Desertmartin

Desertmartin (/ˈdɛzərtˈmɑːrtɪn/,[1] from Irish: Díseart Mhártain, meaning "Saint Martin's hermitage")[2][3] is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is four miles from Magherafelt, at the foot of Slieve Gallion. In the 2001 Census the greater Desertmartin area had a population of 1,276. It lies within Desertmartin parish, Mid-Ulster District, and the historic barony of Loughinsholin. Neighbouring settlements include Draperstown, Magherafelt, Moneymore, and Tobermore.

Desertmartin
  • Irish: Díseart Mhártain
Desertmartin
Location within Northern Ireland
Population(2011 Census)
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom

History

The monastic hermitage of Desertmartin was originally dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. The remains of the ancient parish church are in the townland of Knocknagin at the east side of the village.[2]

When County Coleraine was created in 1585, its administration was meant to be carried out in the town of Coleraine. However, the jail and courthouse were built in Desertmartin.[4]

On 19 May 1922, during the Irish War of Independence, a mob of unionists and Ulster Special Constables attacked and burned many Catholic homes and businesses in Desertmartin, in revenge for the burning of a unionist-owned mill. Special Constables took four Catholic men from their homes outside the village and summarily executed them by the roadside.[5]

Religious buildings
  • St Patrick's, townland of Keenaght (Roman Catholic) (Old Chapel).
  • St Patrick's, townland of Keenaght (Roman Catholic) (New Chapel).
  • St. Mary’s, townland of Annagh and Moneysterlin (Roman Catholic) Church and adjacent Parochial House are landmark buildings. It is commonly referred to as Coolcalm after the former townland of same name, which is now part of Annagh and Moneysterlin.
  • Church of the Nazarene (a branch of the denomination of the same name based on Wesleyan tradition).
  • St. Comgall's Church (Church of Ireland) is a visually and historically significant building and a local landmark. It occupies the site of an older Medieval church and is a listed building.

Schools
  • St. Columb's Primary School (Roman Catholic)
  • Desertmartin Primary School
  • Knocknagin Primary School (Roman Catholic)

Transport

Desertmartin railway station between Magherafelt and Draperstown opened on 20 July 1883, shut for passengers on 1 October 1930, and shut altogether on 3 July 1950.[6]

People

Tom Paulin (b. 1949) is a major Northern Irish poet, essayist, editor and lecturer, who has written a poem entitled Desertmartin.

Sport

References
  1. Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 85. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  2. Place Names NI
  3. Flanagan, Deirdre & Laurence: Irish Place Names, page 202. Gill & Macmillan Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7171-3396-6
  4. BBC Local History
  5. Lawlor, Pearse. The Outrages: The IRA and the Ulster Special Constabulary in the Border Campaign. Mercier Press, 2011. pp.275-280
  6. "Desertmartin station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
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