Castlederg

Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of Cenél nEógain (later Tír Eoghain) and Connail (later Tír Chonaill – mostly modern County Donegal). 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 (Kirlish Castle) outside Drumquin and Derg Castle, the ruins of which can be seen today on the northern bank of the River Derg at Castlederg.{{cite web|title=Castlederg Castle|url=https://discovernorthernireland.com/Castlederg-Castle-Castlederg-P3493|access-date=20 November 2018}} A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.{{cite web |last1=O'Toole |first1=Fintan |title=Castlederg bronze cauldron, 700-600 BC |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/castlederg-bronze-cauldron-700-600-bc-1.571970 |website=The Irish Times |access-date=2 May 2020|date=14 May 2011}}

During the Troubles, 25 people were killed in and around Castlederg (including Killeter and Killen)[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/search.html Malcolm Sutton's Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland] (search for "Castlederg"). Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). and there were many bombings in the village. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) 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.

The narrow-gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was built in 1883, to link the village with the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) at Victoria Bridge. Castlederg railway station opened on 4 July 1884, but was finally closed on 17 April 1933.{{cite web | title=Castlederg station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf| access-date=16 September 2007}}

The population of the village increased during the 19th century:{{cite web| title=Census of Ireland 1851| work=Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland| url=http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/13130/eppi_pages/336897| access-date=22 March 2013| archive-date=27 June 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627134727/http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/13130/eppi_pages/336897| url-status=dead}}

Castlederg is classified as an intermediate settlement by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 2,500 and 4,999 people).{{cite web | title=NI Assembly| work=Key Statistics for Settlements, Census 2011| url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2015/general/9915.pdf | access-date=2 May 2021}}

On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,976, accounting for 0.16% of the NI total.{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Castlederg@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Castlederg@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Castlederg Settlement | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 2 May 2021}}30px This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright. Of these:

• 19.72% were under 16 years old and 16.97% were aged 65 and above.
• 48.42% of the population were male and 51.58% were female.
• 55.36% were from a Catholic community background and 40.22% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background.
• 36.56% indicated that they had a British national identity, 34.54% had an Irish national identity, and 30.51% had a Northern Irish national identity.

On Census Day (21 March 2021) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,980.{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |website=NISRA |access-date=21 August 2023}} Of these:

• 20.20% were aged under 16, 60.64% were aged between 16 and 65, and 19.16% were aged 66 and over.{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Age {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=AGE_BAND_AGG3&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}
• 52.75% of the population were female and 47.25% were male.{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Sex (MS-A07) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=UR_SEX&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}
• 57.25% belong to or were brought up Catholic, 38.19% belong to or were brought up Protestant (including other Christian denominations), 0.94% belonged to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 3.62% did not adhere to or had no religion.{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}
• 39.83% indicated they had an Irish national identity,{{Cite web |title=Preview data for National Identity (Irish) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}} 33.96% indicated they had a British national identity,{{Cite web |title=Preview data for National Identity (British) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}} 32.38% indicated they had a Northern Irish national identity,{{Cite web |title=Preview data for National Identity (Northern Irish) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}} and .4.46% indicated they had an 'other' national identity.{{Cite web |title=Preview data for National identity (person based) – basic detail (classification 1) (MS-B15) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}} (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)
• 13.36% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge) and 10% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots.{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Knowledge of Irish (MS-B05) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Knowledge of Ulster-Scots (MS-B08) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000619 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}

{{Weather box|location = Castlederg
WMO ID: 03904; coordinates {{coord|54.70698|N|7.5775|W|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Met Castlederg|format=dms}}; elevation: {{convert|49|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1981–2010 normals

| collapsed =

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| single line = y

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| Jan high C = 7.4

| Feb high C = 7.9

| Mar high C = 9.9

| Apr high C = 12.2

| May high C = 15.3

| Jun high C = 17.4

| Jul high C = 18.9

| Aug high C = 18.6

| Sep high C = 16.6

| Oct high C = 13.2

| Nov high C = 9.8

| Dec high C = 7.4

| year high C = 12.9

| Jan mean C = 4.4

| Feb mean C = 4.6

| Mar mean C = 6.2

| Apr mean C = 7.9

| May mean C = 10.5

| Jun mean C = 13.2

| Jul mean C = 14.9

| Aug mean C = 14.6

| Sep mean C = 12.7

| Oct mean C = 9.6

| Nov mean C = 6.6

| Dec mean C = 4.3

| year mean C = 9.1

| Jan low C = 1.3

| Feb low C = 1.2

| Mar low C = 2.4

| Apr low C = 3.6

| May low C = 5.7

| Jun low C = 8.9

| Jul low C = 10.8

| Aug low C = 10.5

| Sep low C = 8.7

| Oct low C = 5.9

| Nov low C = 3.3

| Dec low C = 1.2

| year low C = 5.3

| Jan record low C =

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| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 127.8

| Feb precipitation mm = 93.3

| Mar precipitation mm = 98.1

| Apr precipitation mm = 74.6

| May precipitation mm = 65.8

| Jun precipitation mm = 66.0

| Jul precipitation mm = 83.5

| Aug precipitation mm = 85.1

| Sep precipitation mm = 91.5

| Oct precipitation mm = 122.6

| Nov precipitation mm = 110.9

| Dec precipitation mm = 124.6

| year precipitation mm = 1143.7

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 18.7

| Feb precipitation days = 15.3

| Mar precipitation days = 17.2

| Apr precipitation days = 13.7

| May precipitation days = 13.6

| Jun precipitation days = 12.6

| Jul precipitation days = 14.0

| Aug precipitation days = 15.1

| Sep precipitation days = 14.6

| Oct precipitation days = 17.7

| Nov precipitation days = 17.8

| Dec precipitation days = 17.6

| year precipitation days = 187.7

| source 1 = Met Office{{cite web

| url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcdx5x4e7| title=Castlederg 1981–2010 averages| publisher=Met Office | access-date=17 May 2021}}

| date = Jul 2021

}}

Castlederg recorded Northern Ireland's lowest-ever recorded temperature of {{convert|-18.7|°C|1}} on the morning of 23 December 2010.[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2010/december.html "Northern ireland diary of highlights December 2010"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405132857/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2010/december.html |date=5 April 2011 }}. Met Office. Retrieved 14 August 2011 The town recorded Northern Ireland's highest-ever recorded temperature of {{convert|31.3|°C|1}} on 21 July 2021. On 22 July, Armagh reported {{convert|31.4|°C|1}} which has since been rejected by the UK Met Office, meaning Castlederg holds both the highest and lowest temperature records in Northern Ireland. Prior to the 21st and 22nd, the record was also broken on 17 July 2021 with a value of {{convert|31.2|°C|1}} at Ballywatticock.{{cite web | title= Extreme heat: NI records hottest day ever for second time in week| publisher=BBC News| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57920672 | access-date=21 July 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-extremes#?tab=climateExtremes|title=UK climate extremes | website=Met Office|access-date=2021-09-26}}

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.{{cite web|title=The District Electoral Areas (Northern Ireland)|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111107546/schedule|access-date=20 November 2018}} Below are the results of the 2019 Derry City and Strabane District Council election

