For centuries, it was the 'capital' of the O'Neill dynasty of Tír Eoghain, who dominated most of Ulster and built a castle on the hill. After the O'Neills' defeat in the Nine Years' War, the English founded a plantation town on the site, which grew into what is now Dungannon. Dungannon has won Ulster in Bloom's Best Kept Town Award five times. It currently has the highest percentage of immigrants of any town in Northern Ireland.
History
For centuries, Dungannon's fortunes were closely tied to that of the O'Neill dynasty which ruled a large part of Ulster until the 17th century. Dungannon was the clan's main stronghold. The traditional site of inauguration for 'The O'Neill' was Tullyhogue Fort, an Iron Age mound some four miles northeast of Dungannon. The clan O'Hagan were the stewards of this site for the O'Neills. In the 14th century the O'Neills built a castle on what is today known as Castle Hill; the location was ideal for a fort, for it was one of the highest points in the area and dominated the surrounding countryside, giving (depending on the weather) the ability to see seven counties.
Sir Phelim O'Neill seized the town in the opening stages of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and issued the Proclamation of Dungannon, in which the rebels set out their aims and proclaimed their loyalty to Charles I. O'Neill claimed they had been ordered to rise by the King, and later produced a forged commission in support of this.[4] During the course of the Irish Confederate Wars, Dungannon changed hands several times; Scots Covenanter forces under Alexander Leslie captured it in September 1642, before O'Neill took it back in spring 1643.[5]
The castle was partially excavated in October 2007 by the Channel 4 archaeological show Time Team, uncovering part of the moat and walls of the castle.
The Troubles
In the late 1960s Northern Ireland was plunged into an ethnopolitical conflict known as the Troubles. On 24 August 1968, the Campaign for Social Justice (CSJ), the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA), and other groups, held Northern Ireland's first civil rights march from Coalisland to Dungannon. The rally was officially banned, but took place and passed off without incident. The publicity surrounding the march encouraged other groups to form branches of NICRA.[7]
During the conflict Dungannon suffered numerous bombings, and almost 50 people were killed in and around the town.[8] The deadliest attack was on 17 March 1976, when a loyalist car bomb killed four Catholic civilians.
The Dungannon circus crash
On 7 May 1954, a convoy of circus wagons crashed and overturned in Dungannon. The convoy was on its way to hold a circus in Ballygawley when a pilot lorry, which was towing three wagons, struck a chemist's shop while taking a sharp bend on Irish Street. The driver lost control of the lorry, which continued on to Market Square. The first of its wagons, carrying eight horses, four Shetland ponies and an ass, toppled over, smashing the front of two drapery shops. The second wagon, carrying three lions, crashed into the front of a hair salon and a hardware shop. Locals broke the back of the horses' wagon open, to free the animals trapped inside. A large group of locals and police physically moved the wagon containing the lions back onto the road to allow it to be removed.[9][10][11]
Demography
The population of the town increased slightly overall during the 19th century:[12][13]
Year
1841
1851
1861
1871
1881
1891
Population
3,801
3,854
3,994
3,886
4,084
3,812
Houses
675
686
720
727
812
830
2011 Census
Dungannon had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 census, rising by 3,349 (over 30%) from 10,983 in 2001, making it one of the fastest growing towns in Northern Ireland.[14] It has the highest percentage of immigrants of any town in Northern Ireland.[15] Immigrants make up about 11% of its population; more than twice the average. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of immigrants in Dungannon increased tenfold; the biggest increase of any town.[15] Many came to work in the local food processing plants. There have been several attacks on immigrants[16] and clashes between rival groups of immigrants[17] in the area.
On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 14,340 people living in Dungannon (5,388 households), accounting for 0.79% of the NI total.[14] Of these:
22.01% were aged under 16 years and 12.09% were aged 65 and over;
50.33% of the usually resident population were female and 49.67% were male;
64.82% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith, 30.46% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion;
31.63% had an Irish national identity, 28.27% indicated that they had a British national identity and 23.93% had a Northern Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity);
34 years was the average (median) age of the population;
15.93% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge), 4.82% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 23.18% did not have English as their first language.
2021 Census
National Identity of Dungannon residents (2021)
Nationality
Per cent
Irish
27.2%
British
22.0%
Northern Irish
19.6%
In the 2021 Census, Dungannon was recorded as having a population of 16,282,[18] a 13.5% increase from 2011. Of these:
34.85% of the town's population was recorded as foreign-born (born outside the United Kingdom and Ireland),[2] by far the largest of any settlement in Northern Ireland.
67.15% of the population belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith, 24.25% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion, and 1.63% belonged to or were brought up in an other religion. 6.96% either declared no religion or did not state their religion.[20]
22.45% were aged under 16 years and 12.48% were aged 65 or over.[21]
49.24% of the usually resident population were female and 50.76% were male.[22]
15.38% had some knowledge of the Irish language,[23] 6.97% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots[24] and 31.52% did not have English as their first language.[25]
27.15% had an Irish national identity,[26] 21.98% had a British national identity[27] and 19.64% had a Northern Irish national identity[28] (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).
Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census)[20][29]
Religion or religion brought up in
Number
(%)
Catholic: Total
10,934
67.15
Catholic: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)
6,117
37.57
Catholic: Other
4,817
29.58
Protestant and Other Christian: Total
3,950
24.25
Protestant/Other Christian: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)
3,534
21.70
Protestant/Other Christian: Other
416
2.55
Other religions: Total
265
1.63
Other religions: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)
114
0.70
Other religions: Other
151
0.93
None: Total
1,134
6.96
None: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)
An interesting feature of the town is the former Royal Irish Constabulary barracks at the northeastern corner of the market square which is quite unlike any other police barracks of a similar vintage in Ireland. A popular but apocryphal story relates that the unusual design of this building is due to a mix-up with the plans in Dublin which meant Dungannon got a station designed for Nepal and they got a standard Irish barracks, complete with a traditional Irish fireplace. Dungannon Park covers 70 acres (28 hectares); it is centred round an idyllic still-water lake, with miles of pathways and views of the surrounding townland.[33][34]
The town grew up around a hill, known locally as Castle Hill.[36] There are three small lakes on the southern edge of town, the biggest of which is Black Lough.[37] There are also two parks in the eastern part of town: Dungannon Park and Windmill Wood Park.[38][39]
Townlands
Dungannon sprang up in a townland called Drumcoo. Over time, the urban area has spread into the neighbouring townlands. Many of its roads and housing estates are named after them. The following is a list of these townlands and their likely etymologies:[40][41]
Ballynorthland Park
Ballysaggart (from IrishBaile na Sagart, meaning 'homestead of the priests')
Coolhill (from Cúlchoill meaning 'the backwoods')
Drumcoo (from Druim Cuaiche meaning 'ridge of the cuckoo')
Drumharriff (from Druim Thairbh meaning 'ridge of the bull')
Gortmerron (from Gort Mearain meaning 'Merron's field')
Killymaddy (from Coill na Madaí meaning 'wood of the dogs')
Killymeal (from Coill na Maoile meaning 'wood of the bald/hornless cow')
Lisnaclin (from Lios na Clinge meaning 'ringfort of the bell chime')
Lisnahull (from Lios a' Choill meaning 'ringfort of the hazel')
Lurgaboy (from Lurga Buí meaning 'yellow shin' i.e. shin-shaped hill)
Mullaghadun (from Mullach a' Dúin meaning 'hilltop of the fort')
Mullaghanagh (from Mullán na hÁithe meaning 'hillock of the kiln')
Mullaghconor (from Mullach Conchobhair meaning 'Conchobhar's hilltop')
Mullaghmore (from Mullach Mór meaning 'big hilltop')
Economy
The then Tyrone Crystal building in Dungannon (2008)
Until its closure in 2010, the crystal glass producer Tyrone Crystal was based in Dungannon.[42][43]
Schools
Primary
Aughamullan (Holy Family) Primary School (RC)
Bush Primary School
Clintyclay Primary School
Derrylatinee Primary School (RC)
Donaghey Controlled Primary School
Dungannon Primary School
Killyman Primary School
Laghey Primary School (RC)
Lisfearty Primary School
Newmills Primary School
Orchard County Primary School (amalgamation of Annaghmore and Tullyroan primary schools)
Dungannon Cricket Club was established in 1865.[75] Attempts were made to re-establish the club after the First World War and this was done in 1929 and survived until 1933 when Lord Ranfurly died, which for a second time left the club without a ground. Cricket was kept alive by the Royal School, Bankers and the RUC until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. The club was reformed in 1948 mainly due to the efforts of Eddie Hodgett and the NCU leagues in 1952 and continues to do so to the present time. The club has never quite reached senior cricket as it has limited resources and relies on the District Council for a ground. The club has played on at least five different locations during its existence. Home games are played at Dungannon Park.[76]
The local boys' Gaelic football club is Dungannon Thomas Clarkes (Thomáis Uí Chléirigh Dún Geanainn) while the ladies' football team is Aodh a Ruadh.[79]
Golf
Dungannon Golf Club, which provides an 18-hole course, appointed its first woman captain in January 2022.[80]
Hare coursing
The local Hare Coursing Club has been in existence since the 1920s but the sport was popular in the area long before the formation of the club. With hare coursing currently banned in Northern Ireland, the Dungannon club organises meetings in the Republic of Ireland.[81][82]
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing was once a popular sport in Dungannon. The Dungannon Greyhound Stadium was opened in July 1930, the third track in Northern Ireland after Celtic Park and Dunmore Stadium.[83] The stadium, also known as the Oaks Park Greyhound Stadium, remained operational until January 2003 when it was closed by Dungannon (Oaks Park) Stadium Greyhound Racing Limited who had taken over the track in 1995 and saw the opportunity to make a substantial profit by developing the site.[84]
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