Aughnacloy
Encyclopedia
Aughnacloy, sometimes spelt Auchnacloy , is a village
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. Close to the border with County Monaghan
, the village is about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Dungannon
, and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southeast of Ballygawley. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 801.
cause, he planted his estate in the shape of a thistle
and planned out the town on the edge of it. Unable to rename it "Mooretown", he had to settle for naming the main street "Moore Street", and the side streets Sydney, Lettice and Henritta (now Ravella Rd), after his three wives.
Aughnacloy served as an important staging post on the road to Derry
. However, lacking large-scale industry, it started to wane in the late 19th Century.
. His service with the RAF during the Second World War extended to 127 operations over enemy territory, including more than 30 raids over Berlin.
Malley achieved distinction a second time as private secretary to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terrence O'Neill. He oversaw the delicate negotiations which preceded the meeting between O'Neill and Sean Lemass
at Stormont
in January 1965.
(UDR), was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA) whilst out for a meal with his wife and daughter. He was found shot in field near Aughnacloy.
On 6 July 1977, David Morrow (37) an Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) officer, was killed by the IRA
while sitting in a stationary RUC patrol car in Aughnacloy.
In 1988, Aidan McAnespie
was killed, in contested circumstances, by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a British Army
soldier at Aughnacloy. In June 2008, the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Historical Enquiries Team
published its findings on the case in a report. In the fatal shooting the soldier claimed that his hands were wet, causing him to accidentally fire the machine-gun when he was moving inside a sanger. The report called this the "least likely version" of what happened.
(CVR) from 2 May 1887 to 1 January 1942. The CVR's headquarters and locomotive workshop was also at Aughnacloy.
Current proposals to upgrade the A5 road through the village to a dual carriageway and build a bypass have met with a mixed reaction in the town, with many traders and farmers strongly opposed.
On Census day, (29 April 2001), there were 801 people living in Aughnacloy. Of these:
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Close to the border with County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, the village is about 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) southwest of Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southeast of Ballygawley. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 801.
History
Much of the town was built in the 18th Century by Acheson Moore, the local landlord. Because he backed the JacobiteJacobite
Jacobite may refer to:* In ancient days, the term was used for the followers of faith propounded by a 6th century Bishop Jacob Baradaeus.* In Modern days, the following churches are called Jacobite Church:** Syriac Orthodox Church...
cause, he planted his estate in the shape of a thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
and planned out the town on the edge of it. Unable to rename it "Mooretown", he had to settle for naming the main street "Moore Street", and the side streets Sydney, Lettice and Henritta (now Ravella Rd), after his three wives.
Aughnacloy served as an important staging post on the road to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. However, lacking large-scale industry, it started to wane in the late 19th Century.
Famous residents
James Young Malley, the son of an Aughnacloy farmer and merchant, was the eldest of three brothers to fly with Bomber CommandBomber Command
Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...
. His service with the RAF during the Second World War extended to 127 operations over enemy territory, including more than 30 raids over Berlin.
Malley achieved distinction a second time as private secretary to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terrence O'Neill. He oversaw the delicate negotiations which preceded the meeting between O'Neill and Sean Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
at Stormont
Stormont House
Stormont House is the headquarters of the Northern Ireland Office, it is situated in the Stormont Estate in Belfast in Northern Ireland....
in January 1965.
The Troubles
On 20 January 1974, Cormac McCabe (42), the first Headmaster of Aughnacloy Secondary School and a Captain in the Ulster Defence RegimentUlster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
(UDR), was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA) whilst out for a meal with his wife and daughter. He was found shot in field near Aughnacloy.
On 6 July 1977, David Morrow (37) an Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) officer, was killed by the IRA
while sitting in a stationary RUC patrol car in Aughnacloy.
In 1988, Aidan McAnespie
Aidan McAnespie
Aidan McAnespie was an Irish Catholic who was killed in contested circumstances by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a soldier at Aughnacloy border checkpoint in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland during the Troubles....
was killed, in contested circumstances, by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldier at Aughnacloy. In June 2008, the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
Historical Enquiries Team
Historical Enquiries Team
The Historical Enquiries Team is a unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland set up in September 2005 to investigate the 3,269 unsolved murders committed during the Troubles ....
published its findings on the case in a report. In the fatal shooting the soldier claimed that his hands were wet, causing him to accidentally fire the machine-gun when he was moving inside a sanger. The report called this the "least likely version" of what happened.
Buildings and features of note
- One of the widest Main Streets in Northern Ireland
- The Aughnacloy Thistle (large scale landscape feature)
- St James Parish Church
- Aughnacloy Market House
- Copperfields Nursing home (former Alms House)
Transport
Aughnacloy had its own railway station on the Clogher Valley RailwayClogher Valley Railway
The Clogher Valley Railway was a 37 mile long narrow gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It opened in May 1887 and closed on 1 January 1942 .-Route:...
(CVR) from 2 May 1887 to 1 January 1942. The CVR's headquarters and locomotive workshop was also at Aughnacloy.
Current proposals to upgrade the A5 road through the village to a dual carriageway and build a bypass have met with a mixed reaction in the town, with many traders and farmers strongly opposed.
Education
- Aughnacloy Primary School
- Aughnacloy CollegeAughnacloy CollegeAughnacloy College is a secondary school in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is in the Southern Education and Library Board area. It opened in 1963.*Address: 23 Carnteel Road, Aughnacloy, BT69 6DX....
(Formerly Aughnacloy Secondary & Aughnacloy High) opened in 1963, designed by John MacGeagh. It occupies a pleasant rural site on the outskirts of Aughancloy. It serves a catchment area stretching along the Blackwater valley ncluding Caledon, Greystone, Innismagh, Ballygawley, Lisdoart and Favour Royal. - St. Mary's Primary School, Aughnacloy
Demographics
Aughnacloy is classified as a Small Village or Hamlet by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people).On Census day, (29 April 2001), there were 801 people living in Aughnacloy. Of these:
- 23.3% were aged under 16 years and 26.6% were aged 60 and over;
- 48.6% of the population were male and 51.4% were female;
- 45.4% were from a CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background and 52.1% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background; and, - 3.0% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
Sport
- Aghaloo O'NeillsAghaloo O'NeillsAghaloo O'Neills is a Gaelic Athletic Association club. The club is based in Aughnacloy and Caledon which encompasses the parish after which the club is named, Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland....
Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club. - Aughnacloy Golf Club, originally one of the founder clubs of the Golfing Union of IrelandGolfing Union of IrelandThe Golfing Union of Ireland is the governing body for men's and boy's amateur golf in Ireland. It represents over 430 golf clubs with over 180,000 members and is affiliated to The R&A, which is the global governing body of golf outside the United States and Mexico.The GUI was established in 1891...
in 1890, it was reformed in 1994 and currently is based at Lissenderry just outside the village. - Aughnacloy Races. The ancient tradition of horse racing has been re-established in recent years.