Aughnacloy, County Tyrone

Infobox UK place
official_name= Aughnacloy
irish_name= Achadh na Cloiche
scots_name=
local_name=
static_

static_image_caption=
map_type= Northern Ireland
latitude= 54.41351101689553
longitude= -6.974773406982422
belfast_distance= 52 miles
population= 801 (2001)
irish_grid_reference= H665521
unitary_northern_ireland= Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough
country= Northern Ireland
post_town= AUGHNACLOY
postcode_area= BT
postcode_district= BT69
dial_code= 028, +44 28
constituency_westminster= Fermanagh & South Tyrone
lieutenancy_northern_ireland= County Tyrone
website=

Aughnacloy (derive|Irish|Achadh na Cloiche|Field of the stone) is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated approximately 18 kilometres (11 miles) southwest of Dungannon and 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) southeast of Ballygawley. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 801 people. Most of the village's growth has focused around Moore Street in a linear form.

History

The Troubles

In 1988, Aidan McAnespie was killed in contested circumstances by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a British Army soldier at Aughnacloy. In June 2008, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team published its findings on the case in a report. In the fatal shooting the soldier claimed that his hands were wet, causing him to accidentally fire the machine-gun when he was moving inside a sanger. The report called this the "least likely version" of what happened. [cite web | title= Checkpoint death report welcomed | work=BBC News NI (24 June 2008 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7471825.stm | accessdate=2008-06-24]

Buildings of note

* Aughnacloy Market House

Transport

Aughnacloy had its own railway station on the Clogher Valley Railway, which opened on 2 May 1887, but closed on 1 January 1942. [cite web | title=Aughnacloy station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-09] The CVR's headquarters and locomotive workshop was also at Aughnacloy.

Education

* Aughnacloy Primary School
* Aughnacloy High School
* St. Mary's Primary School, Aughnacloy

Demographics

Aughnacloy is classified as a Small Village or Hamlet by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 801 people living in Aughnacloy. Of these:
*23.3% were aged under 16 years and 26.6% were aged 60 and over
*48.6% of the population were male and 51.4% were female;
*45.4% were from a Catholic background and 52.1% were from a Protestant background
*3.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed

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

port

*Aghaloo O'Neills Gaelic Athletic Association club. In February 2008, the club hosted a weekend of Gaelic football and cultural events to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Aidan McAnespie (24) who was shot by a British soldier as he walked to attend a game at the club grounds on February 21, 1988. [cite web | title= Family of Aidan McAnespie continue their quest for truth | work=Ulster Herald (21 February 2008) | url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/299844007726054.php | accessdate=2008-06-24]

See also

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

References

*Dungannon & South Tyrone Area Plan 2010