Strathfoyle
Encyclopedia
Strathfoyle is a village
in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
, about 5 miles (8 km) north east of Derry
. It was newly built in different phases between the late 1920s and the late 1930s, with many new recent additions to the village, including Westlake, Butler's Wharf and Old Fort. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 1,581 people. It is within the Derry Urban Area
and the Derry City Council
area. The village has a small retail outlet (a pharmacy
, a supermarket
, a fast food
take-away and a variety shop), a Roman Catholic chapel, a library, youth club and a post office. The small retail unit was constructed in 2005 due to years of under-investment in the area and pressure by local community leaders to give the estate more facilities for its residents. Strathfoyle is situated directly across the River Foyle
from the upper class settlement of Culmore
. Despite being on the east bank of the river Foyle, Strathfoyle is traditionally not considered to be part of the Waterside
. Strathfoyle is a Catholic
area of Derry
and has often taken part in conflicts with protestant areas like Drumahoe
and Nelson Drive.
, Strathfoyle was used as a base for Allied troops. Its location beside Londonderry Port
was ideal for Navy vessels and the port was later used for the capture and destruction of German U-Boats after the Battle of the Atlantic. Remnants of the jetty used can be seen at Lisahally.There are also ruins of bunkers scattered throughout the surrounding area, in what the locals refer to as, "The Quarry". This is the area that separates Strathfoyle from the railway line and the River Foyle
. It is essentially an extensive stretch of forest area, not an actual quarry
. During the War, Strathfoyle was also unofficially recognised as a Red-light district
.
area in London
. Strathfoyle is a Catholic
area situated in the waterside
of Derry
but is not considered to be part of the waterside
.
, which is close to the village. Top of the Hill Celtic F.C. is also a popular choice of team to play for with people from Strathfoyle. Both communities share a close relationship with regard to sport. A number of players from Strathfoyle have also joined the newly formed Maydown F.C., who are based in Maydown
, a neighbouring village. Many of the locals from Strathfoyle are followers of Celtic F.C.
and the Republic Of Ireland
national team.
and it has since become a popular choice of team for Gaelic footballers from the Strathfoyle area.
is not very popular within the village, with the Nationalist dominated society of the village tending to play soccer or Gaelic football. Although politics does not come into the thinking of the young people who participate in these sports.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Companies such as Du Pont, Coolkeeragh ESB and Foyle Meats are situated nearby, and have been, for many years providing employment to the people of Derry
. A resentment toward these industries has grown in recent years, in particular toward the foul smell emitted from Foyle Meats. This was demonstrated in a youth scheme, who filmed their activities. In 2005, more than 30 Polish workers in Foyle Meats walked out after being subjected to sectarian abuse. There is also a small retail outlet containing a pharmacy, supermarket, fast food take-away and variety store. The local library introduces youth to the world of literature and is also equipped with a number of computers. Nearby, the Teacher Training Centre is one of the main centres in Derry. Just outside Strathfoyle, in Maydown, there is an industrial park containing a steel factory. Lisahally, the Londonderry Port
,is also a base of employment for many Derry citizens.
ethos and is situated beside St. Oliver Plunkett Chapel. The majority of post primary school students in Strathfoyle attend schools such as Oakgrove Integrated College
, St. Mary's High School
in Limavady
, or St. Columb's College
. Oakgrove Integrated College is located near to the village and is a popular choice among students due to its proximity to 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...
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, 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...
, about 5 miles (8 km) north east 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 was newly built in different phases between the late 1920s and the late 1930s, with many new recent additions to the village, including Westlake, Butler's Wharf and Old Fort. 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 1,581 people. It is within the Derry Urban Area
Derry Urban Area
The Derry Urban Area is the urban area that includes and surrounds the city of Derry in Northern Ireland, and is part of the Derry City Council area. It had a population of 93,512 in the 2001 census...
and the Derry City Council
Derry City Council
Derry City Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The Council is is responsible for the city of Derry and the immediate environ, providing services to an estimated population of , making it the third largest district council in Northern Ireland by population.The...
area. The village has a small retail outlet (a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
, a fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
take-away and a variety shop), a Roman Catholic chapel, a library, youth club and a post office. The small retail unit was constructed in 2005 due to years of under-investment in the area and pressure by local community leaders to give the estate more facilities for its residents. Strathfoyle is situated directly across the River Foyle
River Foyle
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the City of Derry, where it...
from the upper class settlement of Culmore
Culmore
Culmore is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is between Derry and Muff, at the mouth of the River Foyle. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 2,960 people.- History :...
