About Loughinisland
Loughinisland is a small village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is between Downpatrick and Ballynahinch, about 21 miles (34 kilometres) south of Belfast. HistoryThe village grew up beside a lake, which has a small island on it. This island was the headquarters of the MacCartans, a Gaelic clan who ruled the surrounding territory of Kinelarty. Three churches were built on this island between the 13th and 17th centuries. In 1659, following the Plantation of Ulster, there were 17 English /Scots and seven Irish Catholic families in Loughinisland. In 1836 it is recorded that there was a school in Loughinisland. Today, the village is home to a primary school and a Catholic church, bothed named 'St Macartan's'. Loughinisland was relatively untouched by the Troubles. However, on 18 June 1994 it was the scene of the Loughinisland massacre. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, attacked O'Toole's Pub with assault rifles, killing six Catholic civilians and wounding five. That evening, about 24 people had gathered there to watch the Ireland team playing in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, on television.
Loughinisland Description
Loughinisland is a small village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is between Downpatrick and Ballynahinch, about 21 miles (34 kilometres) south of Belfast. HistoryThe village grew up beside a lake, which has a small island on it. This island was the headquarters of the MacCartans, a Gaelic clan who ruled the surrounding territory of Kinelarty. Three churches were built on this island between the 13th and 17th centuries. In 1659, following the Plantation of Ulster, there were 17 English /Scots and seven Irish Catholic families in Loughinisland. In 1836 it is recorded that there was a school in Loughinisland. Today, the village is home to a primary school and a Catholic church, bothed named 'St Macartan's'. Loughinisland was relatively untouched by the Troubles. However, on 18 June 1994 it was the scene of the Loughinisland massacre. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, attacked O'Toole's Pub with assault rifles, killing six Catholic civilians and wounding five. That evening, about 24 people had gathered there to watch the Ireland team playing in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, on television.