Castlederg

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Town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

title: "Castlederg" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["castlederg", "towns-in-county-tyrone", "civil-parish-of-urney"] description: "Town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland" topic_path: "general/castlederg" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlederg" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
official_nameCastlederg
irish_nameCaisleán na Deirge
static_image_nameCastlederg Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 371674.jpg
static_image_captionThe Diamond, Castlederg
map_typeNorthern Ireland
coordinates
belfast_distance85 miles
population2,980
population_ref(2021 Census)
irish_grid_referenceH262845
unitary_northern_irelandDerry City and Strabane
countryNorthern Ireland
post_townCASTLEDERG
postcode_areaBT
postcode_districtBT81
dial_code028
constituency_westminsterWest Tyrone
constituency_ni_assemblyWest Tyrone
lieutenancy_northern_irelandCounty Tyrone
::

| official_name = Castlederg | irish_name = Caisleán na Deirge | scots_name = | local_name = | static_image_name = Castlederg Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 371674.jpg | static_image_caption = The Diamond, Castlederg | map_type = Northern Ireland | coordinates = | belfast_distance = 85 miles | population = 2,980 | population_ref = (2021 Census) | irish_grid_reference = H262845 | unitary_northern_ireland = Derry City and Strabane | country = Northern Ireland | historic_county = | post_town = CASTLEDERG | postcode_area = BT | postcode_district = BT81 | dial_code = 028 | constituency_westminster = West Tyrone | constituency_ni_assembly = West Tyrone | lieutenancy_northern_ireland = County Tyrone | website = | hide_services =

Castlederg (earlier Caslanadergy, ) is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is near the border with County Donegal, Ireland. It stands in the townlands of Castlesessagh and Churchtown, in the historic barony of Omagh West and the civil parish of Urney. The town has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den. It had a population of 2,980 people at the 2021 census.

The town hosts some of the district's key events each year, including the Derg Vintage Rally, Dergfest music festival, Red River Festival and the traditional Apple Fair.

Castlederg was a traveller's stop along the ancient pilgrimage route to Station Island on Lough Derg. The town boasts ancient ruins and monastic settlements.

History

Early history

Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of Cenél nEógain (later Tír Eoghain) and Connail (later Tír Chonaill – mostly modern County Donegal). This rivalry between the two powers continued until the 16th century when they combined in the defence of Ulster against the encroaching Elizabethan armies. The Castlederg area, lying within the new barony of Omagh, was granted to the English Attorney-General for Ireland, Sir John Davies. Two castles were constructed on his proportion, Castle Curlews (Kirlish Castle) outside Drumquin and Derg Castle, the ruins of which can be seen today on the northern bank of the River Derg at Castlederg. A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.

The Troubles

During the Troubles, 25 people were killed in and around Castlederg (including Killeter and Killen) and there were many bombings in the village. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed 11 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Ulster Constabulary, four fellow IRA members whom it accused of being informers, and three Ulster Protestant civilians. Four IRA members were also killed when their bombs exploded prematurely. Ulster loyalist paramilitaries killed three Catholic civilians.

Transport

The narrow-gauge Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was built in 1883, to link the village with the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) at Victoria Bridge. Castlederg railway station opened on 4 July 1884, but was finally closed on 17 April 1933.

Demography

19th century population

The population of the village increased during the 19th century:

::data[format=table]

Year184118511861187118811891
Population476596637703756796
Horses81102106119137155
::

2011 Census

Castlederg is classified as an intermediate settlement by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 2,500 and 4,999 people). On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,976, accounting for 0.16% of the NI total. Of these:

  • 19.72% were under 16 years old and 16.97% were aged 65 and above.
  • 48.42% of the population were male and 51.58% were female.
  • 55.36% were from a Catholic community background and 40.22% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' community background.
  • 36.56% indicated that they had a British national identity, 34.54% had an Irish national identity, and 30.51% had a Northern Irish national identity.

2021 Census

On Census Day (21 March 2021) the usually resident population of Castlederg Settlement was 2,980. Of these:

  • 20.20% were aged under 16, 60.64% were aged between 16 and 65, and 19.16% were aged 66 and over.
  • 52.75% of the population were female and 47.25% were male.
  • 57.25% belong to or were brought up Catholic, 38.19% belong to or were brought up Protestant (including other Christian denominations), 0.94% belonged to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 3.62% did not adhere to or had no religion.
  • 39.83% indicated they had an Irish national identity, 33.96% indicated they had a British national identity, 32.38% indicated they had a Northern Irish national identity, and .4.46% indicated they had an 'other' national identity. (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)
  • 13.36% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge) and 10% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots.

