Newtowncunningham
Encyclopedia
Newtown Cunningham sometimes spelled Newtowncunningham or abbreviated to Newton , is a village in The Laggan district in the east of County Donegal
, Ireland
. Located on the N13 road 18 km east of Letterkenny
and 16 km west of Derry
, it is ideally located as a commuter village for both large towns. The 2006 census reports the village's population as 999, an increase of 50.7% over the 2002 population of 663.
Like nearby Manorcunningham
, the village takes its name from John Cunningham, originally from Kilbirnie
, Ayrshire
, in Scotland
, who was among the settlers granted lands in County Donegal during the Plantation of Ulster
. The village's architecture includes stately Anglo-Irish "big houses", now known as the Manse and the Castle, which reflect the village's colonial and Presbyterian
history.
diverted the N13 around the village in 1985, Newtowncunningham lost its economic lifeline. Many of the village's businesses either closed or moved to locations along the bypass, gradually divesting the Main Street of economic activity and the village of its cohesive identity.
New residential developments, essentially commuter suburbs of Derry and Letterkenny, have recently being built at both ends of Newtown Cunningham, expanding the village's population by over 50% between 2002 and 2006. A variety of new retail and service outlets indicate an economic revival, although dilapidated stretches of the main street and older rundown housing estates still contrast markedly with the new residential developments at either end.
Newtown Cunningham has a number of shops and businesses, including McDaids' Gala shop, Kernans' Eurospar http://www.kernans.ie/ shop and filling station, the Ocras café, and Coyles' Bar and Restaurant http://www.coylesbar.com. A new industrial estate area located at the Letterkenny end of the village offers large retail outlets. A new garden centre is based there along with a Mega Deals store and a hardware store.
Newtown Cunningham is located close to Blanket Nook, a wetland area that is a wintering site for the rare Whooper Swan
. The bird sanctuary is one of many tourist attractions in the surrounding area, which also include Grianan of Aileach
and the sixteenth-century Burt Castle.
Sallybrook was the former railway station near the town.
, Newtown Cunningham has significant Presbyterian and Church of Ireland
presences, and the village has churches for all three religions.
Catholic parish priests Dr. Patrick Muldoon (1969–1980), Fr. Peter McGlynn (1980–1989), and Fr. Kevin O'Doherty (1989–2009) have overseen many changes in the village. In the late 1970s, Dr. Muldoon purchased land for a new national school and sports field. His successor, Fr. McGlynn, oversaw the building of the new Scoil Cholmcille, the Catholic primary (national) school, completed in 1983, and the construction of the Pairc Colmcille sports ground, which opened in 1986. In the late 1990s, Fr. O'Doherty oversaw the demolition of the existing Catholic
church (popularly known as 'the Chapel') in the centre of the village and the construction of a replacement church, St. Peter's Bark, which opened in 1999. Architecturally designed to resemble a ship (and built by John Gildea's contractors), the church symbolizes the Catholic faith sailing into the third millennium
. Like its predecessor, in typical East Donegal tradition, the new church is also popularly known as 'the Chapel'. After the retirement of Fr. Kevin O'Doherty in August 2009, Fr. Séamus Gallagher became parish priest of Newtowncunningham.
The Columban Hall on the main street hosts many events throughout the year, such as festivals, concerts, and car boot sales.
The local Orange Lodge, Newtown Cunningham LOL1063, meet regularly in the Orange Hall on main street and will celebrate their centenary in 2011. There is also an Apprentice Boys Club and an accordion band which meet in the Orange Hall. The hall is used by various community groups throughout the year as well as hosting an Annual Remembrance Day
Service and variety concerts. The lodge, parade three times a year in the city of Derry located just 20 miles from the village, during the 12th July parade, Relief of Derry parade in early August and the Siege of Derry
parade on the first Saturday in December.
Presbyterians witnessing the reformed faith in the area had sought to form a congregation from as early as 1792, and Newtown Cunningham's Presbyterian Church was finally formed in 1830. The Church building was built in one year by voluntary labour. Newtown Cunningham Presbyterian Church was united with Crossroads from 1957 until 1974 and is now united with Ray. The Rev. Nigel D. Craig is the current minister and membership stands at about sixty-five families.
County Donegal
County Donegal 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 Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Located on the N13 road 18 km east of Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
and 16 km west of 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"...
, it is ideally located as a commuter village for both large towns. The 2006 census reports the village's population as 999, an increase of 50.7% over the 2002 population of 663.
History
The area of Newtown Cunningham was historically known as Culmacatrain.Like nearby Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham, or Manor is a small village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located 7 kilometers from Letterkenny on the main road to Derry...
