Benburb
Encyclopedia
Benburb is a small village
and townland
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. It lies seven miles from Armagh
and nine miles from Dungannon
.
Recently Benburb has seen a revival
in businesses basing themselves there, Arts and Crafts
being the main businesses, there is also a café
and a restaurant
http://www.prioryhouserestaurant.com at the main entrance to the castle which is based in the old courthouse and police barracks which is now also closed.
that took place there in 1646. This was fought between the armies of Confederate Ireland
led by Owen Roe O'Neill
and the Scottish Covenanters led by Munro. The battle resulted in a crushing victory for O'Neill's men at the townland of Drumflugh around a mile outside the village.
Since the Battle of Benburb was a rare 17th century Irish military victory, after Irish independence the new Irish nationalist government named a street in Dublin's north inner city after the battle. Benburb Street runs between Queen Street and Blackhall Place. There is also a Benburb Street in south Belfast
just off the Donegall Road
.
In later years Benburb became known for its linen production, as did many areas in the North and later still for agriculture, most notably apple farming, and mushroom production.
, which includes a list of incidents in Benburb during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
built in 1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Blackwater, the border between County Tyrone and County Armagh
. The castle is in excellent condition having been recently restored and stands in the grounds of the imposing Servite Priory
, a religious order based in the village.
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...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
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...
. It lies seven miles from Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
and nine miles from 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...
.
Recently Benburb has seen a revival
Revival
Revival may refer to:*Resuscitation of a person*Language revival of an extinct language*Revival of a defunct team*Revival of a former television series*Revival of a former hit play in a new production...
in businesses basing themselves there, Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
being the main businesses, there is also a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
and a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
http://www.prioryhouserestaurant.com at the main entrance to the castle which is based in the old courthouse and police barracks which is now also closed.
History
It is best known, in historical terms, for the Battle of BenburbBattle of Benburb
The Battle of Benburb took place in 1646 during the Irish Confederate Wars, the Irish theatre of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It was fought between the forces of Confederate Ireland under Owen Roe O'Neill and a Scottish Covenanter and Anglo-Irish army under Robert Monro...
that took place there in 1646. This was fought between the armies of Confederate Ireland
Confederate Ireland
Confederate Ireland refers to the period of Irish self-government between the Rebellion of 1641 and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. During this time, two-thirds of Ireland was governed by the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny"...
led by Owen Roe O'Neill
Owen Roe O'Neill
Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill , anglicised as Owen Roe O'Neill , was a seventeenth century soldier and one of the most famous of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster.- In Spanish service :...
and the Scottish Covenanters led by Munro. The battle resulted in a crushing victory for O'Neill's men at the townland of Drumflugh around a mile outside the village.
Since the Battle of Benburb was a rare 17th century Irish military victory, after Irish independence the new Irish nationalist government named a street in Dublin's north inner city after the battle. Benburb Street runs between Queen Street and Blackhall Place. There is also a Benburb Street in south Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
just off the Donegall Road
Donegall Road
The Donegall Road runs from Shaftesbury Square in Belfast city centre to the Falls Road in west Belfast. It is bisected by the Westlink, and the largest part of the road, prior to the Westlink junction, is predominantly unionist...
.
In later years Benburb became known for its linen production, as did many areas in the North and later still for agriculture, most notably apple farming, and mushroom production.
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in BenburbThe Troubles in Benburb
The Troubles in Benburb recounts incidents during and the effects of the Troubles in Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.Incidents in Benburb during the Troubles resulting in fatalities:1976...
, which includes a list of incidents in Benburb during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Places of interest
The village is also home to the impressive Benburb CastleBenburb Castle
Benburb Castle is a castle situated in Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is a plantation bawn built in 1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield. It is an irregular four-sided bawn with the entrance in the north wall...
built in 1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Blackwater, the border between County Tyrone and County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. The castle is in excellent condition having been recently restored and stands in the grounds of the imposing Servite Priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, a religious order based in the village.
See also
- Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Tyrone)
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland