Tobermore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tobermore (Irish An Tóbar Mór, 'The Great Well') is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, just south of Maghera. In the 2001 Census the village itself had a population of 578 people. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area. It forms the core part of Kilcronaghan Parish.
Tobermore has won the ’Best Kept Small Village’ award four times and most recently the 'Best Kept Large Village award in 1986.
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[edit] Topography
Tobermore's topography is best detailed in the description of the Kilcronaghan Parish, whose borders are the same as that of Tobermore electoral ward. These borders take it up to the proximity of the nearby settlements of Draperstown, Desertmartin and Maghera.
[edit] Townlands
Kilcronaghan Parish contains 24 townlands; Ballinderry, Brackaghlislea, Calmore, Clooney, Cloughfin, Coolsaragh, Drumballyhagan, Drumballyhagan Clark, Drumcrow, Drumsamney, Duntibryan, Gortahurk, Gortamney, Granny, Keenaght, Killynumber, Killytoney, Moneyshanere, Mormeal, Moybeg Kirley, Moyesset, Tamnyaskey, Tobermore and Tullyroan.
Many of these townlands may be closer to other settlements such as Draperstown, Desertmartin and Maghera than to Tobermore, however for election and parish reasons they are considered part of the Tobermore area. Some of the townlands that are mentioned in the topography are up to 4 miles away from Tobermore village such as Brackaghlislea, Coolsarragh and Gortahurk, a few are right next door to other towns like Draperstown.
The following townlands from the above list can be said to be part of Tobermore village or within the local proximity (13 townlands); Clooney, Moyesset, Tobermore, Calmore, Moneyshanere, Drumballyhagan, Duntribryan, Gortamney, Tullyroan, Ballinderry, Tamnyaskey, Killynumber, Killytoney and Cloughfin,
The small settlements of Black Hill (in the townland of Duntribryan), Kilross (in the townland of Tamnyaskey) and Ballynahone (in the townland of Clooney) are considered part of the greater Tobermore village area.
[edit] Hills
Kilcronaghan Parish lies on the descending slope of Slieve Gallion (Gaelic: Sliabhgallion). Its highest point is situated on the western side of the summit of Slieve Gallion and from it, the ground falls in a series of hills lying south and north. These become more and more broken and irregular as they approach the River Moyola. The highest point is at the altitude of 1091 feet above sea level. The lowest western extremity of the townland of Tobermore is 130 feet in altitude.
[edit] Bogs
Nothing but oak is found in the small bog of Coolsarragh. The flow bog of Tullyroan and Gortahurk has all been cut. Ballynahone Bog is the second largest lowland raised bog in Northern Ireland and has been declared a Special Area of Conservation.
[edit] Woods
The natural wood of the parish of Kilcronaghan consists of oak, ash, birch, alder, hazel and holly with thorns. A large oak called the Royal Oak grew near Calmore Castle in Tobermore. It is said to have so large that horsemen on horseback could not touch one another with their whips across it, even after it had been cut down. From this vague description, it is conjectured that the Royal Oak was about 10 feet in diameter or 30 feet in circumference. Another oak tree that once grew near Tobermore was so tall and straight that it was known as the "Fishing Rod". Tradition is that the whole of the townlands were once covered with magnificent oak trees.
[edit] History
The name Tobermore is the Anglisation of the Irish: An Tóbar Mór, which means The Great Well. This well used to be situated at the western end of the village, but has long since dried up and been destroyed.
The present day village of Tobermore is built on top of an ancient settlement dating back to Druidic times. In the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Tobermore was razed to the ground by rebels. In 1651 at Drumbally Hill Fort (two miles south of Tobermore), Oliver Cromwell slaughtered 360 men. To the east of Drumbally Hill there is a ridge, where ancient Pagan festivals were held.
Fortwilliam House in Tobermore was built in 1795 by the Stevensons the Linen People, and takes its name from an ancient fort which stands to the rear of it. This ancient fort or Rath was named after King William III by Mr. Jackson the first proprietor of the area it lies on. The Tobermore area also contains several other ancient Rath's, all of which no longer exist.
[edit] Calmore
Tobermore is based on the townlands of Tobermore and Calmore (Irish Gaelic for The Great Hazel Tree). The Calmore area has long held significance in the region. It was here that the Great Well once stood as well as where the Royal Oak tree once stood. The Royal Oak was used by Druids in their ancient ceremonies. There was also once a great Hazel tree, which Calmore is named after, that was used in pagan festivals.
Calmore Castle once stood in his townland, and is said to have been built around the time of the Plantation of Ulster. Nothing remains of the castle other than part of the wall which is 3 feet thick and is now part of a garage. It was the residence of the Rowley family at the breaking out of the Irish Rebellion of 1641. However it was destroyed in 1689 by the army of King James II whilst retreating from the Siege of Derry. Legends state that the O'Hagans who built the castle dropped all of their gold down the great well and filled it in so that King James II couldn't get hold of it.
