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Maghera

Maghera (from the Irish: Machaire Rátha meaning "plain of the ringfort") is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Its population was 2,876 in 1991 and had risen to 3,711 people in the 2001 Census. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area. It provides the local commercial centre for the surrounding viillages of Swatragh, Tobermore, Upperlands, Gulladuff and Knockcloghrim.^{[citation needed]} The town is also the educational centre for the surrounding area and St. Patrick’s is one of the largest schools in Mid-Ulster.^{[citation needed]} The Slaughtneil / Carntogher area around the town is unique for being the only rural community in Ireland outside of the Gaeltacht where the majority of primary school children are educated through the Irish language.^{[citation needed]} Maghera also has parishes of Fallalea, Ranaghan and Glen. In the Roman Catholic parish church of St Patrick's there is a headstone remembering the large number of people who died during the Famine.^{[citation needed]}

History

Maghera suffered significant violence during the Northern Irish Troubles. In total, 14 people were killed, half of them members of the security forces and a further two as a result of family membership of the Ulster Defence Regiment. The Provisional Irish Republican Army were responsible for ten of the 14 deaths.Maghera used to be a locked town, with gates closing off the town center.The stone outside Walshe's hotel was used for people getting on and off their horses.In the slaughnail area are there is the sweat house's which were use in ancient times to treat ailments.The Emperor Napolean I st Dr was also from Maghera.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

28.6% were aged under 16 years and 13.3% were aged 60 and over

49.3% of the population were male and 50.7% were female

72.4% were from a Catholic background and 27.1% were from a Protestant background

3.9% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

Places of interest

Notable buildings in Maghera include St. Lurach's Church, which was founded in the year 500AD, originally as a monastery. The town of Maghera grew up around this church. The importance of the monastery was such that Maghera was a Bishop’s seat in the 12th century and 13th century.^{[citation needed]} However, the Church was allowed to fall into disrepair and is now a roofless ruin, and is part of the national trust. Within the ruins, as an insert to the west wall is a sculpture of the crucifixion, which is thought to date from the 10th century - making it one of earlist representations of a cross in Ireland.St Lurach is also the saint of the town.^{[citation needed]} St Patrick's College Maghera is set on the Coleraine Rd and, it is the largest school in the NEELB and one of the largest in Ulster.

Transport

Maghera railway station opened on 18 December 1880, closed for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and finally closed altogether on 1 October 1959.^[1]

People

Maghera is the birthplace of Charles Thomson, who emigrated to the United States where he became secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson designed the Great Seal of the United States.

Watty Graham was a local Irish Republican who took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798

Another famous person born in Maghera who later moved to the United States is the children's author Eve Bunting.

Robert Hawthorne who won a Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny was from the town.

Maghera was the birth place of the noted theologian Dr Henry Cooke. A statue of Cooke called the "Black Man" (due to its former colour, when covered in soot) stands outside Royal Belfast Academical Institution in Belfast.

James Lenox-Conyngham Chichester-Clark and his grandfather James Johnston Clark, both MPs for County Londonderry, were born here at Largantogher House.

William Shiels was born in Maghera[](3 December 1848 – 17 December 1904), Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria.

Maghera was also the birth place of Willie McKay, who found his way to America. While in America he befriended Lakota indians and in time became a Chief. McKay possibly died at "The Battle of the Little Big Horn"

Education

St.Marys Primary School, Glenview

Maghera Controlled Primary School

St. Patricks Primary School, Glen

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

St. Patrick's Co-Ed Comprehensive college

Maghera High School

Sport

The local Gaelic football club is Watty Graham's Gaelic Athletic Club.

The local soccer team is Maghera Strollers F.C.

The local golf Driving Range is located in Tobermore

References

Culture Northern Ireland