Newtown Cunningham
Newtowncunningham
An Baile Nua | |
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Village | |
IST (WEST)) | |
Irish grid reference | C312167 |
Newtown Cunningham, usually spelled Newtowncunningham or abbreviated to Newton (Irish: An Baile Nua, meaning "new town"[2]), is a village and townland in the Laggan district in the east of County Donegal, Ireland, located on the N13 road 18 kilometres (11 mi) east of Letterkenny and 16 km (10 mi) west of Derry. At the 2016 census, the village population was 1,080.[1]
History and name
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area, from the Iron Age onwards, includes the ringfort at Grianan of Aileach.[3] Also nearby is the sixteenth-century Burt Castle.[3]
The area of Newtown Cunningham was historically known as Culmacatrain.[2] Like nearby Manorcunningham, the village takes its current name from John Cunningham, originally from Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, in Scotland, who was among the settlers granted lands in County Donegal during the 17th century Plantation of Ulster.[4]
The village's architecture includes stately Anglo-Irish "big houses", now known as the Manse and the Castle, which reflect the village's colonial and Presbyterian history.[citation needed]
Economy and community
Newtowncunningham's long Main Street once formed part of the busy N13 trunk road connecting Letterkenny with Derry. A bypass diverted the N13 around the village in 1985. Many of the village's businesses either closed or moved to locations along the bypass, gradually divesting the village of economic activity.[citation needed]
As of the early 21st century, residential developments were built at both ends of Newtown Cunningham,[
Newtown Cunningham is located close to Blanket Nook, a
Transport
Newtown Cunningham is served by Bus Éireann route numbers 64 and 480. These include Bus Éireann's Derry to Letterkenny and Derry to Galway routes.[citation needed] As of 2018, Bus Éireann provided 11 daily buses passing through the village in both directions, either to Derry or to Letterkenny. The bus stop in the village is located adjacent to the Roman Catholic parish graveyard on the Main Street.[6] The village was also previously served by Lough Swilly Buses, but this provider ceased trading in April 2014.[7]
Newtown Cunningham is not directly served by rail, and Newtowncunningham railway station (which opened in June 1883) was closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940 and closed altogether on 10 August 1953.[8]
Culture
The population is largely Roman Catholic, with significant Presbyterian and Church of Ireland presences, and churches for each.
Scoil Cholmcille, a Catholic
The Columban Hall on the main street hosts several events throughout the year, such as festivals, concerts, and car boot sales.
The local
The Newtown Cunningham's Presbyterian Church was formed in 1830. The church building was built in one year by voluntary labour. Newtown Cunningham Presbyterian Church was united with Crossroads from 1957 until 1974 and is now united with Ray.[citation needed]
People
- Sir George Bowen (1821-1899), author and colonial administrator, born just outside Newtowncunningham.
References
- ^ a b "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Newtowncunningham". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Grianan of Aileach". megalithicireland.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ISBN 9780853897422.
- ^ "Newtowncunningham (Ireland) Census Town". City Population. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Letterkenny − Derry (Summary Timetable)" (PDF). buseireann.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "Lough Swilly: Union says bus company to stop trading". BBC News. 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Newtown Cunningham station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ^ "Rebuilding of Orange Hall in Newtowncunningham officially underway". highlandradio.com. 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Orange hall fire in Newtowncunningham was arson say police". BBC. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "'Mindless idiots' behind Newtown Orange Hall arson". londonderrysentinel.co.uk. 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Irish soldier killed on UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon". the Guardian. 15 December 2022.
External links
- Newtowncunningham & Killea Parish website (archived 2011)
- Cunningham history