County Armagh

County Armagh
Contae Ard Mhacha
Coat of arms of County Armagh
Location
Map highlighting County Armagh
Statistics
Province: Ulster
County seat: Armagh
Area: 1,254 km2 (484 sq mi) (28th)
Population (2001) 159,085 (14th) [1]

County Armagh (named after its county town, Armagh) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the south shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 1,254 km², with a population of approximately 159,085. It is also one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, lying within the historical province of Ulster. County Armagh is known as the "Orchard County" because the land is so fertile for apple-growing.

Contents

Etymology

The name "Armagh" derives from the Irish word Ard meaning "height" and Macha, together meaning "height (or high place) of Macha". Macha was a legendary figure described both as one of the Goddesses of Celtic mythology and sole High Queen of Ireland among the line of kings. Macha is mentioned in the Book of the Taking of Ireland, and is also said to have been responsible for the construction of the hill site of Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh City) to serve as the capital of the Ulaid kings (who give their name to Ulster), also thought to be Macha's height.

Geography & features

From its highest point at Slieve Gullion, in the south of the County, Armagh's land falls away from its rugged south with Carrigatuke, Lislea and Camlough mountains, to rolling drumlin country in the middle and west of the county and finally flatlands in the North where rolling flats and small hills reach sea level at Lough Neagh.

Medieval front of the ruined 6th Century Killeavy Old Church, Killeavy

County Armagh's boundary with Louth is marked by the rugged Ring of Gullion rising in the south of the county whilst much of its boundary with Monaghan and Down goes unnoticed with seamless continuance of drumlins and small lakes. The River Blackwater marks the border with County Tyrone and Lough Neagh otherwise marks out the County's northern boundary.

There are also a number of uninhabited islands in the county's section of Lough Neagh: Coney Island, Coney Island Flat, Croaghan Flat, Derrywarragh Island, Padian, Phil Roe's Flat and the Shallow Flat.

Climate

Despite lying in the east of Ireland, Armagh enjoys an Oceanic climate strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream with damp mild winters, and temperate, wet summers. Overall temperatures rarely drop below freezing during daylight hours, though frost is not infrequent in the months November - February. Snow rarely lies for longer than a few hours even in the elevated south-east of the County. Summers are mild and wet and although with sunshine often interspersed with showers, daylight lasts for almost 18 hours during high-summer.

Climate data for County Armagh
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: [2]

History

Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid (also known as Voluntii, Ultonians, Ulidians, Ulstermen) before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha (or Navan Fort) near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha. The Red Branch play an important role in the Ulster Cycle, as well as the Cattle Raid of Cooley. However, they were eventually driven out of the area by the Three Collas, who invaded in the 4th century and held power until the 12th. The Clan Colla ruled the area known as Airghialla or Oriel for these 800 years.

The chief Irish septs of the county were descendants of the Collas, the O'Hanlons and MacCanns, and the Ui Neill, the O'Neills of Fews. Armagh was divided into several baronies: Armagh was held by the O'Rogans, Lower Fews was held by O'Neill of the Fews, and Upper Fews were under governance of the O'Larkins, who were later displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland East was the territory of the O'Garveys, who were also displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland West, like Oneilland East, was once O'Neill territory, until it was then held by the MacCanns, who were Lords of Clanbrassil. Upper and Lower Orior were O'Hanlon territory. Tiranny was ruled by Ronaghan. Miscellaneous tracts of land were ruled by O'Kelaghan.

Armagh was the seat of St. Patrick, and in Roman Catholic tradition, continues to be his see. County Armagh is one of four counties of Northern Ireland to presently have a majority of the population from a Catholic community background, according to the 2001 census.

The Troubles

The South of Armagh was the most militarised region in Western Europe due to the history of the Troubles. The region has been a stronghold of support for the IRA, earning it the nickname "Bandit Country". South Armagh is predominantly nationalist, with most of the population being opposed to any form of British presence, especially that of a military nature. See Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade for further information.

Administration

The primary remaining official use of County Armagh is as a Lieutenancy area and the county retains a lord lieutenant who acts as representative of the British Monarch in the County.

County Armagh ceased to serve as a local government unit in 1973 and currently the county is divided into three district councils for local government purposes, namely Armagh City and District Council, most of Craigavon Borough Council, and approximately the western third of Newry and Mourne District Council. With the proposed reform of Local government in Northern Ireland in 2011, County Armagh is proposed to be form part of two new council areas, Armagh City and Bann District, and Newry City and Down.

Armagh has ceased to serve as an electoral constituency in 1983 but remains the core of the Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency) and Newry & Armagh Northern Ireland Assembly electoral constituencies. County Armagh also remains as a district for legal and property purposes however its baronies no longer have any administrative use.

