Cookstown

Cookstown (An Chorr Chríochach in Irish) is a small to medium town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Its population is around 11,000. It was founded in 1609 by planter Alan Cooke. It was one of the main centres of the linen industry. A working linen mill can still be seen at Wellbrook Beetling Mill outside of Cookstown: beetling is the process used to smooth and polish linen after weaving.

Ardboe Cross is one of the best examples of a 9th/10th century High cross in Northern Ireland. 22 panels illustrate stories from the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.

Cookstown's main street is the longest and widest in Ireland (at 1 and 3/4 mile long), and also the quickest way for large haulage trucks to get to wherever it is they seem to be going in no particular hurry. Busiest day is Saturday where the traditional Market is held in Oldtown Street,William Street and also James Street with stallholders showing their wares in all types of weather.

Other ancient sites nearby include Beaghmore stone circles and Tullyhogue Fort, the crowning place of the ancient Earls of Ulster, the O'Neills.

In elections for the Westminster Parliament it is part of the Mid Ulster constituency.

The local authority, Cookstown District Council, was established in 1973, and includes part of County Londonderry, notably the village of Moneymore.

Cookstown is also the home town of Aston Villa and Northern Ireland central defender Aaron Hughes, and comedian Owen O'Neill. Cookstown is famous for its sausages, known as the 'Cookstown Sizzler', which were advertised on television by Rolf Harris and George Best. The 'Cookstown Sizzlers' is also the name of the local American football team. Fictionalised as 'Ballyglass', it is the hometown of the hero of Utterly Monkey, a novel by local writer Nick Laird (husband of novelist Zadie Smith).

In 2005, Cookstown was officially recognised by Mensa as the home of some of its smartest young members. Cookstown's long and noted history of intellectual debate and educational overachievers is bolstered by the nightly displays of local youths parking their parent's cars on its famous street to discuss the pressing philosophical questions of the day.

See also: List of towns in Northern Ireland