Climate

| collapsed = | metric first = y | single line = y | Jan record high C = 15.5 | Feb record high C = 16.4 | Mar record high C = 21.0 | Apr record high C = 24.1 | May record high C = 26.2 | Jun record high C = 30.2 | Jul record high C = 31.3 | Aug record high C = 29.3 | Sep record high C = 28.0 | Oct record high C = 21.6 | Nov record high C = 17.1 | Dec record high C = 15.2 | Jan high C = 7.6 | Feb high C = 8.3 | Mar high C = 10.1 | Apr high C = 12.6 | May high C = 15.5 | Jun high C = 17.7 | Jul high C = 19.0 | Aug high C = 18.8 | Sep high C = 16.8 | Oct high C = 13.4 | Nov high C = 10.0 | Dec high C = 7.7 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 4.6 | Feb mean C = 4.9 | Mar mean C = 6.3 | Apr mean C = 8.2 | May mean C = 10.8 | Jun mean C = 13.4 | Jul mean C = 15.0 | Aug mean C = 14.7 | Sep mean C = 12.8 | Oct mean C = 9.7 | Nov mean C = 6.8 | Dec mean C = 4.7 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 1.6 | Feb low C = 1.5 | Mar low C = 2.4 | Apr low C = 3.7 | May low C = 6.0 | Jun low C = 9.1 | Jul low C = 10.9 | Aug low C = 10.7 | Sep low C = 8.7 | Oct low C = 6.0 | Nov low C = 3.5 | Dec low C = 1.6 | year low C = | Jan record low C = -12.7 | Feb record low C = -8.0 | Mar record low C = -8.7 | Apr record low C = -7.0 | May record low C = -3.9 | Jun record low C = 0.5 | Jul record low C = 2.5 | Aug record low C = 1.3 | Sep record low C = -2.2 | Oct record low C = -5.6 | Nov record low C = -8.5 | Dec record low C = -18.7 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 124.1 | Feb precipitation mm = 100.6 | Mar precipitation mm = 88.4 | Apr precipitation mm = 74.4 | May precipitation mm = 70.3 | Jun precipitation mm = 76.6 | Jul precipitation mm = 86.9 | Aug precipitation mm = 91.0 | Sep precipitation mm = 88.4 | Oct precipitation mm = 111.8 | Nov precipitation mm = 122.0 | Dec precipitation mm = 132.8 | year precipitation mm = | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 18.7 | Feb precipitation days = 16.5 | Mar precipitation days = 15.8 | Apr precipitation days = 13.8 | May precipitation days = 13.9 | Jun precipitation days = 12.8 | Jul precipitation days = 15.0 | Aug precipitation days = 16.2 | Sep precipitation days = 15.1 | Oct precipitation days = 16.5 | Nov precipitation days = 18.6 | Dec precipitation days = 18.9 | year precipitation days = | source 1 = Met Office{{cite web | url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcdx5x4e7| title=Castlederg 1991–2020 averages| publisher=Met Office | access-date=27 July 2025}} | source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather{{cite web | url=https://www.roostweather.com/ukobs/temp_station_extreme_map.php| title=Monthly Temperature Extremes| publisher=Roost Weather | access-date=27 July 2025}} | date = Jul 2025

2010 and 2021 temperature records

Castlederg recorded Northern Ireland's lowest-ever recorded temperature of -18.7 °C on the morning of 23 December 2010. The town recorded Northern Ireland's highest-ever recorded temperature of 31.3 °C on 21 July 2021. On 22 July, Armagh reported 31.4 °C which has since been rejected by the UK Met Office, meaning Castlederg holds both the highest and lowest temperature records in Northern Ireland. Prior to the 21st and 22nd, the record was also broken on 17 July 2021 with a value of 31.2 °C at Ballywatticock.

