Magherafelt

Magherafelt
Magherafelt shown within Northern Ireland
Population 8,372 (2001 Census)
• Belfast 35 mi (56 km)
District
County
Country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MAGHERAFELT
Postcode district BT45
Dialling code 028
Police Northern Ireland
Fire Northern Ireland
Ambulance Northern Ireland
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

Magherafelt (from Irish: Machaire Fíolta, meaning "plain of Fíolta")[2] is a small town and civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 at the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of the county and is the social, economic and political hub of the area. It is part of Mid-Ulster District.

History

Magherafelt has been documented as a town since 1425. Following the Plantation of Ulster, a central diamond has formed the heart of the town. During The Troubles in the late 20th century, 11 people were killed in or near Magherafelt in connection with the troubles.

Transport

Magherafelt railway station opened on 10 November 1856, shut for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and shut altogether on 1 October 1959.[3]

Schools

Primary Schools:

  • Holy Family Primary School
  • Kilronan Special School
  • Gaelscoil an tSeanchaí
  • Naíscoil an tSeanchaí
  • Magherafelt Controlled Primary School
  • Magherafelt Primary
  • Integrated Primary School

Secondary Schools:

Sport

Magherafelt has several sporting teams, including Magherafelt Reds, O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt GAC, the Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club and Magherafelt Sky Blues F.C.. There is also the Mid Ulster Athletic Club,Spires CC Cycling Club. the Mid Ulster Swimming Club and the Magherafelt District Motorclub.[4]

2001 Census

Magherafelt is classified as a small town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 4,500 and 10,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 8,372 people living in Magherafelt. Of these:

  • 27.1% were aged under 16 years and 13.7% were aged 60 and over
  • 48.7% of the population were male and 51.3% were female
  • 56.2% were from a Catholic background and 41.8% were from a Protestant background
  • 3.4% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

2011 Census

On Census day in 2011:

People

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Online Scots Dictionary Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. ↑ "Magherafelt station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  4. ↑ http://www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk/
  5. ↑ Peter Doherty Archived 13 January 2013 at Archive.is
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