Ballymaguigan

Infobox Irish Place
name = Ballymaguigan
gaeilge = Baile Mhig Úiginn or Baile Mhic Úiginn
crest

motto =
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pin coords = left: 112px; top: 62px
north coord = 54.752 | west coord = 6.593
area = | elevation =
province = Ulster
county = County Londonderry
NI district = Magherafelt
population = <650|

Ballymaguigan ( _ga. Baile Mhig Uiginn) is a small hamlet (place) situated in southern County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is a rural region of about 350 houses and lies on the western shores of Lough Neagh, with relative close proximity to Magherafelt. The hamlet forms one part of a parish named Ardtrea North. Ballymaguigan is in located in the local council named, Magherafelt District Council. The name Ballymaguigan originated as a result of the area being highly populated in the 17th century with Maguigans, who refused to bow the knee to the Landlords and were ultimately banished to the mountains. Hence the name, Baile Mhig Úiginn, meaning Townland of the Maguigans. Interestingly, the Sperrins continue to be saturated with Maguigans while Ballymaguigan remains void of anyone by the name to the present day.

Places of interest

Lough Neagh is situated in lower end of Ballymaguiagn. It is regarded by fishermen of Ballymaguigan and surrounding areas as one of the best places to obtain eels in Ulster, and is also good for obtaining salmon. Due to Ballymaguigan's location on the shores of Lough Neagh, in days gone by fishing was the primary source of income for many families in Ballymaguigan.

St. Trea'a GAA Grounds is the central meeting point in Ballymaguigan. It lies beside colehill crossroads and the hall is used for Whist Drives (on Thursday Night)and many other events. The facilities also has a Woman's Group and Changing Rooms. There is also a large car park within the facility.

University of Ulster used to have a base in Ballymaguigan down the Point Road. The university tested and treated the waters of Lough Neagh, to treat and look after the wildlife in the lough.

Sport

Gaelic games are far and away the most popular sports in the area, with St.Trea's G.F.C being the local club. Ballymaguiagn fields Gaelic football teams at U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve, Thirds and Senior levels. There are also Minor and Senior ladies Gaelic football teams .

Prior to 1944 one team catered for the combined interests of Ballymaguigan and Newbridge. The war came, Toome Airfield was built, practically dividing the parish in two thus making it very difficult for the Ballymaguigan based players to travel to the pitch in the creagh for training. Paddy Batson suggested that a ball be purchased so that the local players could practise in Ballymaguigan. From this initial step the beginnings of an independent club became apparent.

Education

Most children in Ballymaguiagn attend Saint Trea's Primary School. Students from Ballymaguigan then attend secondary schools in the neighbouring town of Magherafelt.

chools

* Saint Trea's is a Catholic co-educational school within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area. The school opened approximately 108 years ago and educates children aged 4 to 11.
* Saint Pius X College formally Saint Pius X High School, Magerafelt.
* Saint Mary's Grammar School.
* Rainey Endowed Grammar School.
* Sperrin Intergraded College.

The Troubles

On the 18 December 1971 - James Sheridan (20), John Bateson (19) and Martin Lee (18), all from Ballymaguigan died in a premature bomb explosion while traveling in a car at King Street, Magherafelt. The three men all were Catholics and members of the South Derry Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). The men all came from Ballymaguigan and played for St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan. In 1971 the trophy for the Derry Intermediate Football Championship was named after them.cite book | first=Eoghan | last=Corry | title=Oakboys - Derry's Football Dream Come True | publisher=Torc Books Ltd. | location=Dublin, Ireland | year=1993 | pages =5 | id=ISBN 1-898142-10-6] .

Roads Within Ballymaguigan

*Shore Road is the main road within Ballymaguigan and is named the Shore Road because it runs along the shore of the lough. The road is about 12 miles long. The road partially runs through the village of Newbridge, Ballymaguigan, Ballyronan and Ballinderry, before it becomes the Ballinderry Bridge Road.

A number of other roads run off the right of the Shore Road and eventually these roads end at the lough. These roads are named the (Lower) Waterfoot Road, Moss Road, Lough Road and the Point Road.

*The Barrack Road (Section One) - Running from O'Neill's Park to the Gracefield Road

*The Barrack Road (Section Two) - Running from the middle of the Barrack Road to the beginning of the Ballmaguiagn Road. This road was formally known as "Charley's Hill" locally.

*The Ballymaguigan Road - This road almost runs parallel of the Barrack road. The road begins just off the left hand side of the Shore Road and forms a cross-roads with the Lough road. The Ballymaguigan road finishes at the Gracefield road.

*The Waterfoot Road - This road is actually two roads, The road begins just off the left hand side of the Shore Road and forms a cross-roads with the (Lower) Waterfoot Road. The Waterfoot road finishes at the Gracefield road.

*O'Neill's Park] - This is a housing development and is located on what is commonly known locally as "The Island Hill". The entrance of this development is just off the Barrack road. The development consists of twenty six houses.

Famous People

*Eamonn Coleman - former Derry manager and footballer.
*Gary Coleman - All Star winning Derry footballer. Son of Eamonn Coleman.
*Jim McKeever - 1958 Footballer of the Year.
*Paddy Crozier - Current Derry manager.
*Seán Young - Ballymaguigan native who managed Roscommon for a few years. [cite news |first=Dermot |last=Crowe |title= Coleman's enduring legacy|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/colemans-enduring-legacy-1393731.html |work=Irish Independent |publisher= |date=2008-06-01 |accessdate=2008-06-02 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.ballymaguigan.org/ Ballymaguigan Community Group Website]
* [http://www.ballymaguiganroots.com/isapi.dll?c=h&htx=page/ Ballymaguigan Geology Website]
* [http://www.ballymaguigan.com/ Ballymaguigan GAA Club Website]