Doagh

Doagh (/ˈdoʊx/ DOHKH; from Irish Dumhach, meaning 'mound')^[1] is a village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is in the Six Mile Water Valley, about two miles south-west of Ballyclare, and had a population of 1,404 people in the 2021 census.^[2] It is known as Doach in Scots.^[3]

Doagh Irish: Dumhach Scots: Doach
Corner stone
Doagh Location within Northern Ireland
Population	1,404 (2021 census)
• Belfast	11 mi (18 km)
District	Antrim and Newtownabbey
County	County Antrim
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	South Antrim
NI Assembly	South Antrim
List of places UK Northern Ireland Antrim 54.738°N 6.042°W / 54.738; -6.042

While older 19th century housing stands in the village centre, the village has gradually grown and new housing estates have been built on its outskirts.^{[citation needed]}

History and built heritage

There is evidence of settlement in the vicinity at least from the Iron Age, and possibly the Bronze Age - as represented by the Holestone, a Bronze Age whinstone megalith known as The Holestone, and traces of numerous souterrains in the surrounding fields. Couples used to promise marriage by clasping hands through the hole in the stone, a convention that can be traced back to about 1830.^[4] W.G. Wood-Martin, writing in 1902, asserted that it was anciently "connected with aphrodisiac customs". Even today, newlyweds, together with the wedding party, will visit the stone in observance of the ancient local custom.

The remnants of a Norman motte can be found on the southern outskirts of the village at Lindsay's Corner roundabout, overlooking the Six Mile Water River.

The first Sunday school in Ireland was alleged to have been held in 1770 ^[5] in Doagh on the site where the Methodist church now stands, although there is no firm evidence to support this claim. The Methodist church was established in 1844.

There are a number of buildings of architectural interest either in or proximate to the village. These include Fisherwick Lodge - a hunting lodge built for the Marquess of Donegall (1805), and Holestone House. Examples of industrial architecture include the remaining mill buildings, such as at nearby Cogry.^[6][7]

The nearby cemetery at Kilbride contains the 19th century Stephenson Mausoleum - a listed building modelled off the Taj Mahal - and numerous gravestones reflecting a history of emigration and war.^{[citation needed]} Also in the cemetery is the headstone of William Gault, a United Irishman and founder of the aforementioned Sunday school.^[8][5]

Transport

Doagh was formerly the terminus of a branch line of the narrow gauge Ballymena and Larne Railway. The line was extended from Ballyclare to Doagh in 1884. Passenger services between Doagh and Ballyclare were withdrawn in 1930, and freight services in 1933.

Sport

• Parkview Hockey Club is based in Doagh.
• F.C. Ballynure

References

1. "Doagh, County Antrim". placenamesni.org. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. "Doagh". 2021 Census. 2021 – via NI Statistics and Research Agency.
3. "Scots Online Dictionary". Retrieved 18 November 2021.
4. Zucchelli, Christine (2007). Stones of Adoration. Sacred stones and Mystic Megaliths of Ireland. Cork: The Collins Press. p. 126.
5. "Stephenson Mausoleum". Department for Communities. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021. Right hand tombstone to the back of the mausoleum is that of William Gault, schoolmaster of Doagh, who was a United Irishman and is believed to have started one of the earliest Sunday schools in Ireland in 1770. Rowan (local nineteenth century engineer) made the doors of the mausoleum and they carry his name (memorial HB21/02/002). Describing it as a 'miniature Taj Mahal in stone', Girvan believes it could have been the inspiration of one of the family who served in the Dragoons and saw the original on his travels (p 20).
6. Brett, Charles; O’Connell, Michael (1996). Buildings of County Antrim. Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the Ulster Historical Foundation. ISBN 978-0900457470.
7. McCutcheon, W.A. (1980). The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. Belfast: Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland / HMSO. ISBN 978-0337081545.
8. Girvan, Donald; Rowan, Alistair J. (1970). Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in West Antrim. Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society. ISBN 978-0950062181.
9. "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Doagh Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 23 June 2021. This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

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