Editing Castlederg (section)

== History ==
===Early history===
Historically the area around the town was a site of contestation between the territories of [[Cenél nEógain]] (later [[Tír Eoghain]]) and [[Conall Gulban|Connail]] (later [[Tír Chonaill]] – mostly modern [[County Donegal]]). This rivalry between the two powers continued until the 16th century when they combined in the defence of [[Ulster]] against the encroaching Elizabethan armies.  The Castlederg area, lying within the new barony of Omagh, was granted to the English Attorney-General for Ireland, [[John Davies (poet, born 1569)|Sir John Davies]]. Two castles were constructed on his proportion, Castle Curlews (Kirlish Castle) outside [[Drumquin]] and [[Derg Castle]], the ruins of which can be seen today on the northern bank of the River Derg at Castlederg.<ref>{{cite web|title=Castlederg Castle|url=https://discovernorthernireland.com/Castlederg-Castle-Castlederg-P3493|access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> A bronze-age cauldron was found at Castlederg in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Toole |first1=Fintan |title=Castlederg bronze cauldron, 700-600 BC |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/castlederg-bronze-cauldron-700-600-bc-1.571970 |website=The Irish Times |access-date=2 May 2020|date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

===The Troubles===
During [[the Troubles]], 25 people were killed in and around Castlederg (including [[Killeter]] and [[Killen, County Tyrone|Killen]])<ref name=sutton>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/search.html Malcolm Sutton's Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland] (search for "Castlederg"). [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref> and there were many bombings in the village. The [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) killed 11 members of the [[Ulster Defence Regiment]] and [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]], four fellow IRA members whom it accused of being informers, and three [[Ulster Protestant]] civilians.<ref name=sutton/> Four IRA members were also killed when their bombs exploded prematurely. [[Ulster loyalism|Ulster loyalist]] paramilitaries killed three Catholic civilians.<ref name=sutton/>