Ballyronan

Infobox UK place
official_name= Ballyronan
irish_name= Baile Rónáin
scots_name=
local_name=
static_

static_image_caption=The village centre
map_type= Northern Ireland
latitude=54.7077
longitude= -6.5323
belfast_distance=38 miles
unitary_northern_ireland= Cookstown
population= 250 - 600 (2001 Census)
irish_grid_reference=H9485
country= Northern Ireland
post_town= MAGHERAFELT
postcode_area= BT
postcode_district= BT45
dial_code= 028
constituency_westminster= Mid Ulster
constituency_ni_assembly= Mid Ulster
lieutenancy_northern_ireland=County Londonderry
website=

Ballyronan (derive|Irish|Baile Rónáin|"Place of Rónán") is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the shores of Lough Neagh. The village is convert|5|mi|0 from Magherafelt and convert|12|mi|0 from Cookstown, and is situated within the Cookstown District close to its border with Magherafelt District.

History

The village was founded by Daniel Gaussen in 1788.Fact|date=August 2008 He built a forge on the shore of Lough Neagh for manufacturing spades and soon afterwards erected stores. This led to the building of quays and the formation of a port, which greatly benefited the surrounding countryside.Fact|date=August 2008 A large distillery was erected in 1824, and a brewery in 1830, by Messrs. Gaussen and Sons. Vessels of about 50 tons burden plyed regularly between the village and Belfast, exporting wheat, fruit, spirits, ale, and freestone, and bringing back barley, timber, slate, iron, wine and groceries.

The village was well situated for trade as besides being on Lough Neagh, several roads diverge from it. The village was situated on the estate of the Salters Company of London.

Near it are the ruins of Salterstown castle and a cromlech.

Governance

Ballyronan constitutes part of the Ballinderry ward (named after the Ballinderry River) of Cookstown District Council. This ward elects six councillors to the 16-person council. At the 2005 election, there were two Social Democratic and Labour Party and two Sinn Féin members chosen to represent this ward, as well as one Ulster Unionist and one Democratic Unionist. Notably, this ward did not see an election, as the number of candidates standing for office was the same as the number of seats available. cite web| url =http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgcookstown.htm
publisher =Access Research Knowledge Northern Ireland| title = Cookstown District Council Elections 1993-2005 | date= | accessdate = 2008-03-01] Ballyronan is within the Mid Ulster Northern Ireland Assembly constituency and UK Parliament constituency.

Geography

The village is a cluster settlement, built around the junction of four roads which pass through the village. These roads go to Coagh, The Loup, Magherafelt and Toome. Due to being situated in the far east of County derry, Ballyronan is convert|42|mi|0 from the county town, Derry.

Road to Cookstown

There are two different routes to Cookstown, each of equal distnace and duration. Most people in the village travel via The Loup and Moneymore. The main advantage of this route is that it incorporates the Dual Carriageway between Moneymore and Cookstown, however the B18 from The Loup to Moneymore has dangerous hairpins. A more sensible route is through Ballinderry and Coagh.

Demography

Amenities

The village centre contains a shop and pubs. There is a marina on the shores of Lough Neagh. At the marina, a community centre was built, housing businesses and community groups. The facilities also include slipways, a safe harbour with 72 berths, a boat park, a play park, and picnic areas. There is also a woodland nature trail, 'Ballyronan Wood', which is composed of pathways, view points and information signage.

port

Gaelic Football is the most popular sport in the area, with Ballinderry (Shamrocks) being the local Gaelic Athletic Association club. Other neighbouring clubs are Ballymaguigan and Ardboe and the loup. Since 2001 the village has hosted the Lough Neagh Triathlon each summer. The event has also doubled as the Irish Triathlon Championships.cite web |url=http://www.loughneaghtri.com/frame_1024.html |title=Lough Neagh Triathlon information |accessdate=2008-07-31 |work=Lough Neagh Triathlon website |publisher= |date= |accessdate= 2008-07-31 ]

Events

Ballyronan hosts an annual Orange Order parade every first Tuesday in July. This is attended by local bands from the surrounding district. Ballyronan has a large Roman Catholic majority, though due to extremely good relations between both communities, parades from both communities pass off with the minimum of fuss. Several vintage car rallies are held just outside the village each year. Since 2001 the village has hosted the Lough Neagh Triathlon each summer. The event has also doubled as the Irish Triathlon Championships.

Up The Shamrocks!

References

External links

* [http://www.ballyronanboatclub.co.uk/ Ballyronan Boat Club website]