, the village takes its name from John Cunningham, originally from Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie is a small town of 7280 inhabitants situated in North Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, who was among the settlers granted lands in County Donegal during the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
. The village's architecture includes stately Anglo-Irish "big houses", now known as the Manse and the Castle, which reflect the village's colonial and Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
history.
Economy and Community
Newtowncunningham's long Main Street once formed part of the busy N13 trunk road connecting Letterkenny with Derry. The village's shops and businesses could thrive on business from passing traffic, but when a bypassBypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
diverted the N13 around the village in 1985, Newtowncunningham lost its economic lifeline. Many of the village's businesses either closed or moved to locations along the bypass, gradually divesting the Main Street of economic activity and the village of its cohesive identity.
Newtown Cunningham has a number of shops and businesses, including McDaids' Gala shop, Kernans' Eurospar http://www.kernans.ie/ shop and filling station, the Ocras café, and Coyles' Bar and Restaurant http://www.coylesbar.com. A new industrial estate area located at the Letterkenny end of the village offers large retail outlets. A new garden centre is based there along with a Mega Deals store and a hardware store.
Newtown Cunningham is located close to Blanket Nook, a wetland area that is a wintering site for the rare Whooper Swan
Whooper Swan
The Whooper Swan , Cygnus cygnus, is a large Northern Hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American Trumpeter Swan. An old name for the Whooper Swan is Elk; it is so called in Francis Willughby and John Ray's Ornithology of 1676.-Description:The Whooper Swan is similar in...
. The bird sanctuary is one of many tourist attractions in the surrounding area, which also include Grianan of Aileach
Grianan of Aileach
The Grianán of Aileach is a group of historic monuments in County Donegal, Ireland built on the hill of Grianán which is 244 metres high. Most writers have identified the site as being the great “royal fort” of Aileach...
and the sixteenth-century Burt Castle.
Sallybrook was the former railway station near the town.
Transport
- Newtown Cunningham is well served by bus services both from Lough SwillyLondonderry and Lough Swilly RailwayThe Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company is an Irish public transport and freight company incorporated in June 1853. Despite its name it operates no railway services. It formerly operated 99 miles of railways but closed its last line in July 1953...
and Bus ÉireannBus ÉireannBus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
. Both bus services use the main street as part of their Derry to Letterkenny route, and Bus Éireann's Derry to Galway service also stops in the village.
- Newtown Cunningham's railway station opened on 30 June 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940 and finally closed altogether on 10 August 1953.
Culture
Although its population is mainly CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, Newtown Cunningham has significant Presbyterian and Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
presences, and the village has churches for all three religions.
Catholic parish priests Dr. Patrick Muldoon (1969–1980), Fr. Peter McGlynn (1980–1989), and Fr. Kevin O'Doherty (1989–2009) have overseen many changes in the village. In the late 1970s, Dr. Muldoon purchased land for a new national school and sports field. His successor, Fr. McGlynn, oversaw the building of the new Scoil Cholmcille, the Catholic primary (national) school, completed in 1983, and the construction of the Pairc Colmcille sports ground, which opened in 1986. In the late 1990s, Fr. O'Doherty oversaw the demolition of the existing Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church (popularly known as 'the Chapel') in the centre of the village and the construction of a replacement church, St. Peter's Bark, which opened in 1999. Architecturally designed to resemble a ship (and built by John Gildea's contractors), the church symbolizes the Catholic faith sailing into the third millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
. Like its predecessor, in typical East Donegal tradition, the new church is also popularly known as 'the Chapel'. After the retirement of Fr. Kevin O'Doherty in August 2009, Fr. Séamus Gallagher became parish priest of Newtowncunningham.
The Columban Hall on the main street hosts many events throughout the year, such as festivals, concerts, and car boot sales.
The local Orange Lodge, Newtown Cunningham LOL1063, meet regularly in the Orange Hall on main street and will celebrate their centenary in 2011. There is also an Apprentice Boys Club and an accordion band which meet in the Orange Hall. The hall is used by various community groups throughout the year as well as hosting an Annual Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
Service and variety concerts. The lodge, parade three times a year in the city of Derry located just 20 miles from the village, during the 12th July parade, Relief of Derry parade in early August and the Siege of Derry
Siege of Derry
The Siege of Derry took place in Ireland from 18 April to 28 July 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland. The city, a Williamite stronghold, was besieged by a Jacobite army until it was relieved by Royal Navy ships...
parade on the first Saturday in December.
Presbyterians witnessing the reformed faith in the area had sought to form a congregation from as early as 1792, and Newtown Cunningham's Presbyterian Church was finally formed in 1830. The Church building was built in one year by voluntary labour. Newtown Cunningham Presbyterian Church was united with Crossroads from 1957 until 1974 and is now united with Ray. The Rev. Nigel D. Craig is the current minister and membership stands at about sixty-five families.