Maghera
Encyclopedia
Maghera is a village
in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. Its population was 2,876 in 1991 and had risen to 3,711 in the 2001 Census
. It provides the local commercial centre for the surrounding villages of Swatragh
, Tobermore
, Upperlands, Gulladuff
and Knockcloghrim
. It is also the educational centre for the surrounding area and St. Patrick's is one of the largest schools in Mid-Ulster.
The Slaughtneil/Carntogher area around the village is unique for being the only rural community in Ireland
outside of the Gaeltacht
where most primary school children are taught through the Irish language
. Maghera also has parishes of Fallalea, Ranaghan and Glen. In the Roman Catholic parish church of St Patrick's there is a headstone remembering the large number of people who died during the Famine.
parades led to confrontations between Orangemen and Ribbonmen
in Maghera and Castledawson
. Several Catholic homes were then burnt by Protestants following these clashes.
. The Provisional Irish Republican Army
were responsible for ten of the 14 deaths.
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,711 people living in Maghera. Of these:
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
. The town of Maghera grew up around this church. The importance of the monastery was such that Maghera was a Bishop
’s seat in the 12th century and 13th century. However, the Church was allowed to fall into disrepair and is now a roofless ruin, and is maintained by the Environmental Heritage Service. Within the ruins, as an insert to the west wall is a sculpture
of the crucifixion
, which is thought to date from the 10th century - making it one of earliest representations of a cross in Ireland. St Lurach is also the saint of the town.
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 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...
. Its population was 2,876 in 1991 and had risen to 3,711 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....
. It provides the local commercial centre for the surrounding villages of Swatragh
Swatragh
Swatragh is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Swatragh is on the main A29 road north of Maghera. The population was 435 in the 2001 Census....
, Tobermore
Tobermore
Tobermore is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is located two and a half miles south of Maghera and five miles west of Magherafelt. Tobermore lies within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan and is part of Magherafelt District Council...
, Upperlands, Gulladuff
Gulladuff
Gulladuff is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 405 people. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area....
and Knockcloghrim
Knockcloghrim
Knockloughrim or Knockcloghrim is a small village near Maghera in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 186 people. Knockloughrim lies within the civil parish of Termoneeny and was part of the former barony of Loughinsholin.- Name :The village's name is...
. It is also the educational centre for the surrounding area and St. Patrick's is one of the largest schools in Mid-Ulster.
The Slaughtneil/Carntogher area around the village is unique for being the only rural community 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...
outside of the Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
where most primary school children are taught through the Irish language
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...
. Maghera also has parishes of Fallalea, Ranaghan and Glen. In the Roman Catholic parish church of St Patrick's there is a headstone remembering the large number of people who died during the Famine.
History
On 12 July 1830, Orange InstitutionOrange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
parades led to confrontations between Orangemen and Ribbonmen
Ribbonism
Ribbonism, whose adherents were usually called Ribbonmen, was a 19th century popular movement of Catholics in Ireland. It was active against landlords and their agents, and was ideologically and sometimes violently opposed to the Orange Order.-History:...
in Maghera and Castledawson
Castledawson
Castledawson is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is mostly within the townland of Shanemullagh , about four miles from the north-western shore of Lough Neagh, and close to the market town of Magherafelt...
. Several Catholic homes were then burnt by Protestants following these clashes.
The Troubles
Maghera suffered significant violence during the Northern Irish Troubles. In total, 14 people were killed, half of them members of the security forces and a further two as a result of family membership of the Ulster Defence RegimentUlster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
. The Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The 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...
were responsible for ten of the 14 deaths.
Demographics
Maghera is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,711 people living in Maghera. Of these:
- 28.6% were aged under 16 years and 13.3% were aged 60 and over
- 49.3% of the population were male and 50.7% were female
- 72.4% 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 27.1% 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 - 3.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Places of interest
Notable buildings in Maghera include St. Lurach's Church, which was founded in the year 500AD, originally as a monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. The town of Maghera grew up around this church. The importance of the monastery was such that Maghera was a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
’s seat in the 12th century and 13th century. However, the Church was allowed to fall into disrepair and is now a roofless ruin, and is maintained by the Environmental Heritage Service. Within the ruins, as an insert to the west wall is a sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
of the crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
, which is thought to date from the 10th century - making it one of earliest representations of a cross in Ireland. St Lurach is also the saint of the town.
