View source for Clogher

{{Short description |Village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland}} 
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Clogher
| irish_name = Clochar
| static_image_name = ClogherCathedral.JPG
| static_image_caption = [[St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher|Cathedral Church of Saint Macartan]]
| map_type = Northern Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|54.416667|-7.2|display=inline,title}}
| belfast_distance = 59 miles
| population = 675
| population_ref = <small>([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]])</small>
| irish_grid_reference = H538517
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Mid Ulster District Council|Mid Ulster]]
| country = Northern Ireland
| historic_county = 
|post_town = CLOGHER
| postcode_area = BT
| postcode_district = BT76
| dial_code = 028
| constituency_westminster = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]]
| constituency_ni_assembly = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Tyrone]]
| hide_services = yes
}}

'''Clogher''' ({{Irish derived place name|Clochar|stony place}};<ref>{{cite web| title=Clogher| work=Place Names NI| url=http://www.placenamesni.org/historicforms.php?getPnameId=8976| access-date=18 March 2013| archive-date=7 January 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107025045/http://www.placenamesni.org/historicforms.php?getPnameId=8976%20| url-status=dead}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|'|k|l|Q:|.|@r}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-irish-place-names-confuse-28486421|title=Northern Irish place names that confuse tourists and locals alike|first=Belfast|last=Live|date=15 August 2024|website=Belfast Live}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|'|k|l|Q|.|h|@r}}<ref>Sullivan, R. (2023:393). ''Geography Generalized.'' Outlook Verlag.</ref>) is a village and [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] in the border area of south [[County Tyrone]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It lies on the [[River Blackwater, Northern Ireland|River Blackwater]], 5.8 miles from the border crossing to County Monaghan. It stands on the [[townland]]s of [[Clogher Demesne]] and [[Clogher Tenements]].<ref name="CI">{{cite web| title=Census of Ireland 1891| work=Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland| url=http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/18814/eppi_pages/505453| access-date=22 March 2013| archive-date=13 October 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013064648/http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/18814/eppi_pages/505453| url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]] recorded a population of 675.<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Clogher@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Clogher@23? | title = Census 2021 Population Statistics for Clogher Settlement | publisher = [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) | access-date = 2 May 2021}}[[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref> The civil parish of Clogher covers areas of [[County Fermanagh]] as well as County Tyrone.<ref>{{cite web| title=Parishes of Northern Ireland| work=Public Record Office of NI| url=http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/| access-date=30 December 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013132314/http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/| archive-date=13 October 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Bishop of Clogher}}

Clogher is home to the provincial office in Northern Ireland for the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy<ref name="consis">{{cite web| url = http://sistersofmercy.ie| title = Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy}}</ref> (Roman Catholic order of nuns). From 1971-1991 The Mercy Order employed some of their nuns at St Macartan's Primary School following the leave of the order of saint louis as the school was actually founded by the Sisters of St Louis in the 1930s<ref>stmacartanspsclogher.com</ref> due to the high demand for primary Catholic education in the Clogher area. The Sisters of Mercy also had ownership of the St Macartan's nursing and dementia care home until recent years where they decided to hand the nursing home over to the NHS.<ref>http://www.geograph.ie/photo1033506 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> The sisters of Saint Louis left Clogher in the 1970s and the Mercy Order continued their work. However, In the late 1980s the Sisters of Mercy were phased out of the school and retired from the job of teaching at St Macartan's School due to falling numbers of nuns and as a newer curriculum had been introduced in Northern Ireland it meant they needed more qualifications. They have since severed most ties with the St Macartan's Convent School<ref name="smps">{{cite web| url = http://www.stmacartanspsclogher.com| title = St Macartan's Primary School, Clogher, County Tyrone}}</ref> but still live in the Convent of Mercy on the Ballagh Road, Clogher, next to the St Macartan's nursing home.

The name ''Clochar'' refers to something made of stone ('cloch' is the Irish word for 'stone' and can be anglicised as 'cloch', 'clogh' or 'clough');<ref>{{cite web|url=http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/asp/fullresult.asp?id=23666 |title=Information From O'Donovan's Field Name Books : Clogh |publisher=Places.galwaylibrary.ie |access-date=28 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109064045/http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/asp/fullresult.asp?id=23666 |archive-date=9 January 2016}}</ref> probably on the site of the [[Christian monasticism#Medieval period|medieval monastery]] or a nearby [[ringfort]].<ref name="upn">{{cite web|url=http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/stone_in_place_names.htm|title=16. Stone in Place Names|work=Ulster Place Names|publisher=Ulster Place-Name Society|access-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214214225/http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/stone_in_place_names.htm|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Archaeological remains from before the 5th century have been found in the vicinity.<ref name="upn"/> Clogher is said to have been the location of a gold-covered [[pagan]] [[oracle]] stone named [[Cermand Cestach]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.vionto.com/show/me/Cermand+Cestach |title=Cermand Cestach |publisher=En.vionto.com |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016025447/http://en.vionto.com/show/me/Cermand+Cestach |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="catholicireland1">[http://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-macartan-of-clogher-d-506-bishop/] {{dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref> The story goes that "Cloch-Ór (Golden Stone), may have been a ceremonial or oracle stone (see [[Cenn Cruaich]] and [[Omphalos]]) originally covered in gold [[sacred]] to the [[druids]]...given to [[Mac Cairthinn of Clogher|Mac Cairthinn]] by an old pagan noble (Cairpre, the father of St [[Tigernach of Clones]]), who had harassed him in every possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the faith."<ref name="catholicireland1"/> The stone is recorded as being "a curiosity in the porch of the Cathedral of Clogher" in the time of [[Early Irish literature#Irish historical literature|Annalist]] [[Cathal Maguire]] of [[Fermanagh]] in the late 15th century. Tighernach of Clones, later succeeded St. Mac Cairthinn as Bishop of Clogher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celticsaints.org/2011/0404b.html |title=Celtic and Old English Saints - 4 April |publisher=Celticsaints.org |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3W1IAAAAYAAJ&q=Tighernach+clogher&pg=PA405 |title=Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall - Royal Institution of Cornwall |page=405 |access-date=28 November 2015|last1=Cornwall |first1=Royal Institution of |year=1906 }}</ref>

Clogher has been a religious center since [[St. Patrick]]'s time and likely before.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/clogher.html |title=Clogher |publisher=Infoplease.com |access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref> St. Aedh [[Mac Cairthinn of Clogher]] (c. 430–505 AD) an early disciple and companion of Saint Patrick<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celticsaints.org/2007/0326a.html |title=Celtic and Old English Saints - 26 March |publisher=Celticsaints.org |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref> founded a monastery at the site, which later the [[Synod of Rathbreasail]] recognised as an episcopal see. The [[cathedral|Cathedral Church]] of Saint Macartan in the village is now one of two cathedrals of the [[Diocese of Clogher (Church of Ireland)|Church of Ireland diocese of Clogher]]; the other is at [[Enniskillen]]. The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher]] has its cathedral in [[Monaghan]]. The meetinghouse of [https://web.archive.org/web/20181108012544/http://clogherpci.btck.co.uk/ Clogher Presbyterian church] is outside the village in the townland of Carntall. The "[[Clogher (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|City of Clogher]]" was a [[rotten borough]] in the [[Parliament of Ireland]] in the gift of the Protestant bishop. The village also gives its name to the [[Barony of Clogher]], one of the original four [[barony (Ireland)|baronies]] of County Tyrone.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cartin|first=Edward|date=2011-08-13|title=Where did and do the Ui Mhic Carthainn live?|url=http://cartin.co.uk/main4/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813051944/http://cartin.co.uk/main4/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=28|archive-date=2011-08-13|access-date=2022-02-24|website=}}</ref>

==Transport==
Clogher railway station (on the narrow gauge [[Clogher Valley Railway]]) opened on 2 May 1887, but finally closed on 1 January 1942.<ref>{{cite web | title=Clogher station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=16 September 2007}}</ref>

Clogher also has [[Ulsterbus]] services to [[Omagh]] and on the 261/X261 between [[Belfast]] and [[Enniskillen]].

==Sport==
Clogher Cricket Club plays in the [[NCU Senior League]]. The local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club is [[An Clochar Éire Óg]].

