Maghera

One mile north of the town is a single-chamber megalithic tomb known as Tirnony dolmen. The portals surrounding the tomb are five feet tall.{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=171 |isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}} The town dates back at least to the 6th century to the monastery founded by Saint Lurach whose family were possibly evangelised by Saint Patrick. The Annals of Ulster say that the seat of the Cenél nEoghain was at Ráth Luraig in Maghera. Standing upon the site of the monastery, the present day ruins of St. Lurach's Church date back to the 10th century (see Maghera Old Church). They include, over a doorway, a relief of the crucifixion, possibly the oldest in Ireland.{{Cite web|title=St. Lurach's Church – Mid Ulster District Council|url=https://www.midulstercouncil.org/visitor/places-to-visit/ancient-ulster/st-lurach's-church|access-date=2021-10-20|publisher=Mid Ulster Council|language=en-GB}} The crucification lintel is reproduced in the contemporary Catholic church, St Mary's.

The old church and town were burned in the 12th century. Afterwards, Maghera became the seat of the Bishopric of Cinél nEógain with a cathedral church.{{Cite web|title=Home – Maghera Historical Society|url=https://magherahistoricalsociety.org/|access-date=2021-10-20|language=en-GB}} In 1246 its bishop, Germanus O'Carolan (Gilla in Choimded Ó Cerbailláin), pleading the remoteness of Maghera, obtained sanction from Pope Innocent IV to have the see transferred to Derry.{{Cite web|title=Diocese of Derry, Northern Ireland|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/derr0.htm|access-date=2021-10-20|website=GCatholic}}

As a result of the Plantation of Ulster and of the Rebellion of 1641 which drove out many of the first English families, Maghera and district attracted Scottish settlers. They came into conflict not only with the dispossessed Irish, but as tenants and as Presbyterians also with the land-owning, Church of Ireland, Ascendancy. A result was large-scale emigration to the American colonies (Charles Thomson, recording himself as from Maghera, signed the Declaration of Independence){{Cite web|last=Macafee|first=William|date=2009|title=Researching Derry and Londonderry Ancestors: Historical Background|url=http://www.billmacafee.com/homepage/historicalbackground.pdf}} and, in the 1790s, the organising of the United Irishmen.

Despairing of reform, and determined to make common cause with their Catholic neighbours, on 7 June 1798 the United Irishmen mustered upwards of 5,000 men in Maghera. But the poorly armed host broke up the following morning on news of the rebel defeat at Antrim and the approach of government troops. A Presbyterian church elder, Watty Graham, was executed for his part, and his head was paraded through the town. His minister, John Glendy, was forced into American exile.{{Cite journal|last=Morrison|first=A. K.|date=1907|title=John Glendy, of Maghera, Co. Derry, Presbyterian Minister and Patriot, 1798|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20608633|journal=Ulster Journal of Archaeology|volume=13|issue=3|pages=(101–105) 103|jstor=20608633 |issn=0082-7355}}{{cite book|last1=Courtney|first1=Roger|title=Dissenting Voices: Rediscovering the Irish Progressive Presbyterian Tradition|date=2013|publisher=Ulster Historical Foundation|isbn=9781909556065|location=Belfast|pages=90, 108–109}}

On 12 July 1830, Orange Order and Ribbonmen clashed over demonstrations the Orange Order held in Maghera and Castledawson. Several Catholic homes were burnt by Protestants in the aftermath.{{cite web|title=Parades and Marches – Chronology 2: Historical Dates and Events|work=Conflict Archive on the Internet|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/parade/chpa2.htm|access-date=28 January 2010}} Some repair of sectarian relations was achieved by an active tenant right movement, but with tenant purchase of land facilitated by the Land Acts by the end of the century the national question prevailed. Politically the town has remained split between nationalists, now in the majority, and unionists.