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

{{STV Election box begin2|

|title=Derg – 5 seats

|numcounts= 5

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Keith Kerrigan

|count1 = 1,090

|count2 = 1,092

|count3 = 1,711

|percentage = 13.62

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Derek Hussey*

|count1 = 1,267

|count2 = 1,279

|count3 = 1,418

|percentage = 15.83

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Ruairí McHugh*

|count1 = 1,086

|count2 = 1,089

|count3 = 1,089

|count4 = 1,089

|count5 = 1,579

|percentage = 13.57

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Cara Hunter

|count1 = 1,032

|count2 = 1,092

|count3 = 1,094

|count4 = 1,194

|count5 = 1,287

|percentage = 12.89

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Kieran McGuire*

|count1 = 1,075

|count2 = 1,081

|count3 = 1,081

|count4 = 1,081

|count5 = 1,232

|percentage = 13.43

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Andy Patton

|count1 = 735

|count2 = 784

|count3 = 791

|count4 = 922

|count5 = 981

|percentage = 9.18

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Maolíosa McHugh*

|count1 = 798

|count2 = 806

|count3 = 807

|count4 = 808

|percentage = 9.97

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Thomas Kerrigan

|count1 = 771

|count2 = 773

|percentage = 9.63

}}

{{STV Election box candidate2|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Anne Murray

|count1 = 150

|percentage = 1.87

}}

{{STV Election box end2

|numcounts = 5

|electorate = 12,996

|valid = 8,004

|spoilt = 116

|quota = 1,335

|turnout = 62.48%

}}

File:Castlederg Castle - geograph.org.uk - 371758.jpg]]

• Edwards Primary School – established 1938{{cite web|title=Edwards Primary School|url=http://www.edwardsprimary.co.uk|access-date=20 November 2018}}
• Erganagh Primary school – closed
• Gaelscoil na Deirge{{cite web|title=Gaelsoil na Deirg|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rZFMOl3f0w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0rZFMOl3f0w| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2018}}{{cbignore}}
• Killen Primary School – established 1935{{cite web|title=Killen Primary School|url=http://www.killenprimaryschool.com|access-date=20 November 2018}}
• Saint Francis of Assisi Primary School, Drumnabey, Castlederg
• Saint Patrick's Primary School – established in 1973{{cite web|title=Saint Patrick's Primary School|url=http://www.stpatrickspscastlederg.co.uk|access-date=20 November 2018}}

• Castlederg High School – established 1958{{cite web|title=Castlederg High School|url=https://www.castlederghighschool.org|access-date=20 November 2018}}
• St Eugene's High School – 1961 to 2013

• Dergview F.C.

• Castlederg St. Eugene's

{{See also|Category:People from Castlederg}}

• Conor Bradley, footballer for Liverpool F.C. and the Northern Ireland national team, grew up in Castlederg{{cite web |last=Hanna |first=Gareth |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool/who-is-conor-bradley-all-you-need-to-know-about-liverpool-star-named-in-the-northern-ireland-squad-39407660.html |title=Who is Conor Bradley? All you need to know about Liverpool star named in the Northern Ireland squad |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}}
• Michelle Gallen, author of Factory Girls and Big Girl Small Town, grew up in Castlederg{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/2022/06/28/pressing-matters-coming-to-terms-with-the-troubles-and-the-past/ | title=Pressing matters: Coming to terms with the Troubles and the past. Big Girl Small Town author Michelle Gallen revisits her Border town in her new novel, Factory Girls]] |access-date=18 March 2024}}
• James Harper (1780–1873), U.S. congressman, born in Castlederg{{cite web |title=Harper, James 1780-1873 |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H000221 |work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=25 February 2022}}
• Ivan Sproule, former footballer, grew up in Castlederg{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/377/senior/ivan-sproule-forward/ |title=Ivan Sproule |publisher=Irish Football Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504164421/http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/377/senior/ivan-sproule-forward/ |archive-date=4 May 2008}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ NI Conflict Archive on the Internet]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060430195358/http://www.irishcycletours.com/CycleNorthwest.asp Cycle Northwest]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516061414/http://www.strabanedc.com/general_information/towns_villages/castlederg/ Strabane District Council]
• [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/PopChangesFacts/Castlederg.pdf NISRA]

{{Commons category}}

• [http://web.onetel.net.uk/~bronan/ Welcome to Castlederg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503140443/http://web.onetel.net.uk/~bronan/ |date=3 May 2016 }}

{{County Tyrone}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in County Tyrone

Category:Civil parish of Urney