Castlecaulfield

The townland the village is in was formerly known as Ballydonnelly (Baile Ui Dhonnaile), and was the stronghold of the O'Donnelly (Ui Donnghaile) sept, who had held the role of marshalls to the O'Neills of Tyrone. According to Irish tradition the O'Donnellys were part of the Cenel Eogain making them kin of the O'Neills. In their role as Marshalls to the O'Neills they were responsible for fostering the children of 'The O'Neill'. The O'Donnellys reached the height of their role during the time of Shane O'Neill when Dean Terrence Danyell (Turlough O'Donnelly) of Armagh played a key role in communications between Shane O'Neill and Elizabeth I. The earliest mention of Ballydonnelly is the 'Annals of the Four Masters' in 1531 when it is said Baile-Ui-Donnghaile was assaulted by Niall Oge, son of Art, son of Con O'Neill. He demolished the castle; and he made a prisoner of the son of O'Neill, who was foster-son of O'Donnelly, and carried him off, together with the horses and the other spoils of the town.” At the Plantation Ballydonnelly was allocated as a 'Servitor' portion and as such was granted to Sir Toby Caulfeild who had served in the Crown forces during the 'Nine Years War'. The Castle to which the name refers is atypical of most Plantation structures in that it is not the more usual fortified tower house and was built by Sir Toby Caulfeild in the style of an Oxfordshire Manor House. Castle Caulfield was badly damaged by fire during the 1641 rebellion and was only reused in a limited capacity thereafter by the descendants of the Caulfeild family.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the village was a centre for the developing Linen industry and many Mills and farms where located in and around the village involved in linen production. This culminated in the building of the Acheson & Smith Works (later David Acheson Ltd) in 1874. The factory was in operation until 1978/79 before closure. It was a major employer within the district.

• Castle Caulfield, built by Sir Toby Caulfield between 1611 and 1619 is in the village. The gatehouse has murder-holes and the Caulfeild Arms.
• St Michael’s And All Angel’s Church of Ireland built c1681
• Parkanaur House, a Tudor revival country house, founded c1804 by the 'Burges' family who occupied the property until their departure in 1955. It is now known as Parkanaur College and the surrounding estate is a Forest park under the care of the NI Forest Service.
• Castlecaulfield Presbyterian Church

• Castlecaulfield Horticultural Society hold a show every year in August to which people are encouraged to enter horticultural and handicraft items for prizes. The society also holds fundraising events throughout the year to support its yearly show.

• Sir Toby Caulfeild (1565-1627) was responsible for the Plantation settlement of Castlecaulfield or 'Manor of Aghloske' as it was called in 1610.
• Oliver Plunkett carried out ordinations in the grounds of Castle Caulfield c1670 under the invitation and protection of William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont.
• Rev George Walker Jnr was Rector of Donaghmore Parish (1674-1690) with 'St Michael and All Saints Church' being the Parish Church. He was a Governor of Derry in 1689 and was killed at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. His remains are buried within St Michael's.
• John Wesley visited Castlecaulfield on a number of occasions between 1767 and 1789 leading to the founding of the local Methodist congregation in 1842.
• Poet Charles Wolfe (1791–1823), author of 'The Burial of Sir John Moore' was Curate of Donaghmore Parish (1818-1823). A Blue Plaque is erected in his memory near the entrance to St Michael's & All Saints Church
  • American author 'Maureen Daly' was born in Castlecaulfield on 15 March 1921. She was author of 'Seventeenth Summer' which was believed to have sold over a million copies by 2005.

• Dungannon & South Tyrone Area Plan 2010