The Great Famine of the 1840s and the years that followed, resulted in a since unrecovered loss of population in the surrounding rural districts. In 2003 the Ancient Order of Hibernians erected a headstone to make the "Famine Plot" were local victims were buried.{{Cite web|title=Maghera Parish {{!}} Parish History|url=http://www.magheraparishderry.com/parishhistory.php|access-date=2021-10-20|website=magheraparishderry.com}}

In the early 20th century, the town itself was relatively prosperous. With its own railway station, an embroidery factory, a busy weekly market and close proximity to Clark's linen mill in Upperlands, it was one of two major towns within Magherafelt Rural District. The town also benefited from post-war advances in education, housing and transport. Separate primary and secondary schools were built for Catholics and Protestants in the 1960s; new housing estates were constructed and motor cars forced a widening of many of the town's narrow streetsBryson, A. (2007). 'Whatever You Say, Say Nothing': Researching Memory & Identity in Mid-Ulster 1945–1969'. Oral History, 35(2), (45–56), 46.

{{main|The Troubles in Maghera}}

Maghera suffered violence during the Troubles. Over the three decades from the end of the 1960s a total of 14 people were killed in or near the village Maghera, half of them members of the security forces and a further two as a result of family membership of the Ulster Defence Regiment. The Provisional Irish Republican Army were responsible for ten of the deaths. Two, including a Sinn Féin councillor, were killed by loyalist paramilitaries.{{Cite web|title=CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths|url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/|access-date=2021-10-20|publisher=Ulster University}}

From what was possibly a low of 879 in 1910{{Cite web|title=Ulster Towns Directory, 1910: Maghera, County Derry|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/UlsterDirectory1910/Maghera.php|access-date=2021-10-20|website=libraryireland.com}} Maghera population has risen in the course of a century to a census figure in 2011 of 4,220. Reflecting European Union employment in local food processing, 213 residents in 2011 did not have English as a first language.{{Cite web|last=Agency|first=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research|title=statistics|url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Maghera%20(Magherafelt%20Lgd)@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20Maghera%20(Magherafelt%20Lgd)@23?|access-date=2021-10-20|website=ninis2.nisra.gov.uk}}

The village was administered by Londonderry County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973.{{cite web |title=Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030152505/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents |archive-date=30 October 2019 |access-date=29 November 2019 |publisher=Legislation.gov.uk}} Since 2011, the town is part of the Mid-Ulster District Council. It is located within the Carntogher district electoral area (DLE) which contains the areas Lower Glenshane, Swatragh, Tamlaght O'Crilly, Valley and Maghera.{{cite web|title=Mid-Ulster District Council| url=https://www.midulstercouncil.org/your-council/elections/electoral-areas|access-date=5 September 2019}} In the 2015 district elections, Carntogher DLE elected three Sinn Féin, one SDLP and one DUP representatives to the council.

• Old St Lurach's Church, a church dating to the 10th century which has one of the oldest depictions of the crucifixion in Ireland.{{Cite web |title=St Lurach's Church – Historic Site in Maghera, Northern Ireland |url=https://www.visitmidulster.com/things-to-do/st-lurachs-church-p764041 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Visit Mid Ulster |language=en-GB}}
• St Lurach's Church, which is the site of the local Church of Ireland congregation.
• St Mary's Catholic Church one of two catholic churches in the town.
• Maghera Presbyterian Church, which is a reformed church. The current building dates from at least 1843
• St Patrick's Church, Glen. The older Catholic Church on the outskirts of the town.
• Maghera Elim Church

File:Maghera RC Church - geograph.org.uk - 877406.jpg

File:Maghera Church of Ireland - geograph.org.uk - 561774.jpg

On Census Day (21 March 2021) the usually resident population of Maghera (Mid Ulster Lgd) Settlement was 4,235.{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} Of these:

• 22.57% were aged under 16, 61.94% were aged between 16 and 65, and 15.49% were aged 66 and over.{{Cite web |title=Age |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=AGE_BAND_AGG3A&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=NISRA}}
• 51.17% of the usually resident population were female, and 48.83% were male.{{Cite web |title=Sex (MS-A07) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=UR_SEX&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=NISRA}}
• 78.04% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion, 18.14% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion, 0.16% belong to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 3.66% did not belong to or weren't brought up with any 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=N11000477 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}
• 19.24% indicated that they had a British national identity,{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} 55.84% had an Irish national identity{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} and 24.16% had a Northern Irish national identity.{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}} Respondents could select more than one nationality.
• 24.27% had some knowledge of Irish.{{Cite web |title=Knowledge of Irish |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=NISRA}}
• 6.49% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots.{{Cite web |title=Knowledge of Ulster-Scots |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000477 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=NISRA}}