. Despite being on the east bank of the river Foyle, Strathfoyle is traditionally not considered to be part of the Waterside
Waterside, Derry
The Waterside is an urban neighbourhood on the east side of the River Foyle opposite the Cityside of Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Traditionally, the Waterside ends at the Caw roundabout near the Foyle Bridge...
. Strathfoyle is a Catholic
Catholic
The 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"...
area 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"...
and has often taken part in conflicts with protestant areas like Drumahoe
Drumahoe
Drumahoe is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies to the east of Derry and was once a village, but has been absorbed by the city. It is home to Institute F.C., an Irish Premier League football club. The busy A6 road from Belfast to Derry passes through the...
and Nelson Drive.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Strathfoyle was used as a base for Allied troops. Its location beside Londonderry Port
Londonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
was ideal for Navy vessels and the port was later used for the capture and destruction of German U-Boats after the Battle of the Atlantic. Remnants of the jetty used can be seen at Lisahally.There are also ruins of bunkers scattered throughout the surrounding area, in what the locals refer to as, "The Quarry". This is the area that separates Strathfoyle from the railway line and the River Foyle
River Foyle
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the City of Derry, where it...
. It is essentially an extensive stretch of forest area, not an actual quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. During the War, Strathfoyle was also unofficially recognised as a Red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
.
Post-war
Strathfoyle was more seriously developed after the war and in the 1950s it was established as a housing estate. The area which is commonly known throughout Strathfoyle as 'The New Estate' was built shortly after the erection of the first set of houses, in different phases spanning across three decades, the 1970s, 80s and 90s. In the new Millennium, Strathfoyle has seen a surge in popularity and is now seen as a choice location for young people looking for residence. This high interest has led to the construction of new additions to the Strathfoyle area, including 'The New Fort' and 'Butler's Wharf', the latter of which is named after a local farmer, not after the famous Butler's WharfButler's Wharf
Butler's Wharf is a historic building on the south bank of the River Thames just east of London's Tower Bridge, now housing luxury flats and restaurants. Lying between the picturesque street Shad Thames and the Thames Path, it overlooks both the bridge and St Katharine Docks on the other side of...
area in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Strathfoyle is a Catholic
Catholic
The 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"...
area situated in the waterside
Waterside
-Placenames:Canada:*Waterside, New BrunswickUnited Kingdom:*Waterside, Aberdeen*Waterside, South Ayrshire*Waterside, East Ayrshire*Waterside, Buckinghamshire*Waterside, Cumbria*Waterside, Derry*Waterside, East Dunbartonshire*Waterside, Lancashire...
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"...
but is not considered to be part of the waterside
Waterside
-Placenames:Canada:*Waterside, New BrunswickUnited Kingdom:*Waterside, Aberdeen*Waterside, South Ayrshire*Waterside, East Ayrshire*Waterside, Buckinghamshire*Waterside, Cumbria*Waterside, Derry*Waterside, East Dunbartonshire*Waterside, Lancashire...
.
Places of interest
- Lisahally DocksLondonderry PortLondonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
- Irish Port of the Year 2005 - The Oak's Fishery - Local fishery
- Enagh LoughEnagh LoughEnagh Lough is a pair of lakes in Northern Ireland called East lake and Westlake, situated between Judges Road and Temple Road in Maydown, County Londonderry.-Features:Under the surface at the bottom of the lake there is ice age water...
- Enagh Old Church and Graveyard
- City of Derry Rugby Club
Sport
Strathfoyle has been known to produce fine sportsmen and women, however there has always been strong criticism against the local council, as Strathfoyle remains a poorly facilitated area for youth development. There is, however, a youth club, which takes a soccer team to Galway each year to participate in the 'Galway World Cup'http://www.galwayworldcup.com/home. In recent years, they have proven to be a force to be reckoned with, winning the competition in 2005 and finishing runners up in 2006. The 2007 'Galway World Cup' Team also finished runners up in the youth competition.Soccer
The local football team, Lisahally F.C., takes its name from the Lisahally portLondonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
, which is close to the village. Top of the Hill Celtic F.C. is also a popular choice of team to play for with people from Strathfoyle. Both communities share a close relationship with regard to sport. A number of players from Strathfoyle have also joined the newly formed Maydown F.C., who are based in Maydown
Maydown
Maydown is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near Derry and Strathfoyle and is within the Derry City Council area. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 270 people.- Industry :...
, a neighbouring village. Many of the locals from Strathfoyle are followers of Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and the Republic Of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
national team.
