View source for Banagher, County Londonderry

{{for|the place in [[County Offaly]]|Banagher}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Old Church of Banagher, County of Londonderry.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Ruins of the Old Church of Banagher, County Londonderry, in 1833]]
'''Banagher''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|'|b|ae|n|@|h|@r}} {{respell|BAN|ə-hər}}, {{Irish derived place name|Beannchar|}}) is a [[parish]] in [[County Londonderry]], [[Northern Ireland]]. The parish is made up of the medieval parish of Banagher and parts of the ancient parish of Boveva and the townland of Tireighter and [[Park, County Londonderry|Park]], once in the parish of Cumber.<ref name=banagherparish>[http://www.banagherparish.com/theparish.htm The Parish] at banagherparish.com (accessed 3 March 2008)</ref> Banagher has many ancient monuments, including churches, holy wells, standing stones and chambered graves.<ref name=banagherparish/>

==Geography==
Banagher lies in the western foothills of the [[Sperrins|Sperrin Mountains]], between the rivers Roe and [[River Faughan|Faughan]]. The landscape is mostly rugged, with [[glen]]s and narrow valleys rising into the highlands. Banagher Glen is a good example of the area's terrain and forms an important conservation area, preserving one of the few surviving examples of old-growth [[deciduous]] [[woodland]] in [[Ireland]]. The Glen has a trail which climbs through the woods to Altnaheglish Dam and Reservoir, which supplies water to [[Derry]]. The path up to the dam from the valley floor climbs through deciduous woodland and higher [[Pinophyta|coniferous]] woodland to [[moorland|moor]] and [[Heath (habitat)|heathland]].      Rare red squirrels can be spotted foraging for acorns.
<ref name="The Week Junior Magazine">{{cite journal | last1 = TheWeek | first1 = Junior | year = 2021 | title = Place of the week - Banagher Glen, Londonderry. | url = https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/banagher-glen-p695561 | journal = The Week Junior | volume = 1 | issue = 274 | pages = 23–24  }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Banagher Caugh Hill (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 6.3
 | Feb high C = 6.8
 | Mar high C = 8.6
 | Apr high C = 11.1
 | May high C = 14.0
 | Jun high C = 16.4
 | Jul high C = 17.8
 | Aug high C = 17.5
 | Sep high C = 15.4
 | Oct high C = 11.9
 | Nov high C = 8.6
 | Dec high C = 6.7
 | year high C = 11.8
 | Jan low C = 1.7
 | Feb low C = 1.6
 | Mar low C = 2.5
 | Apr low C = 4.0
 | May low C = 6.2
 | Jun low C = 8.9
 | Jul low C = 10.7
 | Aug low C = 10.6
 | Sep low C = 9.0
 | Oct low C = 6.3
 | Nov low C = 3.8
 | Dec low C = 2.0
 | year low C = 5.6
 | rain colour = green
 | Jan rain mm = 146.9
 | Feb rain mm = 118.4
 | Mar rain mm = 105.9
 | Apr rain mm = 90.5
 | May rain mm = 85.6
 | Jun rain mm = 86.6
 | Jul rain mm = 91.3
 | Aug rain mm = 106.8
 | Sep rain mm = 98.5
 | Oct rain mm = 130.7
 | Nov rain mm = 151.0
 | Dec rain mm = 154.2
 | year rain mm = 1366.7
 | unit rain days = 1 mm
 | Jan rain days = 19.5
 | Feb rain days = 17.1
 | Mar rain days = 16.8
 | Apr rain days = 14.6
 | May rain days = 14.6
 | Jun rain days = 13.8
 | Jul rain days = 15.5
 | Aug rain days = 16.7
 | Sep rain days = 15.8
 | Oct rain days = 17.2
 | Nov rain days = 20.4
 | Dec rain days = 19.5
 | year rain days = 201.6
 | Jan sun = 25.8
 | Feb sun = 54.0
 | Mar sun = 92.6
 | Apr sun = 140.3
 | May sun = 165.1
 | Jun sun = 129.3
 | Jul sun = 114.1
 | Aug sun = 124.3
 | Sep sun = 109.3
 | Oct sun = 75.9
 | Nov sun = 35.8
 | Dec sun = 29.3
 | year sun = 1096.1
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcg01rx82
|title = Banagher Caugh Hill (County Londonderry) UK climate averages - Met Office
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = July 4, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==History==
It is clear from the ''[[Annals of Ulster]]'' that there was a [[Banagher Old Church|church at Banagher]] in 1121. In that year it is recorded that ''Giolla Easpaig Eoghain O hAindiaraidh'' ({{langx|en|Gillespie Owen O'Henry}}), king of [[Keenaght (barony)|Keenaght]], was killed by kinsmen in the Banagher cemetery. His name means 'servant of Bishop Eoghan', apparently a reference to St Eugene, Bishop of [[Ardstraw]].<ref>[http://www.banagherparish.com/medievalpeople.htm Medieval People and Events] online at banagherparish.com (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref>