Transport
- Maghera railway station opened on 18 December 1880, closed for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and finally closed altogether on 1 October 1959.
People
- Maghera is the birthplace of Charles ThomsonCharles ThomsonCharles Thomson was a Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress throughout its existence.-Biography:...
, who emigrated to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he became secretary of the Continental CongressContinental CongressThe Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. Thomson designed the Great Seal of the United StatesGreat Seal of the United StatesThe Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself , and more generally for the design impressed upon it...
. - Watty Graham was a local United Irishman who took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798Irish Rebellion of 1798The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
- Children's author Eve BuntingEve BuntingAnne Evelyn Bunting , better known as Eve Bunting, is an Irish author who has written more than 250 books. Her work covers a broad array of subjects and includes fiction and non-fiction books. Her novels are primarily aimed at children and young adults, but her works also include picture books...
was born in Maghera and later emigrated to the United States. - Robert HawthorneRobert HawthorneRobert Hawthorne VC born in Maghera, County Londonderry was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
who won a Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
during the Indian Mutiny was from the town. - Dr Henry CookeHenry Cooke (minister)Henry Cooke D.D. was an Irish presbyterian leader of the early and mid-nineteenth century.-Upbringing:Henry Cooke came of a family of puritan settlers in County Down from Devonshire. He was the youngest son of John Cooke, tenant farmer of Grillagh, near Maghera, County Londonderry, by his second...
, a noted theologian, was born at Maghera. A statue of Cooke called the "Black Man" (due to its former colour, when covered in soot) stands outside Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionRoyal Belfast Academical InstitutionThe Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
in 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...
. - James Lenox-Conyngham Chichester-ClarkJames Lenox-Conyngham Chichester-ClarkJames Jackson Lenox-Conyngham Chichester-Clark was a Member of Parliament of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for South Londonderry from 1929 until his death. His son James Chichester-Clark later became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland...
and his grandfather James Johnston ClarkJames Johnston ClarkJames Johnston Clark was a Unionist politician in Ireland.Clark lived in Largantogher House, Maghera, County Londonderry and was a Unionist Member of Parliament for County Londonderry from 9 March 1857 until 1859. He was a member of the Carlton Club, London.His son, Sir William Ovens Clark, was...
, both MPs for County LondonderryCounty LondonderryThe 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...
, were born here at Largantogher House. - William Shiels (3 December 1848 — 17 December 1904), Australian colonial politician and 16th Premier of Victoria, was born at Maghera.
Primary schools
- St. Mary's Primary School, Glenview
- Maghera Controlled Primary School
- St. Patrick's Primary School, Glen
Secondary School
- St. Patrick's Co-Ed Comprehensive College is the largest school in the NEELB and one of the largest in Ulster.
- Maghera High School, which had served an intake mainly from the local Protestant population, was closed in 2009, after a protracted campaign by many in the local population to save it from closure. The majority of remaining pupils were transferred to nearby Magherafelt High School.
Sport
- The local Gaelic footballGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club is Watty Graham's Gaelic Athletic ClubGlen GACWatty Graham's GAC Glen is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The team draws players from Maghera and some surrounding townlands. They currently cater for Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie.Glen are also committed to Scor,...
. - The local soccer team is Maghera Strollers F.C.
- The local golf Driving Range is located in TobermoreTobermoreTobermore is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is located two and a half miles south of Maghera and five miles west of Magherafelt. Tobermore lies within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan and is part of Magherafelt District Council...
- The local leisure centre is Maghera Leisure Centre located on the Coleraine road.
See also
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- Market Houses in Northern IrelandMarket Houses in Northern IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Northern Ireland towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper...