Magherafelt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magherafelt
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 Magherafelt town centre. |
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| Population | 9,071 (2021 census) |
| • Belfast | 35 mi (56 km) |
| District |
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| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAGHERAFELT |
| Postcode district | BT45 |
| 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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Magherafelt is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish Machaire Fíolta, meaning 'Fíolta's plain'.
In 2021, about 9,071 people lived there. Magherafelt is the largest town in the south of County Londonderry. It is an important centre for social, economic, and political activities in the area. The town is part of the Mid-Ulster District.
Contents
Discovering Magherafelt's Past
Magherafelt has been known as a town since 1425. Before that, it was called Teach Fíolta, which means 'Fíolta's house'. This suggests there might have been a religious settlement led by someone named Fíolta. You can still see the ruins of an old church and graveyard at the end of Broad Street. This might be where the medieval church once stood.
The Plantation of Ulster
In the 1600s, the Salters Company from London received land in South Londonderry. This was part of a plan called the Plantation of Ulster. During this time, many people from England and Scotland moved to Ulster. After this, Magherafelt began to grow into the town we see today, with a central diamond-shaped area at its heart.
Magherafelt During The Troubles
During a difficult period in Northern Ireland's history called The Troubles, some people were sadly killed in or near Magherafelt. This conflict affected many towns and communities across the region.
How Magherafelt is Governed
Magherafelt used to have its own local council. However, in 2015, it joined with two other councils. These were the Cookstown District Council and the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.
Now, Magherafelt is part of the Mid-Ulster District Council. This council has 40 members, called councillors. Five of these councillors are elected by the people living in Magherafelt. These councillors help make decisions about local services and the town's future.
Magherafelt is also part of larger political areas. It is in the Mid Ulster (Assembly constituency) for the Northern Ireland Assembly. It is also in the Mid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency) for the UK Parliament.
Exploring Notable Buildings
At the bottom of Broad Street, you will find a building called The Bridewell. This building used to be the town's courthouse and jail. The name Bridewell is often used for prisons in Britain and Ireland.
Today, The Bridewell has been updated. It now holds the town's library, where you can borrow books. It also has a tourist centre, which is a great place to find out more about Magherafelt and the surrounding area.
Places of Worship
Magherafelt has several churches, each with its own history:
- Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (built in 1882)
- St. Swithin's Church of Ireland (built in 1858)
- First Presbyterian Church (built in 1738)
- Calvary Free Presbyterian Church (built in 1978)
- Magherafelt Baptist Church (built in 2007)
Getting Around Magherafelt
Road Connections
Magherafelt is located on the A31 road. This road connects the southwest of Northern Ireland, like Tyrone and Fermanagh, to the northeast, such as Coleraine and Ballymena. In the past, a lot of traffic went right through the town centre, which caused many traffic jams.
To help with this, a bypass road was built around the eastern side of the town. It opened in 2016. This new road helps traffic flow more smoothly. The old road through the town is now called the B40.
Railway History
Magherafelt once had its own railway station. It first opened on 10 November 1856. However, it stopped taking passengers on 28 August 1950. The station closed completely on 1 October 1959.
Schools in Magherafelt
There are seven primary schools that serve the Magherafelt area. For older students, there are several secondary schools:
- St. Mary's Grammar School
- Saint Pius X College
- Rainey Endowed School
- Sperrin Integrated College
- Magherafelt High School
Sports and Clubs
Magherafelt is home to many different sports teams and clubs. This means there are lots of ways for young people to get involved in sports!
Some of the local teams include:
- Magherafelt Reds (a football club)
- O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt GAC (a Gaelic Athletic Association club)
- The Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club
- Magherafelt Sky Blues F.C. (another football club)
Beyond team sports, there are also other clubs:
- Mid Ulster Athletic Club (for running and other athletic activities)
- Mid Ulster Swimming Club
- Magherafelt District Motorclub (for motor sports enthusiasts)
Magherafelt's Population
| National Identity of Newry residents (2021) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Per cent | |||
| Irish | 36.4% | |||
| British | 30.9% | |||
| Northern Irish | 30.4% | |||
According to the 2021 census, 9,071 people lived in Magherafelt.
- About 59.9% of the people were from a Catholic background.
- About 31.5% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
- When asked about their national identity, 30.9% said they had a British identity.
- 36.4% said they had an Irish identity.
- 30.4% said they had a Northern Irish identity.
Famous People from Magherafelt
Many interesting people have come from Magherafelt:
- Jonathan Anderson (born 1984) – a well-known fashion designer.
- Paul Charles (born 1949) – a novelist, music promoter, and talent agent.
- Peter Doherty (1913–1990) – a famous former footballer and manager of the Northern Ireland team.
- Harry Gregg (1932–2020) – a former goalkeeper for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland team.
- Aaron Hughes (born 1979) – a former professional football player.
- Philip Maini, FRS FMedSci FRSB (born 1959) – a mathematician.
- Willie McCrea (born 1948) – a politician and member of the Democratic Unionist Party.
- Laura Pyper (born 1980) – an actress who has appeared in TV shows and films.
- Dean Shiels (born 1985) – a professional football player.
- JC Stewart (born 1997) – a singer and songwriter.
See also
In Spanish: Magherafelt para niños
