Greysteel Explained
Official Name: | Greysteel |
Irish Name: | Glas-stiall |
Static Image Name: | Clooney Road, Greysteel - geograph.org.uk - 1455670.jpg |
Static Image Caption: | Clooney Road, on the A2 |
Map Type: | Northern Ireland |
Coordinates: | 55.0317°N -7.1206°W |
Label Position: | none |
Population: | 1,229 |
Population Ref: | (2001 Census) |
Country: | Northern Ireland |
Postcode Area: | BT |
Dial Code: | 028 |
Greysteel or Gresteel[1] is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies 9miles to the east of Derry and 7miles to the west of Limavady on the main A2 coast road between Limavady and Derry, overlooking Lough Foyle. It is designated as a Large Village and in the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,229 people,[2] an increase of almost 20% compared to 1991.[3] It is situated within Causeway Coast and Glens district.
History
The village lies mostly within the townlands of Gresteel More and Gresteel Beg. The name "Greysteel" may be a part-translation of the Irish Glas-stiall, meaning "grey strip (of land)",[4] and the Placenames Database of Ireland gives this as the Irish name of the village.[1] An older English name for the area was "Glasteele".[4]
The Troubles
During the Troubles, nine people were killed in the Greysteel area:
- On 14 November 1976, Jim Loughrey was shot dead by loyalists at his home.
- On 30 October 1993, members of the Ulster Defence Association carried out a mass shooting at the Rising Sun public house, killing eight civilians. This became known as the Greysteel massacre.
Places of interest
- Nearby Faughanvale Old church dates back to the medieval period and is dedicated to Saint Canice.[5]
Transport
The village is adequately served in terms of public transport and City of Derry Airport is located 4 km to the west.[3]
Sport
2001 Census
Greysteel is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,229 people living in Greysteel. Of these:
- 25.4% were aged under 16 years and 11.7% were aged 60 and over
- 50.2% of the population were male and 49.8% were female
- 96.6% were from a Catholic background and 2.9% were from a Protestant background
- 0.8% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Placenames Database of Ireland . 13 September 2010 . 9 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609115101/http://www.logainm.ie/1167015.aspx . live .
- Web site: Area Profile of Greysteel - Based on 2001 Census. NI Neighbourhood Information Service. 23 June 2008. 4 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604210446/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/report.asp?settlementName=Greysteel&BandName=Village. live.
- Web site: Greysteel Settlement Designation. Planning Service - Draft Northern Area Plan 2016. 23 June 2008.
- Web site: Placenames NI: Gresteel Beg . 28 November 2013 . 3 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005605/http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=529 . live .
- Web site: Greysteel. Culture Northern Ireland. 23 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022606/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=440. 9 June 2008.