Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-08-26
Something About This Historic
Old County of Lofty
Hills.
Dungannon Was the Scene of Meet
ing of Irish Volunteers
I'm 1882.
RESIDENTS ARE YET PATRIOTIC

Tyrone is one of the northern
counties of Ireland. 1t was in
ancient days known as Tir-Owen,
the territory of Owen, and owen was
the son of 'King Mall of the Nine
Hostages" From the mouth of the
Blackwater at Tough Neagh to the
western point near Carrickaduff
hill the county is fifty-five miles
long, and from north to south it is
thirty-seven and a half miles broad
It has an area of 1850 square miles
and a population of 5000. All
the northern border is a continued
succession of mountains, some OF
them very lofty. There is also a
range of mountains in the south;
but the central part of the county is
an endless succession of fertile hills
and undulating plains. That por-
ton of the county bordering on
Tough Neagh is a flat, meadowy dis
trict interspersed with bogs. On the
whole Tyrone is a lilly county.
But the mountains, plains and
valleys of Tyrone are plentifully
watered by rivers and streams. The
Finn, the Foyle, the Burn Dennet,
the Glenmornan, the Mourne, the
Blackwater, the Derg, the Strule,
the Lissan Water and the BAHAMA
mallard are a few of the rivers that
lrrigate the valleys and plains of
Tyrone. Tough Neagh forms part of
the eastern boundary of Tyrone.
There are no other large lakes in
the county, but there are many small
ones.
Dungannon, the assize town, is
situated in the east OF the county. 1t
has a population of about 1000. 1t
Is an excellent business town and in
old days was the chief seat of the
O'Neills. Other thriving towns in
Tyrone are Strabane, Seem, New
town Stewart, Omagh Dromore,
Castleberg, Cookstown, Moy, Charlie
mont. Caledon and Clogher. North
Of Dungannon, and around the
village of Coal Island, is a coal
field, which though small is the
richest in Ireland. Along the shore
of Tough Neagh, south from Wash
ing Bay, is found Ignite or wood
coal
Dungannon, or Gannon's Fort, was
the earliest seat of the O'Neills and
continued in their possession until
1907. The O'Neill Castle stood upon
hill browning the town, but was
destroyed by Gerald, ninth Earl of
Kildare, and scarcely trace of It is.
left remaining. From the noble
tendencies of this warlike race II
was exposed to the constant vicissi-
tudes of war. There Shane, known
In Irish history as John the
Proud" held sway for years, and
was virtually ruler of Ulster until
his treacherous assassination at the
lnstigation of the English lord dep
uty; and this historic locality was
the scene of many of the exploits of
Hugh O'Neill and Sir Phelim, the
leader of the instruction of 1641.
Il was in the parish church of Dun
cannon that the delegates Of the
irish Volunteers met and issued
their declaration that only the King,
Lords and Commons of Ireland pos
sessed the right TO make laws for
ireland.
The town Of Dungannon, the
Manor House at Benburb, Benburb
Castle and the bridge at Moy are
among the. show places in Ireland.
The people of Tyrone are just as
staunch for freedom and home rule
now. The ancient principality of
Tr-Owen, the inheritance of the
ONeills, included the present coun-
ties of Tyrone and Londonderry and
the two baronies of Innishowen and
Raphoe in Donegal.