Derrywarragh Island
{{Short description|Island in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Derrywarragh
| image_name = The New Bridge at Maghery - geograph.org.uk - 563272.jpg
| image_caption = Looking towards Derrywarragh Island on the bridge connecting the island and Maghery
| image_size = 250px
| location = Lough Neagh, County Armagh
| country = United Kingdom
| coordinates = {{coord|54.516|N|6.571|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}}
|area_km2 = 0.6
|length_km = 1
|width_km = 0.6
|highest_mount = O'Connor's Stronghold
|elevation_m = 12
}}
Derrywarragh Island is a boulder clay island on Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. It is linked by a bridge to Maghery, County Armagh. The island is approximately {{convert|13|km|mi|0}} northwest of Portadown. Most of the island is wet grassland. There are also areas of wet woodland, marshes and swamps. The island is also regularly the home of wintering and breeding birds.{{cite web|url=http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/environment/bio/Floodplain%20Grazing%20Marsh%20plan.doc|title=Floodplain Grazing Marsh Plan|access-date=2008-05-17|publisher=Craigavon Borough Council}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
History
On entering the River Blackwater barges used to sail down the river for about three miles to Lough Neagh at Maghery, where they navigated the mouth of the River by Derrywarragh Peninsula, causing endless delays through silting, flooding and blockages. In 1802 work started under the direction of Daniel Monks to excavate a short channel from the eastern bank of the Blackwater straight to the lough shore through the lower section of Derrywarragh Peninsula thus turning it into what is now Derrywarragh Island. This cut, "the Maghery Cut", finished in 1803, allowed vessels to avoid the sand bars at the river’s mouth. A pontoon bridge was erected and was later replaced by a fixed bridge to allow access onto Derrywarragh Island by the main resident of the island who owns a livestock haulage business and was noticing weakness as the lorry passed over the bridge.{{cite web | title=River Blackwater - History | work=CanoeNI | url=http://www.canoeni.com/River_Blackwater.aspx?s=8 | access-date=2008-06-27}}
Places of interest
The O'Connors Stronghold can be found on the north-east end of the island. It is a 17th-century fortified house. The existing remains measure about {{convert|18|x|14|ft|m}} and include a standing {{convert|32|ft|m}} brick chimney stack. According to Craigavon Museum Services, it was probably a "watchtower to protect the mouth of the River Blackwater".{{cite web|url=http://www.craigavonmuseum.com/research/localhistory/maghery.shtml |title=Craigavon Museum - Research - Local History - Maghery And Coney Island |access-date=2008-05-17 |publisher=Craigavon Borough Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205000343/http://www.craigavonmuseum.com/research/localhistory/maghery.shtml |archive-date=5 December 2008 }}{{cite web | title=Derrywarragh Island Tower | work=The Castles of Ireland | url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/castles/irecastl-Armagh.htm | access-date=2008-06-27}}
Sport
The island is also the home of Maghery Sean MacDermott's GAA club.{{cite web | title=Maghery Sean McDermotts| work=Maghery.com | url=http://www.maghery.com/ | access-date=2008-06-27}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lough Neagh Islands}}
{{County Armagh}}
{{authority control}}