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County Tyrone

{{Short description|County in Northern Ireland}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = County Tyrone

| official_name =

| native_name = {{native name|ga|Contae Thír Eoghain}}
{{lang|sco|Coontie Owenslann}} (Ulster-Scots)

| settlement_type = County

| image_shield = Tyrone arms.svg

| shield_size = 110px

| nickname = The Red Hand County

| motto = {{native name|la|Consilio et Prudentia}}
"By Wisdom and Prudence"

| image_map = Island of Ireland location map Tyrone.svg

| area_total_sq_mi = 1261

| area_rank = 8th

| area_footnotes = {{cite book |author=Northern Ireland General Register Office |title=Census of Population 1971; Summary Tables |url=https://www.nisra.gov.uk/sites/nisra.gov.uk/files/publications/1971-census-summary-tables.pdf#page=21 |format=PDF |location=Belfast |publisher=HMSO |access-date=28 August 2019 |page=1 |chapter=Table 1: Area, Buildings for Habitation and Population, 1971 |date=1975 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723205332/https://www.nisra.gov.uk/sites/nisra.gov.uk/files/publications/1971-census-summary-tables.pdf#page=21 |url-status=live }}

| seat_type = County town

| seat = Omagh

| population = 188383

| population_rank = 11th{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ECOUNTY_NI=6 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}

| population_as_of = 2021

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_type2 = Province

| subdivision_name2 = Ulster

| unit_pref = Imperial

| elevation_max_m = 678

| elevation_max_point = Sawel Mountain

| timezone = GMT

| utc_offset = ±0

| timezone_DST = BST

| utc_offset_DST = +1

| website =

| postal_code_type = Postcode area

| postal_code = BT

| established_date = 1585

| established_title = Established

| footnotes = {{lang|ga|Contae Thír Eoghain}} is the Irish name; {{lang|sco|Countie Tyrone}},{{cite web |url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/annual_report_2010_ulster_scots.pdf |title=North-South Ministerial Council: 2010 Annual Report in Ulster Scots|access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227120523/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/annual_report_2010_ulster_scots.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2013}} {{lang|sco|Coontie Tyrone}}{{cite web|url=http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/web_2006_ulster_scots_report.pdf |title=North-South Ministerial Council: 2006 Annual Report in Ulster Scots|access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227120556/http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/web_2006_ulster_scots_report.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2013}} and {{lang|sco|Coontie Owenslann}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dungannon.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/Ulsterscotch |title=Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council |publisher=Dungannon.gov.uk |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408052025/http://www.dungannon.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/Ulsterscotch |archive-date=8 April 2013}} are Ulster Scots spellings (the latter used only by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council).

| subdivision_name = United Kingdom

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Northern Ireland

}}

County Tyrone ({{IPAc-en|t|ɪ|'|r|oʊ|n}};{{cite book|author=BBC|year=1990|title=BBC pronouncing dictionary of British names|url=https://archive.org/details/bbcpronouncingdi00gepo|location=New York|editor=Graham E. Pointon|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/bbcpronouncingdi00gepo/page/248 248]|edition=2|isbn=0192827456|quote=Tyrone Co. name, ti'roʊn}} {{Irish derived place name|Tír Eoghain|land of Eoghan}} {{IPA|ga|tʲiːɾʲ ˈoːnʲ|}}) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. Its county town is Omagh.

Adjoined to the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of {{convert|3266|km2||order=flip}}, making it the largest of Northern Ireland's six counties by size, and the second largest county in Ulster after Donegal. With a population of 188,383 as of the 2021 census, Tyrone is the 5th most populous county in both Northern Ireland and Ulster, and the 11th most populous county on the island of Ireland. The county derives its name and general geographic location from Tír Eoghain, a Gaelic kingdom under the O'Neill dynasty which existed until the 17th century.

