Benburb

Benburb
Benburb
Benburb shown within Northern Ireland
Irish grid reference H815522
• Belfast 43 miles
District
County
Country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town DUNGANNON
Postcode district BT71
Dialling code 028
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament

Benburb (from Irish: Beann Borb, meaning "proud/prominent cliff")[1]) is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies 7.5 miles from Armagh and 8 miles from Dungannon.

History

Benburb's Main Street

It is best known, in historical terms, for the Battle of Benburb that took place there in 1646. This was fought between the armies of Confederate Ireland led by Owen Roe O'Neill and the Scottish Covenanters led by Munro. The battle resulted in a crushing victory for O'Neill's men at the townland of Drumflugh around a mile outside the village. It was commemorated in the ballad "The Battle of Benburb".

Since the Battle of Benburb was a rare 17th-century Irish military victory, after Irish independence the new Irish nationalist government named a street in Dublin's north inner city after the battle. Benburb Street runs between Queen Street and Blackhall Place. There is also a Benburb Street in south Belfast just off the Donegall Road.[2]

In later years Benburb became known for its linen production, as did many areas in Northern Ireland and later still for agriculture, most notably apple farming, and mushroom production.

Benburb was the home of the 17th century poet Maurice O'Dugan (fl.1660), who was reputed to have written the poems Gluas do chabhlach, Bhi Eoghan air buile, Faraoir chaill Eire a céile fircheart and the famous air The Coolin.[3]

Places of interest

The village is also home to the impressive Benburb Castle built in 1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield on the ruins of a military fortification constructed by Prince Shane O'Neill, circa 1558, at the base of a limestone cliff overlooking the River Blackwater, the border between County Tyrone and County Armagh. The castle is in excellent condition having been recently restored and stands in the grounds of the imposing Servite Priory, a religious order based in the village.

Benburb Priory

Wingfield was made Viscount Powerscourt in 1618 and the estate remained in the Wingfield family until sold in 1877 to Belfast distiller James Bruce, who died in 1917. It then went to his brother who sold it. The manor house passed through a number of owners before being requisitioned by the War Office as military hospital during World War II. From 1943 – 1944 the members of the British Army Medical Corp were stationed there, and from October 1943 to April 1944 it was the home to personnel of the American 7th Field Hospital. The hospital had 135 beds.[4] The Servites acquired the property in 1947, initially for a seminary.

The Priory is also home to Benburb Priory Library and Museum which holds extensive collections of Servite and Marian books and artefacts, the Servite archives for Britain and Ireland, as well as the O'Neill Collection relating to the O'Neill clans, the Priory (formerly Wingfield/Powerscourt) estate and local history[5]. Benburb is also located on the Ulster Canal.

Education

  • Benburb Primary School
  • Benburb Community Playgroup

Demography

19th century population

The population of the village decreased during the 19th century:[6][7]

Year184118511861187118811891
Population330253275192222241
Houses636360454958

21st century population

Benburb in the Northern Ireland UK Census in 2011 was classified as a Hamlet, with a population of 598 people.

  • 8.9% were 18 or younger
  • 11.7% were aged 60 and over
  • 40.0% were male
  • 60.0% were female
  • 55.6% were from a Catholic background
  • 25.4% were from a Protestant background
  • 19.0% stated another Religion or had no religion

Townland

The townland is situated in the historic barony of Dungannon Middle and the civil parish of Clonfeacle and covers an area of 185 acres.[8]

The population of the townland declined during the 19th century:[9][10]

Year184118511861187118811891
Population6458-5612135
Houses1212-132410

The increase seen in the 1881 Census was ascribed mainly to the building of houses for millworkers.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Benburb". Place Names NI. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  2. ↑ Google Maps
  3. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, v.41 (1895), p.458
  4. ↑ "About us", Benburb Priory
  5. ↑ https://www.servitelibrary.org/
  6. ↑ "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Townlands of County Tyrone". IreAtlas Townland Database. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
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