Darkley

Darkley
Darkley
Darkley shown within Northern Ireland
Population 224 
Irish grid reference H861312
• Belfast 51 miles
District
County
Country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ARMAGH
Postcode district BT60
Dialling code 028
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

Darkley (from Irish: Dearclaigh, meaning "place of caves/hollows")[1][2] is a small village and townland near Keady in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 224 people (80 households) in the 2011 Census.[3] (2001 Census: 282 people)

History

Darkley is first mentioned on the Maps of the Escheated Counties (1609) which were drawn up at the beginning of the Plantation of Ulster. It was part of an ancient precinct called Toaghy (Tuath Uí Eachaidh), a narrow strip of land that stretched from Darkley to Killyleagh.

See The Troubles in Darkley for a list of incidents in Darkley during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

Education

The first schools in the Darkley were hedge schools. Later, schools were founded in the townlands that surround Darkley such as Aughnagurgan & Corkley and Tullyglush. The first school in Darkley was built in 1856 by William Kirk M.P. and opened its doors in 1857. The first principal was Master James Young, who had previously taught at Berry Street National School in Belfast. In 1932, a piece of land was donated by Mr. James E. Calvert for the purpose of building a new school. The other school had fallen into disrepair and had been condemned. On 30 May 1932, the new school opened in Moss Row. The principal was Master William Clarke.

Sport

The local GAA club is Phelim Brady's (Cumann Fhéilim Mhic Bhrádaigh), which plays football in the Armagh Junior competitions.

References

  1. ↑ Placenames NI Archived 2 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. ↑ "Darkley". Census 2011 Results. NI Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
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