[edit] Kilcronaghan
Kilcronaghan is the local parish of Tobermore. There once stood an ancient church which according to tradition was founded by Saint Cronaugh, a bishop and son of a king of Munster. It was then called Kille Cronaughan and afterwards Kilcronoghan. It is likewise said that there had been a nunnery close to it. It was here that the famous Irish saint, Columba, got his earlier schooling under the skillful teaching of St Cronaugh.
The newer parish church dated from 1816 and has a fine Norman niche dating from the earlier church. Other than the western gable and northern wall, nothing of the old church was incorporated into the new one. There was once a hanging stone at the church where all local villains met their demise, however it was built into the wall as it was seen as distasteful. Along with this was an underground tunnel leading from inside the church all the way over to the local Rectory, yet this tunnel has been filled in. There may be a crypt underneath the church.
However, this church was abandoned sometime near the end of the 19th century and has fallen into a sad state. Many of the gravestones lie slanted and are covered in moss. In the middle of the church lies a grave with a shattered headstone to who appears to have been maybe the last Rector of the church. The now ruined Kilcronaghan Church has been superseded by a bigger church at the top of Main Street, Tobermore.
[edit] Tobermore Loyalism
Tobermore has long had a tradition of strong loyalism towards the United Kingdom. For more on Tobermore Loyalism click here
[edit] Population
[edit] Tobermore village
Tobermore is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 578 people living in Tobermore. Of these:
- 19.9% were aged under 16 years and 20.6% were aged 60 and over
- 50.4% of the population were male and 49.7% were female
- 3.1% were from a Catholic background and 95.5% were from a Protestant background
- 3.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
[edit] Tobermore Ward
The Tobermore electoral ward covers an area around the village of Tobermore, which includes the hamlets of Ballynahone and Kilross, both of which to their inhabitants are considered part of Tobermore.
Tobermore Ward (electoral ward) has a population of 2,076 people. Of these:
- 51.2% of the population are Male and 48.8% of the population are Female
- 40% of the population are 17 years old or younger and 18.5% of the population are 60 years old or older
For more details see: NI Census 2001
[edit] Demographic Changes
Over the past decade Tobermore, like most other settlements in Northern Ireland has had a lot of housing development. The 2001 Census figures can be declared inaccurate as local developments in the town such as Calmore Court, Beach Hill Court and the completion of Loughill, has increased the population of the village. There are plans for more developments in the village.
As well as the expansion of the town, Tobermore, since several Eastern European countries joined the EU, has had an influx of foreign immigrants and workers. The majority of these foreigners are Czech or Polish, with many assimilating into the village with no problem.
[edit] Sport
[edit] Soccer
For more on Tobermore United F.C. click here.
Tobermore United F.C., alongside local rivals Moyola Park F.C., are the two biggest soccer teams from Magherafelt District, with both featuring in the Irish Football League, 1st Division.
Tobermore United F.C. is also the only football club in Northern Ireland that international superstar George Best ever played competitively for in February 1984.
Tobermore United F.C.'s ground, Fortwilliam Park, which was upgraded several seasons ago is one of the best football pitches in the region. As well being the yearly location for the Craig Memorial Cup final, Northern Ireland Under-19 matches can also be played here. It is also amongst the few grounds that can be used in the latter stages of the Irish Cup, allowing Tobermore United F.C. to enter the competition a round ahead of their First Division league rivals.
Along with this, the club has an extensive and highly popular youth development which has led to them being awarded official Football Development Centre (FDC) status by the IFA.
During the summer of 2006, Tobermore United's youth development linked up with English premiership newboys Sheffield United.
- Desertmartin F.C., from the nearby village of Desertmartin, play their home matches on Tobermore's council pitch.
[edit] League Success
Tobermore United F.C. won promotion to the Irish First Division in the 2004/2005 season after leap-frogging Banbridge Town F.C. on the last day of the league.
Recently Tobermore United F.C. have won the North-West Intermediate Cup on Boxing Day, 2005 and won the North-West Senior Cup 2006 against Premier League team Coleraine winning 2-1 with an injury-time winner.
[edit] Other Sports
[edit] Darts
The local darts team from the Diamond Bar, in the 2004/2005 season won the South Derry Darts 2nd Division League and South Derry 2nd Division League Cup. In the 2005/2006 season they finished third in the top league.
[edit] Golf
Tobermore Golf Driving Range, which was opened in 1995, is a two tier structure containing 34 bays each containing a genuine astroturf mat with quality tees to suit. The 300 yard range is fully floodlit, golf balls are available from an easy to use no-fuss dispenser and there is an all-important putting area. It also offers PGA Professional tuition from Tony Mulholland.
[edit] Fishing
People who are interested in fishing go to the nearby River Moyola, whose stocks of salmon and trout have downsized during the last 20 years. However, this has not affected the ethusiasium of local game fishers.
[edit] Gaelic Sports
Tobermore is the only large village in Magherafelt District that does not have a Gaelic Athletic Association Club, as well as the only village of its size in the area with virtually no partcipants in Gaelic sports other than a couple of people outside the town itself.[citation needed]
This is due to the fact Tobermore is almost entirely Protestant, whereas Gaelic games are predominantly played by Roman Catholics.