Governance

The town is one of the electoral wards in the Derg district electoral area of Derry City and Strabane District Council. The other wards are Finn, Glenderg, Newtownstewart and Sion Mills. Below are the results of the 2019 Derry City and Strabane District Council election

Derg

2014: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP

2014-2019 change: SDLP gain one seat from Sinn Féin

|title=Derg – 5 seats |numcounts= 5 |party = Democratic Unionist Party |candidate = Keith Kerrigan |count1 = 1,090 |count2 = 1,092 |count3 = 1,711 |percentage = 13.62 |party = Ulster Unionist Party |candidate = Derek Hussey* |count1 = 1,267 |count2 = 1,279 |count3 = 1,418 |percentage = 15.83 |party = Sinn Féin |candidate = Ruairí McHugh* |count1 = 1,086 |count2 = 1,089 |count3 = 1,089 |count4 = 1,089 |count5 = 1,579 |percentage = 13.57 |party = Social Democratic and Labour Party |candidate = Cara Hunter |count1 = 1,032 |count2 = 1,092 |count3 = 1,094 |count4 = 1,194 |count5 = 1,287 |percentage = 12.89 |party = Sinn Féin |candidate = Kieran McGuire* |count1 = 1,075 |count2 = 1,081 |count3 = 1,081 |count4 = 1,081 |count5 = 1,232 |percentage = 13.43 |party = Independent (politician) |candidate = Andy Patton |count1 = 735 |count2 = 784 |count3 = 791 |count4 = 922 |count5 = 981 |percentage = 9.18 |party = Sinn Féin |candidate = Maolíosa McHugh* |count1 = 798 |count2 = 806 |count3 = 807 |count4 = 808 |percentage = 9.97 |party = Democratic Unionist Party |candidate = Thomas Kerrigan |count1 = 771 |count2 = 773 |percentage = 9.63 |party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |candidate = Anne Murray |count1 = 150 |percentage = 1.87 |numcounts = 5 |electorate = 12,996 |valid = 8,004 |spoilt = 116 |quota = 1,335 |turnout = 62.48%

Education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Castlederg_Castle_-geograph.org.uk-_371758.jpg" caption="Castlederg Castle"] ::

Primary

  • Edwards Primary School – established 1938
  • Erganagh Primary school – closed
  • Gaelscoil na Deirge
  • Killen Primary School – established 1935
  • Saint Patrick's Primary School – established in 1973

Secondary

  • Castlederg High School – established 1958
  • St Eugene's High School – 1961 to 2013

Sport

Soccer

Gaelic football

Notable people

References

Sources

References

  1. "Settlement 2015".
  2. "Castlederg". Place Names NI.
  3. "Census of Ireland 1891". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland.
  4. "Townlands of County Tyrone". IreAtlas Townland Database.
  5. "Castlederg Castle".
  6. (14 May 2011). "Castlederg bronze cauldron, 700-600 BC".
  7. [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/search.html Malcolm Sutton's Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland] (search for "Castlederg"). [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).
  8. "Castlederg station". Railscot – Irish Railways.
  9. "Census of Ireland 1851". Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland.
  10. "NI Assembly". Key Statistics for Settlements, Census 2011.
  11. "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Castlederg Settlement". [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA).
  12. "Settlement 2015".
  13. "Preview data for Age {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  14. "Preview data for Sex (MS-A07) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  15. "Religion or religion brought up in".
  16. "Preview data for National Identity (Irish) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  17. "Preview data for National Identity (British) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  18. "Preview data for National Identity (Northern Irish) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  19. "Preview data for National identity (person based) – basic detail (classification 1) (MS-B15) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  20. "Preview data for Knowledge of Irish (MS-B05) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  21. "Preview data for Knowledge of Ulster-Scots (MS-B08) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder".
  22. [http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2010/december.html "Northern ireland diary of highlights December 2010"] {{webarchive. link. (5 April 2011 . [[Met Office]]. Retrieved 14 August 2011)
  23. "Extreme heat: NI records hottest day ever for second time in week". BBC News.
  24. "UK climate extremes".
  25. "The District Electoral Areas (Northern Ireland)".
  26. "Edwards Primary School".
  27. "Gaelsoil na Deirg".
  28. "Killen Primary School".
  29. "Saint Patrick's Primary School".
  30. "Castlederg High School".
  31. Hanna, Gareth. (26 May 2021). "Who is Conor Bradley? All you need to know about Liverpool star named in the Northern Ireland squad". [[Belfast Telegraph]].
  32. "Pressing matters: Coming to terms with the Troubles and the past. Big Girl Small Town author Michelle Gallen revisits her Border town in her new novel, Factory Girls".
  33. "Harper, James 1780-1873". [[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]].
  34. "Ivan Sproule". [[Irish Football Association]].

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castledergtowns-in-county-tyronecivil-parish-of-urney