Feeny

:"For the fictional Boy Meets World character, see George Feeny.

Feeny (Irish: Na Fineadha; i.e. woody places) is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, between Dungiven and Claudy, 7km south-west of Dungiven. It is designated as a Small Village and in the 2001 Census it had a population of 542 people. It lies just inside the boundary of the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and in the Limavady Borough Council area.cite web | title=Feeny Settlement Designation | work=Planning Service - Draft Northern Area Plan 2016 | url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/AreaPlans_Policy/Plans/Northern/draft_plan/Volume2/Part6/Villages/Feeny.htm | accessdate=2008-06-22]

Features

It has a growing residential function and a range of social, educational and recreational facilities which include a health centre, community centre and Gaelic Athletic Association club. However, it only has a limited range of retail services including a shop, post office and hot food takeaway. There are three pubs in the village. It has a winding Main Street as its focus.

A community regeneration project is proposed for the village funded by the International Fund for Ireland. The project, to be undertaken by Feeny Community Association, involves redevelopment of a prominent derelict site in the centre of the village, to provide commercial premises, three apartments and a community office. This will be complemented by an environmental improvement scheme in Main Street, which would create a stronger commercial centre, additional employment opportunities, and improve the appearance of the village.

History

To the left of the village is the General’s Bridge, the site of the famous ambush by highwayman Shane Crossagh. This is where Sean Crossan held up some British Red Coats by placing wooden cut-out muskets into some bushes - near what is now known as the Generals Bridge.Fact|date=June 2008

Politics

The village lies within the East Londonderry constituency and is represented by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member, Gregory Campbell.

Places of interest

*On the outskirts of the village, towards Dungiven, lies four-storey Drumcovitt House which was built over 300 years ago by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and is a visible reminder of the Plantation of Ulster period.cite web | title=Feeny | work=Culture Northern Ireland | url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=442 | accessdate=2008-06-22] In 1796 a round ended Georgian front was added to the house. It is now tourist accommodation. [cite web | title=Drumcovitt House | work=Drumcovitt House website | url=http://www.drumcovitt.com/ | accessdate=2008-06-22]
*Banagher Glen National Nature Reserve is located close to the village.

Transport

Feeny has good road links to Limavady, 20km to the north, and Derry, 23km to the north west, but has limited public transport connections.

Education

*St Canice's Primary School. The local primary school is situated a short distance outside the village to the south east.

Sport

Gaelic games are the most popular sports in the area, with St. Mary's GAC Banagher ("CLG Naomh Mhuire Beannchar") being the local club. Fr. McNally Park is the team's grounds.

2001 Census

Feeny is classified as a small village or hamlet by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency] (NISRA) (i.e., with population between 500 and 1,000). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 542 people living in Feeny. Of these:
*29.3% were aged under 16 years and 6.6% were aged 60 and over
*47.6% of the population were male and 52.4% were female
*95.8% were from a Catholic background and 3.7% were from a Protestant background
*7.8% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service]

See also

*Banagher, County Londonderry
*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland

References