==Education==
The local primary schools include Carntall Primary School (which has a Protestant ethos) and St. Macartan's Convent Primary School (established by the Sisters of Saint Louis and has a Roman Catholic ethos). In 1932, the sisters of saint louis were invited to Clogher by request of the Bishop to open a catholic primary school and convent. In the following years, Saint Macartans convent school was established for the catholic children of Clogher and by 1935 the school was very successful. The sisters of saint louis continued to work in saint macartans up until 1972 when the sisters decided to leave Clogher and move to a bigger convent in County Monaghan.Not long after, the sisters of mercy continued the work of the Louis nuns up until 1991 when the sisters of mercy handed the ownership of saint macartans convent school over to the local catholic parish of Clogher. Since then, the sisters live in the convent of mercy on the Ballagh road, Clogher. ).<ref name="consis" /><ref name="smps" />

==Demography==
===19th-century population===
The population of the village decreased during the 19th century:<ref name="CI"/><ref>{{cite web| title=Census of Ireland 1851| work=Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland| url=http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/13130/eppi_pages/336872| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113234752/http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/13130/eppi_pages/336872| url-status=dead| archive-date=13 January 2013| access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! 1841 !! 1851 !! 1861 !! 1871 !! 1881 !! 1891
|-
| Population || 702 || 558 || 389 || 242 || 225 || 273
|-
| Houses || 109 || 94 || 79 || 51 || 61 || 59
|}

===2021 census===
On Census Day in 2021, the usual resident population of Clogher settlement was 781 accounting for 0.02% of the NI total. Of these:
*96.42% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group;
*58% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 33% belong to or were brought up in a protestant and Other Christian (including Christian-related) religion; and
*43% indicated that they had an Irish National Identity, 25% had a British identity, 21% identified as Northern Irish only and 5% accounted for 'other' identities. Respondents could indicate more than one national identity.<ref>[https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021/N20003089/ Clogher Valley D5] explore.nisra.gov.uk</ref>

On Census Day 2021, in Clogher settlement, of the population aged 3 and over, 
*97% had English as their first language
*32% had a high level or some ability in Irish
*4% had some understanding in Ulster-Scots. 

===2011 Census===
On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Clogher Settlement was 717 accounting for 0.04% of the NI total.<ref name=Census2011/> Of these:
* 97.63% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group;
* 54.67% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 42.96% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion; and
* 42.12% indicated that they had a British national identity, 28.87% had an Irish national identity and 27.62% had a Northern Irish national identity. Respondents could indicate more than one national identity.
 
On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Clogher Settlement, of the population aged 3 years old and over:
 
* 15.81% had some knowledge of Irish;
* 3.66% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots; and
* 7.61% did not have English as their first language.

==People==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
{{See also|Category:People from Clogher}}
*The novelist [[William Carleton]] was born in the nearby [[townland]] of Prolusk (spelt Prillisk on his gravestone) in 1794.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Carleton, William |volume= 5 | page= 338}}</ref>
*[[James Graham Fair]], one of the '[[Bonanza Kings]]' and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Nevada]] was born in the town in 1831.
*[[Keith Farmer]] (1987–2022), motorcycle racer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Inquest opens into death of four-time British motorcycling champion Keith Farmer |url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2022-11-24/inquest-opens-into-death-of-four-time-national-motorcycling-champion|work=ITV News|publisher=ITV|date=24 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Percy Jocelyn]], Anglican bishop of Clogher, was deposed in 1822 for homosexual practices.
*Football player [[Dermot McCaffrey]] of [[Dungannon Swifts F.C.|Dungannon Swifts]] grew up in Clogher.

*[[Joseph B. O'Hagan]] (1826–1878), Jesuit priest
*[[Róisín Walsh|Roisin Walsh]], Dublin's first Chief Librarian, was born in Lisnamaghery, Clogher, in 1889.

==See also==
*[[List of monastic houses in Ireland#County Tyrone|Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Tyrone)]]
*[[List of civil parishes of County Tyrone]]
*[[Attack on UDR Clogher barracks]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.clogherhistory.ie Clogher Historical Society]
* [http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/C/Clogher-Town-Clogher-Tyrone.php Clogher Town 1837] [https://web.archive.org/web/20130607143139/http://www.genuki.eu/TYR/Place505.htm Clogher Townland Names]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013122853/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/landscape/country_landscape/17/17-land.htm Clogher Valley Landscape]

{{County Tyrone}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in County Tyrone]]
[[Category:Civil parishes of County Tyrone]]
[[Category:Civil parishes of County Fermanagh]]