Name

The name Tyrone is derived {{etymology|ga|Tír Eoghain|land of Eoghan}}, the name given to the conquests made by the Cenél nEógain from the provinces of Airgíalla and Ulaid.Art Cosgrove (2008); "A New History of Ireland, Volume II: Medieval Ireland 1169–1534". Oxford University Press. Historically, it was anglicised as Tirowen or Tyrowen, which are closer to the Irish pronunciation.

History

{{Main|List of Kings of Tír Eógain}}

{{Historical populations

| state = collapsed

|1653|3988

|1659|4088

|1821|261865

|1831|304468

|1841|312956

|1851|255661

|1861|238500

|1871|215766

|1881|197719

|1891|171401

|1901|150567

|1911|142665

|1926|132792

|1937|127586

|1951|132082

|1961|133919

|1966|136040

|1971|139073

|1981|150729

|1991|156284

|2001|164235

|footnote=For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy, 14 March 1865.{{cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures. |publisher=Cso.ie |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-date=9 March 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org |title=Histpop.org |publisher=Histpop.org |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title=Nisranews.gov.uk |publisher=Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |archive-date=17 February 2012}}{{cite book

| last = Lee

| first = JJ

| editor-last = Goldstrom

| editor-first = J. M.

| editor2-last = Clarkson

| editor2-first = L. A.

| title = Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell

| year = 1981

| publisher = Clarendon Press

| location = Oxford, England

| chapter = On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses

}}{{Cite journal

|last1 = Mokyr

|first1 = Joel

|author-link = Joel Mokyr

|last2 = O Grada

|first2 = Cormac

|title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850

|journal = The Economic History Review

|volume = 37

|issue = 4

|pages = 473–488

|date = November 1984

|url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 4 December 2012

|doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x

|hdl = 10197/1406

|hdl-access = free

|access-date = 3 September 2009

}}

|2011|177986

|2021|188383||}}

Historically Tyrone (then Tír Eoghain or Tirowen) was much larger in size, stretching 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 and 1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on natural resources located there. Tyrone was the traditional stronghold of the various O'Neill clans and families, the strongest of the Gaelic Irish families in Ulster, surviving into the seventeenth century. The ancient principality of Tír Eoghain, the inheritance of the O'Neills, included the whole of the present counties of Tyrone and Londonderry, and the four baronies of West Inishowen, East Inishowen, Raphoe North and Raphoe South in County Donegal.{{cite book|last1=Joyce|first1=Patrick Weston|url=http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/Tyrone.php|title=Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland|last2=Sullivan|first2=Alexander Martin|last3=Nunan|first3=P. D.|publisher=Murphy and McCarthy|year=1900|access-date=24 February 2009|archive-date=19 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919081550/http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/Tyrone.php|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}

In 1608 during O'Doherty's Rebellion areas of the country were plundered and burnt by the forces of Sir Cahir O'Doherty following his destruction of Derry. However, O'Doherty's men avoided the estates of the recently fled Earl of Tyrone around Dungannon, fearing Tyrone's anger if he returned from his exile.McCavitt, John. The Flight of the Earls. Gill & MacMillan, 2002. p.143-44

Geography

With an area of {{convert|3266|km2|sqmi|order=flip}}, Tyrone is the largest county in Northern Ireland. The flat peatlands of East Tyrone border the shoreline of the largest lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh, rising gradually across to the more mountainous terrain in the west of the county, the area surrounding the Sperrin Mountains, the highest point being Sawel Mountain at a height of {{convert|678|m|ft}}. The length of the county, from the mouth of the River Blackwater at Lough Neagh to the western point near Carrickaduff hill is {{convert|55|mi|km}}. The breadth, from the southern corner, southeast of Fivemiletown, to the northeastern corner near Meenard Mountain is {{convert|37.5|mi|km}}; giving an area of {{convert|1,261|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}. Annaghone lays claim to be the geographical centre of Northern Ireland.

