Castlederg


Castlederg is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is near the border with County Donegal. It stands in the townlands of Castlesessagh and Churchtown, in the historic barony of Omagh West and the civil parish of Urney. The village has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den. It had an population of 2,985 people in 2011.
The village hosts some of the district's key events each year, including the Derg Vintage Rally, Dergfest music festival, Red River Festival and the traditional Apple Fair which sees the apple growers of County Armagh visit to sell their wares.
Traditionally, Castlederg was a traveller's stop along the ancient pilgrimage route to Station Island on Lough Derg. The town boasts ancient ruins and monastic settlements.

History

Early history

Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of Owen and Connail. This rivalry between the two powers continued until the 16th century when they combined in the defence of Ulster against the encroaching Elizabethan armies. The Castlederg area, lying within the new barony of Omagh, was granted to the English Attorney-General for Ireland, Sir John Davies. Two castles were constructed on his proportion, Castle Curlews outside Drumquin and the bulk of what can be seen today on the northern bank of the Derg at Castlederg. A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.

The Troubles

During the Troubles, 25 people were killed in and around Castlederg and there were many bombings in the village. The Provisional Irish Republican Army killed 11 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Ulster Constabulary, four fellow IRA members whom it accused of being informers, and three Ulster Protestant civilians. Four IRA members were also killed when their bombs exploded prematurely. Ulster loyalist paramilitaries killed three Catholic civilians. For more information, see The Troubles in Castlederg.

2010 temperature record

Castlederg recorded a Northern Ireland record low temperature of on the morning of 23 December 2010.

Transport

The narrow-gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was built in 1883, to link the village with the Great Northern Railway at Victoria Bridge. Castlederg railway station opened on 4 July 1884, but was finally closed on 17 April 1933.

Demography

19th century population

The population of the village increased during the 19th century:
Year184118511861187118811891
Population476596637703756796
Horses81102106119137155

21st century population

Castlederg is classified as an intermediate settlement by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency .
On Census Day 29 April 2001, the resident population of Castlederg ward was 2,074. Of this population:
For more details see:

Governance

The town is one of the electoral wards in the Derg district electoral area of Derry City and Strabane District Council. The other wards are Finn, Glenderg, Newtownstewart and Sion Mills.. Below are the results of the 2019 Derry City and Strabane District Council election

Derg

2014: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP

2014-2019 change: SDLP gain one seat from Sinn Féin

Education

Primary

Football