Augher

Infobox Irish Place|thumb|left|name = Augher
irish = Eacharadh-Lobrain
scots =
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pin coords =
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province = Ulster
county = County Tyrone
NI district = Dungannon
UK constituency = Fermanagh and South Tyrone
stdcode = 028, +44 28
posttown = Augher
postcode = BT77
population = 399
census yr = 2001
web = www.dungannon.gov.uk

Augher (derive|Irish|Eacharadh-Lobrainis|horse) is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, about 28 km (18 miles) southwest of Dungannon on the A4 Dungannon to Enniskillen road,cite web | title=Augher | work=Planning Service - Dungannon & South Tyrone Area Plan 2010 | url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/AreaPlans_Policy/Plans/Dungannon/adopted_plan/03settlements/villages/03augher.htm | accessdate=2008-07-13] halfway between Ballygawley and Clogher.cite web | title=Augher | work=Culture Northern Ireland | url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=575 | accessdate=2008-07-13] In the 2001 Census it had a population of 399 people. It lies within the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council area.

Features

The historic core of the village developed in linear form along Main Street and is intersected by the A4 road. Augher is a busy community in the Clogher Valley. In the village is the interesting parish church and the quaint old station house for the Clogher Valley Railwaycite web | title=Augher | work=A Flavour of Tyrone | url=http://www.flavouroftyrone.com/html/town_augher.html | accessdate=2008-07-13] , which has since been converted to a coffee house. Once a year the famous Clogher Valley Show is held which displays the high quality farm produce of this very rural area. 'Clogher Valley Cheese', which is locally made is one of the region's food specialities.

Places of interest

*To the west of Augher is Spur Royal Castle, a typical plantation castle. It was built in 1615 by Lord Ridgeway on the site of an older fortress and was burnt in 1689 by the Jacobites as the Siege of Derry was underway. It was restored and extended in 1832 and a large and handsome mansion built adjoining it by Sir J. M. Richardson Bunbury, Bart. The ancient building consisted of a pentagonal tower surrounded by a wall 12 feet heigh and flanked by four circular towers; the wall has been removed, but one of the round towers has been restored; and the entrance gateway has also been removed and rebuilt on an elevated situation commanding some fine views, in which the remains of the old castle form an interesting object: the mansion is situated in a well-wooded demesne of 220 acres, and upon the margin of a beautiful lake. [cite web | title=Augher Castle, County Tyrone | work=Geograph | url=http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/150221 | accessdate=2008-07-13]
*The River Blackwater, on which the village is built, and the lakes of Dunroe and Fymore amid the hills to the south of Augher make this a good fishing area.
*Just outside Augher on the Hill of Knockmany stands the famous cairn of Queen Anya, reputed to be over 2000 years old. There are a number of forests in the vicinity; namely Knockmany and Favour Royal; the latter is remarkable for its huge stones with inscribed designs of the Bronze Age Tomb of Knockmany. It is arguably the finest example of Megalithic Art in Ulster.
*St Patrick's Chair and Well, another ancient site, set in Altadavin (the foot of the wood), is reputed to have mystical powers.

Transport

Augher Railway Station was opened on 2 May 1887cite web | title=Augher station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-08] by the Clogher Valley Railway. It is a red brick single storey building built by James Harvey of Enniskillen. The railway closed on 1 January 1942 and the station now forms part of Rosamunde’s Coffee Shoppe.

People

*Eugene McKenna – former Tyrone Gaelic Football Captain in the 1980s and joint manager from 1999 to 2002 was from Augher. He collected three Ulster Senior Championship medals as a player, and represented his province in the Irish Interprovincial Railway Cup Tournament on several occasions.

Education

*Augher Central Primary School
*St. Brigid's Primary School
*St. Patrick's Primary School

port

*Augher St. Macartan's Gaelic Athletic Association Club
*Augher Stars Football Club

See also

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

References

External links

* [http://www.trainweb.org/i3/lewis_tyr.htm#lewis_augher Augher - Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, 1842]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/castles/irecastl-Tyrone.htm Spur Royal/Augher Castle - The Castles of Ireland]