both 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...
members of the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster ConstabularyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, were shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
while travelling in their civilian-type car along Main Street.
Geography
Halfway between Fivemiletown and FintonaFintona
Fintona is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second largest settlement in the Omagh District Council area, after Omagh itself. Its 2010 population was estimated to be 1,410.-History:...
9 miles (14.5 km) northwest, lies Murley Mountain. This mountain rises to a peak of 312 metres (1,023.6 ft) above sea level and marks the western edge of the Clogher Valley. On the summit is the Lendrums Bridge wind farm, one of the biggest in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with 20 wind turbines. Another ten are planned for the neighbouring Hunter's Hill. Murley Mountain's location is lonely and exposed, especially to prevailing southwesterly winds. This makes it a prime site for wind-generated power.
The River Blackwater
River Blackwater, Northern Ireland
The River Blackwater is a river in County Armagh and County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, as well as County Monaghan and County Cavan in Republic of Ireland, which has its source to the north of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone...
runs through counties Tyrone and Armagh, as well as County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The source of the Blackwater is to the north of Fivemiletown. There are also several small lakes around the village which draw many anglers.
Transport
- The narrow gauge Clogher Valley Railway ran through the village from 1887 until 1942. The train originally had a top speed of 10 miles per hour (16.1 km/h). Fivemiletown railway station opened on 2 May 1887 and was shut on 1 January 1942.
- The A4 is the main route into Fermanagh (and on to County Sligo) from the BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
direction. Running from the end of the M1M1 motorway (Northern Ireland)The M1 is a motorway in Northern Ireland. It is the longest motorway in Northern Ireland and runs for from Belfast to Dungannon through County Down and County Armagh...
at Dungannon, the section through the Clogher Valley is the lowest standard on the whole route. While towns and villages along the A4 in Fermanagh were generally bypassed years ago, the A4 runs straight through the middle of three Tyrone villages: AugherAugherAugher is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is 18 miles southwest of Dungannon, on the A4 Dungannon to Enniskillen road, halfway between Ballygawley and Clogher. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 399....
, Clogher and Fivemiletown. These are now the only non-bypassed settlements on the road.
The biggest of these settlements, Fivemiletown, will be bypassed. The village currently has a one-way system to cope with the heavy traffic on the narrow main street, but this stalls long-distance traffic and is a big inconvenience to residents of the village.
The new road will be built to 2+1 standard, meaning that there will be one lane in one direction, with two in the opposite direction to permit overtaking. On longer routes, such as this one, the overtaking lane usually alternates giving an overtaking opportunity to traffic in each direction. The scheme will compliment a 2+1 scheme completed on the A4 outside Fivemiletown in 2004.
Sport and leisure
- Clogher Valley Golf Club http://www.cloghervalleygc.co.uk/
- Clogher Valley Rugby Football Club http://www.cloghervalleyrfc.co.uk/
- Fivemiletown United Football ClubFivemiletown United F.C.Fivemiletown United Football Club is an intermediate-level football club who play in the Intermediate A division of the Mid-Ulster Football League in Northern Ireland.-Honours:*Division 1 Mercer League Champions: 1950-51, 1951–52...
http://www.fivemiletownunitedfc.com/
Music
- Cavanaleck Pipe Band http://www.cavanaleck.plus.com/
- Fivemiletown Accordion Band
- Fivemiletown Pipe Band
- Murley Silver Band http://www.murleyband.co.uk/
Education
- Fivemiletown College
- Fivemiletown Primary School http://www.fivemiletownps.fivemiletown.ni.sch.uk/
- St Mary's Primary School
Religion
- Aghintaine Roman Catholic Church
- Aghintaine Presbyterian Church
- Bell Methodist Church
- Cavanaleck Presbyterian Church
- Clogher Valley Free PresbyterianFree Presbyterian Church of UlsterThe Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
Church - Fivemiletown Independent MethodistIndependent Methodist ConnexionThe Independent Methodist Connexion is a British group of Non-Conformist congregations that have their roots in the 18th century revival.-Origins:...
Church - Fivemiletown Methodist Church
- Kiltermon Church of IrelandChurch of IrelandThe Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
- St John's Church of Ireland
- St Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Demographics
Fivemiletown 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 1,108 people living in Fivemiletown. Of these:- 19.9% were aged under 16 and 20.6% were aged 60 and over
- 48.4% of the population were male and 51.6% were female
- 25.1% were from a Catholic background and 74.0% were from a Protestant background
- 5.6% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service