On a sandy ridge by the River Owenreagh are the ruins of the old church and of a small square building sometimes called 'the abbey', with sharply pointed gables which once supported a stone roof. The church had a nave and chancel, but little remains of it. In the nearby cemetery is an ancient cross and a monument to St Muriedhach O'Heney, who is said to have founded the church and to have been [[abbot]] of the building next to it, and on one side of this is an effigy of him.<ref name=lewis>from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837: [http://www.from-ireland.net/lewis/derry/banagher.htm County Londonderry, Ireland : Civil Parishes : Banagher] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204141815/http://www.from-ireland.net/lewis/derry/banagher.htm |date=2008-02-04 }}, online at from-ireland.net (accessed 3 March 2008)</ref> However, St Muriedhach O'Heney appears in no [[calendar of saints]]. According to local legend, St Muriedhach was led to the site of his church by a stag which carried his book on its antlers, acting as a movable lectern.<ref name=colton>Colton, John, ''Acts of Archbishop Colton in His Metropolitan Visitation in the Diocese of Derry, AD MCCCXCVII, with a Rental of the See Estates at that Time'' (Dublin, Irish Archaeological Society, 1850), [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fl0NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA107 pages 107-108] online at books.google.co.uk (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref>

[[File:The Earl-Bishop.png|thumb|left|200px|The [[Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol|Earl-Bishop]], who paid for a Banagher church spire]]
Beside the remains of the ancient church is the hole from which sand called 'Banagher sand' is drawn, long believed to give good luck to [[race horse]]s when thrown over them.<ref name=colton/><ref>[http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/BanagherDPJ1-48/index.php The Old Church of Banagher, County of Londonderry] online at libraryireland.com (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref>

There were also ruins of ancient churches at Straid and Templemoile, and the parish had a vitrified fort, on which by tradition fires were lit at [[Midsummer]]. Near the parish church is a large man-made cave.<ref name=lewis/>

At the time of the [[Plantation of Ulster]] in the seventeenth century, some [[township]]s of Banagher, including [[Ballyhanedin]], were granted by the [[The Crown|Crown]] to the [[Worshipful Company of Fishmongers]] of the [[City of London]], and others to the [[Worshipful Company of Skinners]]. Banagher became a distinct Presbyterian congregation about 1753, and its first minister was John Law who was ordained in 1756.<ref>[http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?id=809 Banagher Presbyterian] online at historyfromheadstones.com (accessed 3 March 2008)</ref>

The 18th century [[Church of Ireland]] church at Banagher, with a tower and octagonal spire, is on a rise in the ground and was built in 1782. The spire was paid for by [[Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol]], then [[Bishop of Derry]], who was responsible for the construction of the famous [[Mussenden Temple]]. A Presbyterian meeting house at [[Ballyhanedin]], in the Classical Greek style, was built by the Fishmongers' Company.<ref name=lewis/>

