Dromara

Coordinates: 54°22′47″N 6°01′05″W / 54.379858°N 6.017976°W / 54.379858; -6.017976

Dromara
Irish: Droim mBearach
St John's Church, Dromara
Dromara shown within Northern Ireland
Population	597 (2001 Census)
Irish grid reference	J287497
- Belfast	20 mi (32 km)
District	Lisburn
County	County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DROMORE
Postcode district	BT25
Dialling code	028, +44 28
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Lagan Valley
NI Assembly	Lagan Valley
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Down

Dromara (from Irish: Droim mBearach, meaning "ridge of heifers")^[1] is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the southwest of Ballynahinch on the northern slopes of Slieve Croob, with the River Lagan flowing through it. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 597 people.

History

There have been references to a church at Dromara since about 1306. Earlier anglicised names for the church and townland include Drummeragh, Drumaragh and Drumara—these are likely derived from Druim mBearach (modern Irish Droim mBearach) meaning "ridge of heifers".^[1] Saint John’s Church now occupies the site of the original church. Dromara eventually became a small mill village and although many of its buildings date from the early 19th century, the street pattern suggests that the settlement has a much earlier history. It used to have its own court and market house and a market place at the road junction in the middle of the village.

Facilities

Facilities in the village include Dromara Primary School, two churches (St John’s Church of Ireland and Dromara Second Presbyterian Church), and their halls, shops, post office, Police Station, Doctor’s Surgery, telephone exchange, and a children’s playground. The village also has a small industrial base with a factory making protective clothing on the Moybrick Road (which has now been demolished to make room for more housing). Each summer the Dromara Vintage Club hold a vintage rally in the village.

Police station closed 2010 and sold for housing. May 2011 old police station is being demolished.

Places of interest

• Legannany Dolmen, a prehistoric three legged 'giants grave' is just outside the village.
• Binder's Cove - a rediscovered souterrain near Finnis, Dromara. Finnis Souterrain (a scheduled ancient monument) is known locally as 'Binders Cove'. Although the first recorded discovery of Binder's Cove was in the 18th Century, it actually dates back to the 9th century. Souterrains were "underground stone lined tunnels". Because there was much clann feuding and raiding from foreign invaders such as the Vikings in the Early Christian period, souterrains are thought to have been places of refuge for the occupants of the monastery or its attached enclosure. They may also have been 'safes' where valuable gold and silver religious artefacts were kept. As they were dark, cold and dry, food might also have been stored in them.
• Massford Tree - A dead tree was located in the middle of Finnis (massford)in which a bottle was hidden containing the exorcised spirit of an evil poltergiest - allegedly. The tree has now gone - with no repercussions.

People

• Harry Ferguson, world famous inventor of the modern gearbox and the 'Ferguson' Tractor, was born near Dromara.

• Jack Gilmore, former World Bowls Champion, was born in Levallyregh, Dromara, before his family emigrated to Canada in the late 1950s.

Demographics

Dromara is classified as a Small Village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 597 people living in Dromara. Of these:

• 26.8% were aged under 16 years and 17.4% were aged 60 and over
• 49.6% of the population were male and 50.4% were female
• 21.9% were from a Catholic background and 76.3% were from a Protestant background
• 1.7% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

See also

• Market Houses in Northern Ireland

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Placenames NI

External links

• Visit Lisburn
• [1]
• Culture Northern Ireland
• Dromara Cycling Club
• Dromara Gaelic Football Club
• Dromara Primary School
• Dromara Village Football Club