Tyrone is connected by land to the counties of Fermanagh to the southwest; Monaghan to the south; Armagh to the southeast; Londonderry to the north; and Donegal to the west. Across Lough Neagh to the east, it borders County Antrim. It is the eighth largest of Ireland's thirty-two counties by area and tenth largest by population.{{cite book|first=Eoghan|last=Corry|title=The GAA Book of Lists| publisher=Hodder Headline Ireland|year=2005|pages=186–191|isbn=0-340-89695-7}} It is the second largest of Ulster's nine traditional counties by area and fourth largest by population.Marie Veronica Tarpey [https://books.google.com/books?id=PgeWfj_rJtMC&pg=PA22 The role of Joseph McGarrity in the struggle for Irish independence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617130728/https://books.google.com/books?id=PgeWfj_rJtMC&pg=PA22 |date=17 June 2016 }}

File:Blackrock Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 467291.jpg, carrying the closed GNR mainline that ran through the county]]

Administration

The county was administered by Tyrone County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|title=Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030152505/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|url-status=live}}

Demography

{{bar box

|title = Religious Background in Tyrone (2021)

|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Per cent |float=right

|bars =

{{bar percent|Catholic|DarkOrchid|66.5}}

{{bar percent|Protestant and Other Christian|Blue|28.9}}

{{bar percent|None|grey|4.0}}

{{bar percent|Other faiths|grey|0.7}}

}}

It is one of four counties in Northern Ireland which currently has a majority of the population from a Catholic community background, according to the 2021 census.{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}} In 1900 County Tyrone had a population of 197,719, while in 2021 it was 188,383. At the time of the 2021 census, 66.49% were from a Catholic background, 28.88% were from a Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related), 0.66% were from other religions, and 3.97% had no religious background.

class="wikitable"

|+Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census)

!Religion or religion brought up in

!Number

!%

Catholic

|125,251

|66.49%

Protestant and Other Christian

|54,407

|28.88%

Other religions

|1,251

|0.66%

None (no religion)

|7,474

|3.97%

Total

!188,383

!100.00%

class="wikitable"

|+National identity (2021 Census){{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ECOUNTY_NI=6 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ECOUNTY_NI=6 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ECOUNTY_NI=6 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=COUNTY_NI&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&%7ECOUNTY_NI=6 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}

!National identity

!Number

!(%)

Irish only

|78,291

|41.6%

British only

|39,551

|21.0%

Northern Irish only

|38,698

|20.5%

British and Northern Irish only

|8,197

|4.4%

Irish and Northern Irish only

|3,853

|2.1%

British, Irish and Northern Irish only

|1,175

|0.6%

British and Irish only

|737

|0.4%

Other identity

|17,881

|9.5%

Total

!188,383

!100.0%

All Irish identities

!84,562

!44.9%

All British identities

!50,768

!27.0%

All Northern Irish identities

!52,667

!28.0%

=Irish language and Ulster Scots=

In the 2021 UK census in County Tyrone:

  • 18.44% claim to have some knowledge of the Irish language, whilst 5.84% claim to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Irish. 3.62% claim to use Irish daily. 0.38% claim that Irish is their main language.
  • 8.15% claim to have some knowledge of Ulster Scots, whilst 0.91% claim to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Ulster Scots. 1.26% claim to use Ulster Scots daily.

Settlements

{{Main|List of places in County Tyrone}}

=Large towns=

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2021 Census){{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}

=Medium towns=

(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2021 Census)

=Small towns=

(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2021 Census){{cite web | title=Statistical classification of settlements | work=NI Neighbourhood Information Service | url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | access-date=23 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217122433/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | archive-date=17 February 2010 | url-status=dead }}

=Intermediate settlements=

(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2021 Census)

=Villages=

(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)

=Small villages=

(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|

}}

Subdivisions

{{Further|Clonaneese}}

Baronies

{{Main|Barony (Ireland)}}

Parishes

{{Main|List of civil parishes of County Tyrone}}

Townlands

{{Main|List of townlands in County Tyrone}}

Future railway revival

There is the possibility of the line being reopened to Dungannon railway station from Portadown.{{cite web|url=https://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/all-aboard-dungannon-railway-hopesrevived-2714182|title=All aboard! Dungannon railway hopes revived|access-date=1 September 2021|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901115956/https://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/all-aboard-dungannon-railway-hopesrevived-2714182|url-status=live}}

