Castlecaulfield

Castlecaulfield ("Baile Uí Dhonnghaile" in Irish) is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, about three kilometres west of Dungannon. It is within the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council area. The area, sometimes known as "Cawfield" in the local vernacular, is a farming community.

History

Formerly known as Ballydonnelly, the town came in to being during the Plantation of Ulster by the Scots. Initially part of the O'Neill clans territory it was overtaken by Scottish settlers led by David Wells. The Castle which the name refers to is situated in the main square and was built to protect the local population from Irish attacks. It was built by Toby Caulfeild, Viscount Charlemont. George Walker is buried in the parish church. Walker was the governor on Derry during the 1689 Siege of Derry.

Places of interest

The ruins of Castle Caulfield, built by Sir Toby Caulfeild between 1611 and 1619 are in the village. The gatehouse has murder-holes and the Caulfeild arms.

Oliver Plunkett and John Wesley both preached in the old castle at various times. Fact|date=April 2008

There is a plaque to poet Charles Wolfe (1791-1823),author of 'The Burial of Sir John Moore' at St Michael's, the local Church of Ireland.

People

* Schools rugby coach David Wells (Methodist College) came from Castlecaulfield.

* Lady Sylvia Hermon, Unionist politician and the wife of Sir John Hermon, hails from Castlecaulfield.

References

*Dungannon & South Tyrone Area Plan 2010

See also

*Castle Caulfield
*List of towns in Northern Ireland
*List of villages in Northern Ireland

External links

* [http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/built/buildings/listing_Oct4.shtml Environment and Heritage Service - St Michael's Church]
* [http://www.castlecaulfield.net Castlecaulfield Community Website]