As early as 1837 there were parish schools for boys and girls at Ballagh, at Tyrglassen (supported by the Fishmongers Company) and at Fincarn.<ref name=lewis/>

[[Church of Ireland]] records exist for the parish of Banagher from 1821 for baptisms, 1827 for marriages, and 1837 for burials.<ref>Ryan, James G., ''Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History'' (Ancestry Publishing Ireland, 1997) p. 170</ref>

[[Griffith's valuation]] of Ireland, completed in 1864, shows tenements in [[Aughlish]], [[Ballyhanedin]], Carnanbane, Coolnamonan, Derrychrier, Drumcovit, [[Feeny]], Fincarn, Finglen, Gallany, Killunaght, Knockan, Magheramore, Rallagh, Tamnyagan, Teeavan, Templemoyle, Tirglassan, and Umrycam.<ref>[http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/derry/banagher.htm Griffith's valuation] of Ireland for Banagher (accessed 13 Feb 2013)</ref>

Ten other townlands or streets of Banagher are listed at Ireland.com: Ballydonegan, Dreen, Eden, Glenedra, Kilcreen, Loughtilube, Moneyhoghan, Straid, Tamnagh and Terrydreen.<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/townlands/index.cfm?fuseaction=TownlandsInCivil&civilparishid=712&civilparish=Banagher&citycounty=Derry Streets and Townlands of Banagher, Derry] at Irish Ancestors, online at ireland.com (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref>

==Industry==
The main industries are drylining, [[agriculture]] and sand quarrying, and local pastimes include fishing and hill walking.<ref name=banagherparish/>

In the 19th century, there was a large bleach-green at Knockan, where eight thousand pieces of linen were bleached and finished every year for the English markets. Some linen cloth was also woven by local farmers in their own houses.<ref name=lewis/>

==Places of worship==
There are [[Roman Catholic]], [[Church of Ireland]] and [[Presbyterian]] churches in the parish. The Presbyterian Church at Banagher supports the work of the Church at home and overseas and also has a [[Boys' Brigade]].<ref>[http://www.banagher.org/what-do-we-do-in-banagher/ Banagher Presbyterian Church]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} online at banagher.org (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref> There are Catholic churches at Fincairn, Altinure, and Ballymonie, where [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] is celebrated every morning on week days and in the evenings on Sundays.<ref>[http://www.banagherparish.com/peopleandparish.htm People and Parish] online at banagherparish.com (accessed 4 March 2008)</ref>

== Sport ==
The [[Banagher GAC]] (in full, the St Mary's Banagher GAC, and in [[Irish language|Irish]] CLG Naomh Mhuire Beannchar) is a [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club. Notable members include [[Seán Marty Lockhart]], an [[GAA All Stars Awards|All Star]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]] footballer.

==Census 2001==

Banagher is classified by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] as being within Derry Urban Area (DUA). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 2932 people living in Banagher. Of these:

*27.3% were aged under 16 years and 15.9% were aged 60 and over
*51.7% of the population were male and 48.3% were female
*3.5% were from a [[Protestant]] background and 94.8% were from a [[Catholic]] background
*4.4% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

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

==Index of Deprivation==
{{update|section|date=June 2021}}According to the Northern Ireland [[Multiple deprivation index|Multiple Deprivation Measure]] (NIMDM) of 2005, of 582 wards in Northern Ireland, Banagher was ranked as the 205th most deprived. For more details see: [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information Service].

==See also==
*[[List of villages in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of civil parishes of County Londonderry]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.banagherparish.com/ Banagher Parish] at banagherparish.com
*[http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/townlands/index.cfm?fuseaction=TownlandsInCivil&civilparishid=712&civilparish=Banagher&citycounty=Derry Banagher, Derry] at Ireland.com

{{County Londonderry}}

[[Category:Townlands of County Londonderry]]
[[Category:Civil parishes of County Londonderry]]