The barn and bar were handbuilt with stone taken from the Carsonstown Road. The “Mageean” name is popular in the area and also extends to the famous Bishop Mageean, who was born in the town land of Darragh Cross on the 6th May 1882. Dr Mageean became 28th Bishop of Down and Connor in 1929. He died on the 17th January 1962. Darragh Cross has a long tradition of Gaelic games and in 1964 formed St Mochais Gaelic Athletic Club, the crest of which also includes the “Oak Tree”. The first match played by the men of Darragh Cross was against Kilclief, when the men of Darragh were victorious. 

 

The club is named after St Mochais who was one of the original disciples of Saint Patrick and who founded a monastery 5miles from Darragh Cross on Nendrum Island later to be called Inis Mochaoi eventually translated from the Irish to Mahee Island. In the early 1920’s the site was extensively excavated by Henry Lawlor when numerous archaeological items were found. The most notable of these was the Nendrum Bell, also incorporated in the GAA Club Badge. The Bell would have been used regularly by the Monks who would have climbed to the top of the Round Tower and rung the bell to warn of approaching Vikings. Mochai was also known as Caolan, hence the name of Darragh Cross Primary School, St Caolan’s (right), first opened in 1907.

 

Horses are often seen passing through the village and grazing in the rolling hills around Darragh Cross as horse racing and show jumping are popular activities for many of the families in the area. Riders from Darragh Cross have participated in the Grand National and have won many International Show jumping awards. Point to Point racing is also a common sport for the large number of breeders and trainers in Darragh Cross and the surrounding area. 3 miles north of Darragh Cross lies the historic town of Saintfield where on the 9 June 1798, the battle of Saintfield took place, when the United Irishmen, made up mostly of Presbyterians took on the English crown forces who had marched from Newtownards. On the 11th June 1798, the rebels regrouped at Creevey Rock (4miles), before moving onto Ballynahinch, where on the 12th June 1798, the rebels where finally defeated in one of the most famous battles of the rebellion. A young woman, Betsy Gray (right) was said to have lead the rebels on their final battle at Ballynahinch. The heroine rode onto the battlefield of Ballynahinch, as one of the “Hearts of Down” and was ruthlessly murdered while making her escape, she is arguably the best-known figure of the 1798 rising in County Down.

Local folklore has it that on their way to the battle of Saintfeild from Killinchy, the rebels stopped and rested in Darragh Cross, while the local blacksmith made the very pikes that were subsequently used in the 1798 battles of Saintfield and Ballynahinch. The blacksmiths was located opposite the site where Oak’s Bar now stands. A local County Down hurling trophy was named after Betsy Gray and has been won many times by the hurlers of Darragh Cross GAC.

 

“Darragh Cross is a very proud community, proud of its history and tradition and will always be a very welcome place for everyone, irrespective of colour, race or creed”