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Dromara (from Irish: Droim mBearach, meaning 'ridge of heifers')[1] is a village, townland (of 242 acres) and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the southwest of Ballynahinch on the northern slopes of Slieve Croob, with the River Lagan flowing through it. It is situated in Dromara (civil parish) and the historic barony of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half.[2] In the 2011 Census it had a population of 1,006 people.[3]

Dromara Irish: Droim mBearach
St John's Church, Dromara
Location within County Down
Population	1,006 (2011 Census)
Irish grid reference	J287497
• Belfast	20 mi (32 km)
District	Lisburn
County	County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DROMORE
Postcode district	BT25
Dialling code	028, +44 28
UK Parliament	Lagan Valley
NI Assembly	Lagan Valley
List of places UK Northern Ireland Down 54.379858°N 6.017976°W / 54.379858; -6.017976

History

There have been references to a church at Dromara since about 1306. Earlier anglicised names for the church and townland include Drummeragh, Drumaragh and Drumara—these are likely derived from Druim mBearach (modern Irish Droim mBearach) meaning "ridge of heifers".[1] Saint John's Church now occupies the site of the original church. Dromara eventually became a small mill village and although many of its buildings date from the early 19th century, the street pattern suggests that the settlement has a much earlier history. It used to have its own court and market house and a market place at the road junction in the middle of the village.

Facilities

Facilities in the village include Dromara Primary School, two churches (St John's Church of Ireland and Dromara Second Presbyterian Church).

Places of interest

• Legannany Dolmen, a prehistoric three legged 'giants grave' is just outside the village.
• Binder's Cove – a rediscovered souterrain near Finnis, Dromara. Finnis Souterrain (a scheduled ancient monument) is known locally as 'Binders Cove'. Although the first recorded discovery of Binder's Cove was in the 18th Century, it actually dates back to the 9th century. Souterrains were "underground stone lined tunnels". Because there was much clann feuding and raiding from foreign invaders such as the Vikings in the Early Christian period, souterrains are thought to have been places of refuge for the occupants of the monastery or its attached enclosure. They may also have been 'safes' where valuable gold and silver religious artefacts were kept. As they were dark, cold and dry, food might also have been stored in them.

Sport

Dromara Village F.C. play association football in the Northern Amateur Football League.

People

• Harry Ferguson, inventor of the modern gearbox and the 'Ferguson' Tractor, was born near Dromara.
• Hugh Hanna, nicknamed 'Roaring Hanna', Presbyterian minister, born in Dromara in 1821.[4]
• Zak Hanna, International mountain runner for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Winner of the 2017 Slieve Donard mountain race and Irish Novice Cross Country Champion 2018/2019, also ranked 12th in the World Mountain Running rankings for 2018.
• William Smith, born in Saintfield on 3 January 1801, military (Crimean War, 1853–1856), then travelling merchant, finally dean of humanity, died in Dromara on 4 November 1926.[5]

Demography

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 1,006 people living in Dromara. Of these:

• 25.45% were aged under 16 years and 12.03 were aged 65 and over
• 48.01% of the population were male and 51.99% were female
• 21.77% were from a Catholic background and 68.99% were from a Protestant and Other Christian background
• 4.45% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed

See also

• Dromara (civil parish)
• Market Houses in Northern Ireland
• List of civil parishes of County Down

References

External links

• Visit Lisburn
• Historical Walk Through Dromore
• Culture Northern Ireland
• Dromara Cycling Club
• Dromara Gaelic Football Club
• Dromara Primary School
• Dromara Village Football Club

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