Official Name: | Dollingstown |
Irish Name: | Baile Dhollainn |
Coordinates: | 54.4628°N -6.2905°W |
Population: | 2,103 |
Population Ref: | (2011 Census) |
Unitary Northern Ireland: | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
Lieutenancy Northern Ireland: | County Down |
Country: | Northern Ireland |
Post Town: | CRAIGAVON |
Postcode Area: | BT |
Postcode District: | BT66 |
Hide Services: | yes |
Constituency Ni Assembly: | Upper Bann |
Constituency Westminster: | Upper Bann |
Dollingstown is a large village in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying between Lurgan and Magheralin. It is within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 2,103 people. Dollingstown is in the townland of Taughrane, which may come from Irish Tóchar Rathain ("causeway of bracken").
The village of Dollingstown is on the old road from Moira to Lurgan, and is in the townland of Taughrane, which may come from Irish Tóchar Rathain ("causeway of bracken") or Teach Raithin ("house of bracken"). It is said to be named from the Rev. Boghey Dolling, rector of the parish of Magheralin, who lived there in the 19th century. Dollingstown is not represented on 18th century maps, which suggests that Dollingstown probably didn't exist until the 1800s. Taughrane in its current spelling was first used in 1661. However, it had a variety of different spellings, beginning in 1655: Teaghrayne (1655), Tagharan (1657), Taghrane (1657), and then Taughrane in 1661.[1]
Dollingstown's football club is Dollingstown F.C. They play in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League. Dollingstown's home stadium is Planters Park and the club was founded in 1979 by local football fan.[2] The club's manager is Stephen Uprichard.[3]
Notable sponsors of the club include Huhtamäki and Christians Against Poverty.[4]
In the 2010–11 season, Dollingstown were rejected a promotion to IFA Championship 2 for allowing an ineligible player to play in eight league matches. Consequently, all the points they had obtained in the matches that player took part in were withdrew, and finished 4th place instead of 1st. In response, the decision was appealed by the club. The club ended up taking their case all the way to the High Court. However, it was dismissed. If Dollingstown had won their case, they would have been promoted, which would lead to Chimney Corner being relegated. Tandragee Rovers were thus declared champions of the division instead, but did not apply for their entry to the Championship.[5] [6]
Protestantism is the dominant denomination of Christianity in Dollingstown. Dollingstown has a Protestant Anglican Church of Ireland church named Magheralin Parish. Magheralin Parish also has a church building in Magheralin.[7]
Dollingstown is currently classified as a village according to the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (21 March 2011), there were 2,250 people living in Dollingstown. Of these: