Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Is the First of 40 New Boroughs to Be Incorporated

Dungannon is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 16,282 at the 2021 Census.

The O’Neill

For centuries, it was the ‘capital’ of the O’Neill dynasty of Tír Eoghain, who dominated most of Ulster and built a castle on the hill.

Dungannon’s fortunes were closely tied to that of the O’Neill dynasty which ruled a large part of Ulster until the 17th century. Dungannon was the clan’s main stronghold.

Tullyhogue Fort

The traditional site of inauguration for ‘The O’Neill’ was Tullyhogue Fort, an Iron Age mound some four miles northeast of Dungannon.

The clan O’Hagan were the stewards of this site for the O’Neills.

Castle Hill

In the 14th century the O’Neills built a castle on what is today known as Castle Hill; the location was ideal for a fort, for it was one of the highest points in the area and dominated the surrounding countryside, giving (depending on the weather) the ability to see seven counties.

Nine Years’ War

After the O’Neills’ defeat in the Nine Years’ War, the English founded a plantation town on the site, which grew into what is now Dungannon.