Castlederg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castlederg
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 The Diamond, Castlederg |
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 Castlederg
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| Population | 2,980 (2021 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | H262845 |
| • Belfast | 85 miles |
| District |
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| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CASTLEDERG |
| Postcode district | BT81 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament |
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| NI Assembly |
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Castlederg is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish words Caisleán na Deirge, meaning "castle on the Derg". The town is located right on the River Derg. It is also very close to the border with County Donegal in Ireland.
Castlederg is built across two old land divisions called Castlesessagh and Churchtown. You can still see the ruins of an old castle there, called Derg Castle. There are also two very old tombs, known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den. In 2021, about 2,980 people lived in Castlederg.
Each year, Castlederg hosts several fun events. These include the Derg Vintage Rally, a music festival called Dergfest, the Red River Festival, and a traditional Apple Fair. Long ago, Castlederg was a stopping point for people on a special journey to Station Island on Lough Derg. The town has many old ruins and places where monks used to live.
Contents
History of Castlederg
Early Times
For a long time, the area around Castlederg was a place where two powerful groups often disagreed. These were the Cenél nEógain and the Connail. They were rivals until the 1500s. Then, they joined forces to defend their land, Ulster, from the English armies.
The Castlederg area was later given to an English lawyer named Sir John Davies. He built two castles here. One was Castle Curlews, and the other was Derg Castle. You can still see the ruins of Derg Castle today by the River Derg. In 2011, an ancient bronze-age cauldron was found in Castlederg. This shows how old the area's history is!
A Time of Conflict
During a period known as the Troubles, Castlederg and the nearby areas experienced a lot of violence. There were many bombings in the town. This was a very difficult time for the community, and many people were affected.
Getting Around
A special narrow-gauge railway, called the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway, was built in 1883. It connected Castlederg to a bigger railway line at Victoria Bridge. The Castlederg railway station opened in 1884. However, it closed down for good in 1933.
People of Castlederg
Population Over Time
The number of people living in Castlederg grew during the 1800s. Here's how the population changed:
| Year | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 476 | 596 | 637 | 703 | 756 | 796 |
| Horses | 81 | 102 | 106 | 119 | 137 | 155 |
Recent Census Information
Castlederg is considered a medium-sized town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. This means it has between 2,500 and 4,999 residents.
The latest information from the 2021 Census shows:
- The population of Castlederg was 2,980 people.
- About 20% of the people were under 16 years old.
- About 19% were aged 66 and over.
- Slightly more than half the population (52.75%) were female.
- Most people (57.25%) were from a Catholic background.
- About 38% were from a Protestant background.
- People could choose more than one national identity. About 40% chose Irish, 34% chose British, and 32% chose Northern Irish.
- About 13% of people had some knowledge of the Irish language (Gaeilge).
- About 10% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots.
Weather in Castlederg
| Climate data for Castlederg WMO ID: 03904; coordinates 54°42′25″N 7°34′39″W / 54.70698°N 7.5775°W; elevation: 49 m (161 ft), 1981–2010 normals |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
9.9 (49.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.4 (63.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
9.8 (49.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) |
4.6 (40.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
14.9 (58.8) |
14.6 (58.3) |
12.7 (54.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
6.6 (43.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.3 (34.3) |
1.2 (34.2) |
2.4 (36.3) |
3.6 (38.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.5 (50.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
3.3 (37.9) |
1.2 (34.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 127.8 (5.03) |
93.3 (3.67) |
98.1 (3.86) |
74.6 (2.94) |
65.8 (2.59) |
66.0 (2.60) |
83.5 (3.29) |
85.1 (3.35) |
91.5 (3.60) |
122.6 (4.83) |
110.9 (4.37) |
124.6 (4.91) |
1,143.7 (45.03) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 18.7 | 15.3 | 17.2 | 13.7 | 13.6 | 12.6 | 14.0 | 15.1 | 14.6 | 17.7 | 17.8 | 17.6 | 187.7 |
| Source: Met Office | |||||||||||||
Castlederg holds two important weather records for Northern Ireland. On December 23, 2010, it recorded the lowest temperature ever in Northern Ireland, which was -18.7°C. Then, on July 21, 2021, it recorded the highest temperature ever, reaching 31.3°C. This means Castlederg has experienced both the coldest and hottest days in Northern Ireland's recorded history!
Local Government
Castlederg is part of the Derg electoral area. This area is looked after by the Derry City and Strabane District Council. People in the area vote for representatives to be on this council.
Schools in Castlederg
Primary Schools
- Edwards Primary School (opened 1938)
- Gaelscoil na Deirge
- Killen Primary School (opened 1935)
- Saint Francis of Assisi Primary School, Drumnabey
- Saint Patrick's Primary School (opened 1973)
Secondary Schools
- Castlederg High School (opened 1958)
Sports in Castlederg
Soccer
- Dergview F.C.
Gaelic Football
- Castlederg St. Eugene's
Famous People from Castlederg
- Conor Bradley: A footballer who plays for Liverpool F.C. and the Northern Ireland national team. He grew up in Castlederg.
- Michelle Gallen: An award-winning author. She grew up in Castlederg.
- James Harper (1780–1873): An American Congressman who was born in Castlederg.
- Ivan Sproule: A former professional footballer who grew up in Castlederg.
See also
In Spanish: Castlederg para niños