Gaelic football
Strathfoyle was also the base for the now defunct Gaelic football team Enagh GAC. Since becoming defunct, many of Enagh's roster joined St. Mary's SlaughtmanusSlaughtmanus GAC
St. Mary's GAC Slaughtmanus is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Slaughtmanus on the outskirts of Derry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Camogie....
and it has since become a popular choice of team for Gaelic footballers from the Strathfoyle area.
Rugby
The City of Derry Rugby Club is situated on the outskirts of Strathfoyle, however, rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
is not very popular within the village, with the Nationalist dominated society of the village tending to play soccer or Gaelic football. Although politics does not come into the thinking of the young people who participate in these sports.
Demographics
Strathfoyle is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,581 people living in Strathfoyle. Of these:- 32.6% were aged under 16 years and 12.1% were aged 60 and over
- 48.1% of the population were male and 51.9% were female
- 89.3% 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 11.2% 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 but mainly live in the Maydown area. - 7.8% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Economy
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"...
. A resentment toward these industries has grown in recent years, in particular toward the foul smell emitted from Foyle Meats. This was demonstrated in a youth scheme, who filmed their activities. In 2005, more than 30 Polish workers in Foyle Meats walked out after being subjected to sectarian abuse. There is also a small retail outlet containing a pharmacy, supermarket, fast food take-away and variety store. The local library introduces youth to the world of literature and is also equipped with a number of computers. Nearby, the Teacher Training Centre is one of the main centres in Derry. Just outside Strathfoyle, in Maydown, there is an industrial park containing a steel factory. Lisahally, the Londonderry Port
Londonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
,is also a base of employment for many Derry citizens.
Education
St. Oliver Plunkett's Primary School, provides education for around 176 pupils in the area. The school was established in 1975 and is the main primary school in the Strathfoyle (including Maydown) area. Many past and present students of the school have experience a degree of varying success locally and nationally, winning numerous quizzes, chess competitions, sporting events and other such education related topics. The school promotes a CatholicCatholic
The 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"...
ethos and is situated beside St. Oliver Plunkett Chapel. The majority of post primary school students in Strathfoyle attend schools such as Oakgrove Integrated College
Oakgrove Integrated College
Oakgrove Integrated College is an integrated secondary school based in Derry, Northern Ireland. The all-ability school was founded in 1992 with the hope of integrating young people from both sides of Northern Ireland's religious divide and giving all of its students 'self-esteem'.- History :The...
, St. Mary's High School
St Mary's High School (Limavady)
St Mary's High School is a secondary school situated in Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is one of three secondary schools in Limavady, the others being, Limavady High School and Limavady Grammar School. St. Mary's however is predominantly Roman Catholic. St. Marys is the only...
in Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, or St. Columb's College
St. Columb's College
St. Columb's College is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland and, since 2008, a specialist school in Mathematics and Computing...
. Oakgrove Integrated College is located near to the village and is a popular choice among students due to its proximity to the village.
Social
Since the closure of Molin Sports and Social club, many of the Strathfoyle residents now use the Dupont "Rec" Club as their favourite watering hole.Notable residents
- Lawrence Mullan - Former footballer and "Derry's Handyman of the Year" 1990
- David OgilbyDavid OgilbyDavid Ogilby is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Coleraine F.C. Ogilby, born in Derry, Northern Ireland, is renowned for his exceptional height and presence in the box...
- Institute F.C.Institute F.C.Institute F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who play in IFA Championship 1.The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium in the YMCA Grounds...
footballer - Augustus "Gus" Hastings - recently elected councillor for Social Democratic And Labour Party (source Derry Journal May 2011). Gus is also Company Secretary and 1 of 3 Directors of Strathfoyle Community Association Ltd (source Companies House Annual Returns 2010), where his 2 daughters also serve as office holders on the members management committee. Gus is also Company Secretary and 1 of 3 Directors of Strathfoyle Village Centre Ltd. (source Companies House Annual Returns2010) which generously pays a percentage of it's revenue to Strathfoyle Community Association Ltd to assist community development in the Strathfoyle area.
See also
- Lisahally F.C.
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
External links
- Map of Strathfoyle
- Google Map of Strathfoyle Note that Google are inaccurate, Strathfoyle is situated to the south west
- Strathfoyle Women's Group
- 'Strathfoyle is Fuming' Strathfoyle Youth Development demonstration against Foyle Meats
- Collection of photographs depicting scenes in Strathfoyle
- Strathfoyle Weather Station
