Castlecaulfield

Castlecaulfield is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies about 2 miles west of Dungannon and is part of the Mid Ulster District Council area. The village is mostly within the townland of Drumreany, although part of it extends into Lisnamonaghan. It is situated in the historic Barony of Dungannon Middle and the civil parish of Donaghmore.[1] It has been called "Caufle” by local people for upwards of two hundred years as evidenced by a sketch of the Castle c1830 in which the artist (Robert O'Callaghan Newenham) refers to 'Castle Coffell'.

The main street
St Michael's Church of Ireland
The ruins of the castle

The Caufeild family, from which the village derives its name (although spelt differently for the last few hundred years), were also responsible for founding the settlement of Caulfeild, West Vancouver, Canada in 1898/99.

Through the work of the 'Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society' the village was 'Village Category' winner of 'Ulster In Bloom' in 2015, 2016 and 2017. It was also 'Village Category' winner of 'Britain in Bloom' in 2016 and 2018. In 2017 the village was a category winner of 'Communities in Bloom' receiving the award in Canada. The same year 'Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society' received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Castlecaulfield was awarded 'Best Kept Small Village' in 2016 and 2017.

History

The village was formerly known as Ballydonnelly (Baile Ui Dhonnaile), the stronghold of the O'Donnelly (O'Donnghaile) Clan, who had held the role of Marshalls to the O'Neills of Tyrone for over 500 years. The O'Donnellys are believed to have a blood connection to the O'Neills and claim a similar ancestry from 'Nial of the Nine Hostages'. In their role as Marshalls to the O'Neills they were responsible for fostering the children of 'The O'Neill'. The O'Donnellys reached the height of their role during the time of Shane O'Neill when Dean Terrence Danyell (Turlough O'Donnelly) of Armagh played a key role in communications between Shane O'Neill and Elizabeth I. The earliest mention of Ballydonnelly is the 'Annals of the Four Masters' in 1531 when it is said Baile-Ui-Donnghaile was assaulted by Niall Oge, son of Art, son of Con O'Neill. He demolished the castle; and he made a prisoner of the son of O'Neill, who was foster-son of O'Donnelly, and carried him off, together with the horses and the other spoils of the town.” At the Plantation Ballydonnelly was allocated as a 'Servitor' portion and as such was granted to Sir Toby Caulfeild who had served in the Crown forces during the 'Nine Years War'. The Castle to which the name refers is atypical of most Plantation structures in that it is not the more usual fortified tower house and was built by Sir Toby Caulfeild in the style of an Oxfordshire Manor House. Castle Caulfield was badly damaged by fire during the 1641 rebellion and was only reused in a limited capacity thereafter by the descendants of the Caulfeild family.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the village was a centre for the developing Linen industry and many Mills and farms where located in and around the village involved in linen production. This culminated in the building of the Acheson & Smith Works (later David Acheson Ltd) in 1874. The factory was in operation until 1978/79 before closure. It was a major employer within the district.

Places of interest

Events
  • Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society hold a show every year in August to which people are encouraged to enter horticultural and handicraft items for prizes. The society also holds fundraising events throughout the year to support its yearly show.

People
  • Sir Toby Caulfeild (1565-1627) was responsible for the Plantation settlement of Castlecaulfield or 'Manor of Aghloske' as it was called in 1610.
  • Oliver Plunkett carried out ordinations in the grounds of Castle Caulfield c1670 under the invitation and protection of William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont.
  • Rev George Walker Jnr was Rector of Donaghmore Parish (1674-1690) with 'St Michael and All Saints Church' being the Parish Church. He was a Governor of Derry in 1689 and was killed at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. His remains are buried within St Michael's.
  • John Wesley visited Castlecaulfield on a number of occasions between 1767 and 1789 leading to the founding of the local Methodist congregation in 1842.
  • Poet Charles Wolfe (1791–1823), author of 'The Burial of Sir John Moore' was Curate of Donaghmore Parish (1818-1823). A Blue Plaque is erected in his memory near the entrance to St Michael's & All Saints Church
  • American Greetings Card Millionaire, Thomas Doran (1907-1970) was born in the nearby townland of Drisdernan. He was patron of the Thomas Doran Parkanaur Trust which founded Parkanaur College in 1960.
  • American author 'Maureen Daly' was born in Castlecaulfield on 15 March 1921. She was author of 'Seventeenth Summer' which was believed to have sold over a million copies by 2005.
  • The Reverend Thomas Gerald Egerton Eakins, Minister of Castlecaulfield Presbyterian Church (1941-1962) and founder of Parkanaur College received the OBE in 1957 for services to orthopaedic development in Northern Ireland.
  • Schools rugby coach David Wells (Methodist College) came from Castlecaulfield.

Demography

19th century population

The population of the village increased slightly overall during the 19th century:[2][3]

Year184118511861187118811891
Population167172208185220170
Houses374543373840

References
  1. "Townlands of County Tyrone". IreAtlas Townland Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  3. "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  • Dungannon & South Tyrone Area Plan 2010

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