Dungiven

There is evidence of settlement in the area for at least 1000 years. The Boviel Wedge cairn is located two miles east of Dungiven. Excavations in 1938 uncovered cremated bones from the Neolithic period, pottery sherds, scrapers, an arrowhead and a polished stone axe. There may have been an abbey in the area around 700AD. The Augustinian abbey of St Mary's was built in the 11th century. Its ruins contain the tomb of O'Cahan (Cooey na Gall O' Cahan), laid to rest in 1385. A thicket of thorn bushes hung with rags conceals a bullaun stone, visited for wart cures. Between the 12th and 17th centuries the area was ruled by the Ó Catháin clan, one of the most influential clans in Ulster The town…

During The Troubles in Northern Ireland, seven people were killed in or near Dungiven in connection with the conflict, six of whom were members of the security forces. The one civilian, Francis McCloskey, was found beaten to death in disputed circumstances during street riots, in which the police were called to respond. He has sometimes been deemed as the first person killed in the last installment of the Troubles (1969-1997).