Sport

Major sports in Tyrone include Gaelic games, association football, rugby union and cricket:

  • Gaelic football is more widely played than hurling in Tyrone. The Tyrone GAA football side has had considerable success since 2000, winning four All Ireland titles (in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2021). They have also won sixteen Ulster titles (1956, 1957, 1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2021)The Tyrone GAA team have won the Ulster Senior Championship on eight occasions in the 20th century and two National League titles (in 2002{{cite news | author = Sean Moran | title = Tyrone's superiority is total | url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/tyrone-s-superiority-is-total-1.1086809 | date = 29 April 2002 | newspaper = The Irish Times | access-date = 14 February 2022}} and 2003{{cite web | title = Tyrone outclass Laois | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/2998179.stm | date = 4 May 2003 | publisher = BBC News | access-date = 14 February 2022}}).
  • Association football also has a large following in Tyrone. Omagh Town F.C. were members of the Irish Football League until they folded in 2005 due to financial problems. Dungannon Swifts F.C. compete in the NIFL Premiership – the top division. Other teams include NIFL Championship side Dergview F.C.
  • Rugby union is very popular in the county. Dungannon RFC, Omagh Academicals RFC and Clogher Valley RFC play in the All-Ireland League. Other teams include Cookstown RFC and Strabane RFC.
  • International Cricket is also played on the Bready Cricket Club Ground which is owned by Bready Cricket Club. It is Ireland's fourth venue for International Cricket hosting its first International Cricket match when Ireland played against Scotland in a series of T20I matches in June 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32957490 |title=Tyrone Kane given first Ireland call-up for World T20 qualifiers |access-date=1 June 2015 |work=BBC Sport |archive-date=2 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602102440/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32957490 |url-status=live }}[http://www.cricketworld.com/irelands-bready-cricket-club-gets-iccs-recognition/41256.html Ireland's Bready Cricket Club Gets ICC's Recognition]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It was selected as a venue to host matches in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/87946/icc-announces-schedule-of-icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2015 |title=ICC announces schedule of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=International Cricket Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100208/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/87946/icc-announces-schedule-of-icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}

Notable people

{{See also|Category:People from County Tyrone}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

{{Div col end}}

See also

{{Commons category|County Tyrone}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{citation |last1=Pointon |first1=GE |date=1990 |title=BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names |edition=2nd |publisher=Oxford University Press |publication-place=Oxford |isbn=0-19-282745-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bbcpronouncingdi00gepo/page/92 92] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bbcpronouncingdi00gepo/page/92 }}

Further reading

  • Joost, Augusteijn (ed.) (1920s). The Memoirs of John M. Regan, a Catholic Officer in the RIC and RUC, 1909–48. Co. Tyrone. {{ISBN|978-1-84682-069-4}}.
  • McNeill, I. (2010). The Flora of County Tyrone. National Museums of Northern Ireland. {{ISBN|978-1-905989-17-1}}

External links

{{Wikivoyage}}

  • [https://wikishire.co.uk/map/#Tyrone Tyrone on the interactive map of the counties of Great Britain and Ireland] – Wikishire
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060107121804/http://www.flavouroftyrone.com/ A Flavour of Tyrone]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060107202942/http://www.countytyrone.com/ County Tyrone.com]

{{Geographic Location

|North = County Londonderry 30px

|South = County Monaghan

|East = Lough Neagh

|West = County Donegal 36px

|Southeast = County Armagh 30px

|Southwest = County Fermanagh 32px

|Centre = County Tyrone

}}

{{County Tyrone}}

{{Counties and cities of Northern Ireland}}

{{Ireland counties}}

{{Ó Néill}}

{{Kingdom of Ireland}}

{{Authority control}}

Tyrone

Category:O'Neill dynasty