Derriaghy

Derriaghy,,, is a townland and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, south-west of Belfast city centre. The townland is situated in the historic barony of Belfast Upper and the civil parish covers areas of both Belfast Upper and the barony of Massereene Upper.

History

The listed Church of Ireland building Christ Church in Derriaghy occupies the site of an early church. The earliest documentary reference to a church in Derriaghy is in a letter from Pope Innocent III in 1204. The Taxation of Down, Connor and Dromore of 1306-07 also mentions a church in Derriaghy. The records of an Inquisition in Antrim in 1605 indicate that the parish church of Dirreraghie was in some disrepair.

Churches

Christ Church, Church of Ireland listed building
Derriaghy Gospel Hall
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church

Transport

Derriaghy railway station was opened in 1907 and is between Dunmurry and Lambeg stations on the main Belfast-Dublin railway line. It was closed on March 1, 1953, and reopened on April 30, 1956, in response to numerous requests.

Sport

Derriaghy Cricket Club, founded in 1920 and plays in the NCU Senior League
Derriaghy Cricket Club F.C., football club founded in 1982 that plays in the Northern Amateur Football League
Éire Óg Derriaghy GAC, GAA club founded in 1932 that draws its membership from Derriaghy, Finaghy and Dunmurry

People

Henrietta Gayer, early Methodist leader who had John Wesley and other preachers stay at her house
Cosslett Ó Cuinn, Church of Ireland minister and poet, theologian, critic and biblical scholar who translated the New Testament into Irish, born in Derriaghy
Philip Skelton, Protestant clergyman and writer, born in Derriaghy

Civil parish of Derriaghy

Townlands

The civil parish contains the following townlands: