Ard Bó Uí Dhonnabhain RossaThe Ardboe Area
Ardboe Cross - Photo credit: Pat Grimes
Ardboe is situated on the western shores of Lough Neagh in country Tyrone in the North of Ireland. It is approximately about 10 miles from the town of Cookstown and similar distances from the towns of Dungannon and Magherafelt.
It is a relatively small village but is on the grow with local developments, but like all villages along the Lough shore a close knit community lives here.
Places of interest
- One of the finest examples of the Irish High cross in Ulster, can be found in Ardboe and is located on a small hillock close to the shores of Lough Neagh. Ardboe High Cross which dates to the 9th/10th century, is all that now remains of a 6th century monastery, which was established by Saint Colman mac Aed. The Cross, made of sandstone, stands about eighteen feet high. Although slightly weathered and damaged – emigrants in the earlier part of this century often took with them a small chip of stone from the cross – Ardboe High Cross is a superb example of figure carving incorporating 22 panels of sculpture of biblical events.
- The adjoining graveyard was the site of a tree, known locally as the Ardboe Pin Tree, into which people had traditionally put coins or pins, believing it to cure them of ailments. The tree was blown down during the St. Stephen’s Day storms of 1998.
- The Battery Harbour, in the townland of Kinturk, with public access to Lough Neagh, is the base for Lough Neagh Rescue.
- Coyle’s Cottage is a 300 year old restored fisherman’s cottage in the townland of Aneeterbeg. It is the home of the Muintirevlin Historical Society and Gort Moss Walking Club and hosts music nights and traditional music classes.
