Benburb

Benburb
Irish: Beann Bhorb
Benburb  Benburb shown within Northern Ireland
Irish grid reference	H815522
– Belfast	43 miles
District	Dungannon & South Tyrone
County	County Tyrone
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DUNGANNON
Postcode district	BT71
Dialling code	028
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Fermanagh & South Tyrone
List of places UK Northern Ireland Tyrone

Benburb (from Irish: Beann Borb, meaning "proud/prominent cliff")) is a hamlet and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies seven miles from Armagh and nine miles from Dungannon.

History

Benburb's Main Street

It is best known, in historical terms, for the Battle of Benburb that took place there in 1646. This was fought between the armies of Confederate Ireland led by Owen Roe O'Neill and the Scottish Covenanters led by Munro. The battle resulted in a crushing victory for O'Neill's men at the townland of Drumflugh around a mile outside the village. It was commemorated in the ballad "The Battle of Benburb".

Since the Battle of Benburb was a rare 17th-century Irish military victory, after Irish independence the new Irish nationalist government named a street in Dublin's north inner city after the battle. Benburb Street runs between Queen Street and Blackhall Place. There is also a Benburb Street in south Belfast just off the Donegall Road.

In later years Benburb became known for its linen production, as did many areas in the North and later still for agriculture, most notably apple farming, and mushroom production.

Benburb was the home of the 17th century poet Maurice O'Dugan (fl.1660), who was reputed to have written the poems Gluas do chabhlach, Bhi Eoghan air buile, Faraoir chaill Eire a céile fircheart and the famous air The Coolin.

Places of interest

The village is also home to the impressive Benburb Castle built in 1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Blackwater, the border between County Tyrone and County Armagh. The castle is in excellent condition having been recently restored and stands in the grounds of the imposing Servite Priory, a religious order based in the village. Benburb is also located on the Ulster Canal.

Education

• Benburb Primary School
• Benburb Community Playgroup

Demography

19th century population

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

Year	1841	1851	1861	1871	1881	1891
Population	330	253	275	192	222	241
Houses	63	63	60	45	49	58

21st century population

Benburb in the Northern Ireland UK Census in 2011 was classified as a Hamlet, with a population of 598 people.

• 8.9% were 18 or younger
• 11.7% were aged 60 and over
• 40.0% were male
• 60.0% were female
• 55.6% were from a Catholic background
• 25.4% were from a Protestant background
• 19.0% stated another Religion or had no religion

Townland

The townland is situated in the historic barony of Dungannon Middle and the civil parish of Clonfeacle and covers an area of 185 acres.

The population of the townland declined during the 19th century:

Year	1841	1851	1861	1871	1881	1891
Population	64	58	-	56	121	35
Houses	12	12	-	13	24	10

The increase seen in the 1881 Census was ascribed mainly to the building of houses for millworkers.

See also

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Tyrone)
• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of townlands of County Tyrone
• Ulster Canal

External links

• Ulster Canal, Benburb
• Benburb Castle