On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Maghera (Magherafelt Lgd) Settlement was 4,220 accounting for 0.23% of the NI total.{{cite web |title=Census 2011 Population Statistics for Maghera (Magherafelt Lgd) Settlement |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Maghera%20(Magherafelt%20Lgd)@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20Maghera%20(Magherafelt%20Lgd)@23? |website=NISRA |access-date=29 September 2022}}{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=6609&lh=74&yn=2011&sk=136&sn=Census%202011&yearfilter=2011 | title = Census 2011 Usually Resident Population: KS101NI – Table view | page = 6 | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 30 July 2019}} increasing from 3,711 in the 2001 Census.{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=4840&lh=69&yn=2001&sk=135&sn=Census%202001&yearfilter=2001 | title = Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) – Table view | page = 5 | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | access-date = 30 July 2019}}

• 99.55% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group.
• 74.86% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 22.61% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion.
• 22.56% indicated that they had a British national identity, 48.82% had an Irish national identity and 27.44% had a Northern Irish national identity.
• 21.23% had some knowledge of Irish
• 6.46% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots
• 5.06% did not have English as their first language.

The Northern Counties Committee's Derry Central Railway had a station in Maghera. Maghera railway station opened on 18 December 1880, shut for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and shut altogether on 1 October 1959 when the Ulster Transport Authority closed the Derry Central.{{cite web|title=Maghera station|work=Railscot – Irish Railways|url=http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf|access-date=28 September 2011}} The station building is now part of the Mid Ulster Garden Centre.

File:Maghera Goods Shed, Downpatrick - geograph.org.uk - 350046.jpg on the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.]]

Ulsterbus runs routes through Maghera, which includes the 116/a/b/d to Kilrea, Coleraine and Magherafelt, 212 from Belfast to Derry, 246 to Limavady and Eglinton and 278 from Monaghan to Portrush.

• Charles Thomson (1729–1824), signatory to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, secretary of the Continental Congress.
• John Glendy (1755–1832), republican Presbyterian minister, in American exile twice elected to chaplaincies in the U.S. Congress
• Adam Clarke (1762–1832), Methodist theologian and bible scholar.
• Watty Graham (1768–1798), United Irishman, Colonel of the Maghera National Guard, executed in 1798.
• Henry Cooke (1788–1868), Presbyterian theologian and Moderator.

• James Johnston Clark (1809–1891), Unionist MP for County Londonderry, born at Largantogher House.
• Robert Hawthorne (1822–1879), Victoria Cross, assault on Delhi, Indian Rebellion of 1857
• William Shiels (1848–1904), Australian colonial politician and 16th Premier of Victoria.
• James Lenox-Conyngham Chichester-Clark (1884–1933), Unionist MP for South Londonderry in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland.
• Helena Concannon (1878–1952) Irish historian, writer, language scholar and Senator.
• Louis Joseph Walsh (1880–1942) solicitor, playwright, Sinn Féin politician.

• Eve Bunting (1928–2023 ), American-based children's author and novelist.
• Erwin Gabathuler OBE FRS (1933–2016) particle physicist.
• John Kelly (1936–2007), founder member and a leader of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
• Mickey Moran (1951– ) Gaelic footballer and manager-coach,
• Kenny Shiels (1956– ), footballer, Northern Ireland team manager.

There are three primary schools and one secondary school in Maghera.

• St Mary's Primary School, Glenview
• Maghera Controlled Primary School
• St Patrick's Primary School, Glen

• St. Patrick's College, a co-educational college.

• The local Gaelic football club is Watty Graham's Gaelic Athletic Club.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Maghera, County Londonderry|Maghera}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070321173953/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=1&to=96&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland]

{{County Londonderry}}

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Category:Towns in County Londonderry

Category:Mid-Ulster District