Cookstown District Council
Attractions
Heritage Sites
| Ardboe Old Cross & St.Colemans Abbey | |
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Ardboe Old Cross and St. Colman’s Abbey is a national monument dating from the 10th century. It is believed to be the first high cross of Ulster, standing at 18.5 feet high and 3.5 feet wide, with 22 panels depicting various Biblical scenes. There are also remains of a church and an abbey. The abbey was founded by St Colman in 590 and the church is believed to have been built in the 16th century. |
| Directions: From Cookstown take the B73 to Coagh. Follow the sign for Ardboe. In the village of Moortown take a right turn, signposted for Ardboe Cross. Continue straight head for 2 miles. Cross is located on the left hand side. Free access at all times. | |
| Dun Ruadh, Broughderg | |
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The Broughderg area is remote and peaceful and is renowned for its unique archaeological remains. The scenery includes the Coneyglen Valley and Davagh Forest with its walks and extensive blanket bog. The vast array of archaeological features indicate active communities living in this area for at least 7000 years, illustrated by the field boundaries and cairns of the first farmers. Countless standing stones, megalithic tombs, court and wedge tombs are located within this area. Particularly well known sites are Dun Ruadh, the Ogham Stone and the Beaghmore Stone Circles. |
| Directions: From Cookstown take the A505 for Omagh. Follow the signs for Beaghmore Stone Circles. Continue past the stone circles and take a left at the crossroads, and left again at the next crossroads. | |
| Derryloran Old Church and Graveyard | |
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Derryloran Old Church and Graveyard was built in 1622 replacing an old church on the same site. 200 years later a new church was built on a site where the present one now stands. It was designed by John Nash and built from hewn stone in simple Gothic style with a pinnacle tower, plain spire and vaulted vestibule. The present church was extended in 1861 from the older design. Some of the graves in Derryloran graveyard date back to the early 17th Century. |
| Directions: Located at the south end of Cookstown. Take the A505 for Omagh and after the Glenavon House Hotel it is located on the left hand side. Free access at all times. | |
| Tullaghoge Fort | |
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On an imposing hilltop encircled by trees some 2 miles south/south east of Cookstown and on the outskirts of Tullyhogue village is the site of the mystical Tullaghoge Fort, prominently standing testimony to Tyrone's illustrious past. It was here on this hilltop enclosure that the ruling members of each generation of the Cenel nEogain (later to be known as ‘The O’Neills’) were inaugurated from the 11th Century to the end of the 16th Century. The Uí Néill (O’Neill’s) founded their headquarters at Tullaghoge early in the 11th century and it continued as the ceremonial seat of the kings of Tír Eoghain even after the O’Neill’s transferred their court to Dungannon at the end of the 13th century. |
| Directions: Situated 2.5 miles south east of Cookstown, off B520. Free access at all times. | |
| Beaghmore Stone Circles | |
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Beaghmore Stone Circles are a reflection of the ritual and spiritual life in the early Bronze Age. Archeaologists believe that Beaghmore Stone Circles date back to around 1500BC. There are 7 stone circles and alignments along with several cairns on this spectacular preserved site. It has been suggested that the circles and alignments have some connection with astronomy but a more popular theory is that they may well have served some function in fertility rites. |
| Directions: Situated close to Davagh Forest and Broughderg Centre, 10 miles west of Cookstown of the A505 to Omagh. Free access at all times. | |