The -LZ suffix is currently used on vehicle registration plates for vehicles registered in County Armagh.

Settlements

Large towns

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)[9]

Medium towns

(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)[9]

Small towns

(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)[9]

  • none

Intermediate settlements

(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)[9]

  • Bessbrook
  • Keady
  • Richhill
  • Tandragee

Villages

(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)[9]

  • Crossmaglen
  • Markethill
  • Mullavilly/Laurelvale
  • Poyntzpass

Small villages or hamlets

(population of fewer than 1,000 at 2001 Census)[9]

  • Acton
  • Annaghmore
  • Annahugh
  • Ardress
  • Ballymacnab
  • Bannfoot
  • Belleeks
  • Blackwatertown
  • Bleary
  • Broomhill
  • Camlough
  • Clonmore
  • Charlemont
  • Cladymore
  • Creggan
  • Cullaville
  • Cullyhanna
  • Darkley
  • Derryadd
  • Derryhale
  • Derrymacash
  • Derrymore
  • Derrytrasna
  • Drumintee
  • Drumnacanvy
  • Edenaveys
  • Forkill
  • Hamiltonsbawn
  • Jonesborough
  • Killean
  • Killylea
  • Kilmore
  • Lislea
  • Lisnadill
  • Loughgall
  • Loughgilly
  • Madden
  • Maghery
  • Meigh
  • Middletown
  • Milford
  • Mountnorris
  • Mullaghbawn
  • Mullaghbrack
  • Mullaghglass
  • Newtownhamilton
  • Scotch Street
  • Silverbridge
  • Tartaraghan
  • Tynan
  • Whitecross

Subdivisions

Parishes

  • Armagh
  • Ballymore
  • Ballymyre
  • Clonfeacle
  • Creggan
  • Drumcree
  • Eglish
  • Forkill
  • Grange
  • Jonesborough
  • Keady
  • Kilclooney
  • Kildarton
  • Killevy
  • Killyman
  • Kilmore
  • Lisnadill
  • Loughgall
  • Loughgilly
  • Magheralin
  • Montiaghs
  • Mullaghbrack
  • Newry
  • Newtownhamilton
  • Seagoe
  • Shankill
  • Tartaraghan
  • Tynan

Baronies

  • Armagh
  • Fews Lower
  • Fews Upper
  • Oneilland East
  • Oneilland West
  • Orior Lower
  • Orior Upper
  • Tiranny

Townlands

Transport

The M1 near Lurgan
Portadown railway station

County Armagh is traversed by two major highways - the M1 linking Belfast to Dungannon crossed the North of the County whilst the A1/N1 from Belfast to Dublin runs in the far south east of the County. Armagh has numerous local roads connecting settlements in the county. Armagh once had a well developed railroad network with connections to, amongst others, Armagh City, Culloville, Goraghwood, Markethill, Vernersbridge, Tynan (see History of rail transport in Ireland ) but today only Newry (Bessbrook), Portadown, Poyntzpass, Scarva, and Lurgan are served by rail.

Ulsterbus provides the most extensive public transport system within the county, including frequent bus transfers daily from most towns to Belfast. Northern Ireland Railways / Iarnród Éireann's Enterprise service provides connections to Dublin in little over and hour and Belfast in little over forty minutes several times daily.

People associated with County Armagh

See main article: People from County Armagh

Places of interest

Gallery

View of Slieve Gullion

South Armagh Countryside

Forkhill Mountain

Emain Macha

Moyry Castle

Killnasaggart Stone, 700 A.D.

St. Patrick's (Anglican) Cathederal, est. 445

Armagh City

The small town of Markethill

County Armagh part of Newry in the background

Approach to Crossmaglen

Gosford Castle,outside of Markethill

See also

References

  1. ↑ Census figures are no longer released detailing returns for Counties but rather Parliamentary Constituency, Local Government District, Electoral Ward and Output Area. This figure is based on a tally of all persons resident in the wards comprising County Armagh on April 29th, 2001, i.e. all electoral wards of the Newry & Armagh Parliamentary Constituency (minus St. Mary's, St. Patrick's and Windsor Hill from County Down) combined with the 17 wards in the Upper Bann Parliamentary Constituency from County Armagh (i.e. Derrytrasna, Birches, Bleary, Drumgask, Taghnevan, Court, Annagh, Brownstown, Ballybay, Ballyoran, Corcrain, Edenderry, Killycomain, Kernan, Drumgor, Mourneview, Church, Knocknashane, Parklane, Woodville, Drumnamoe, and Tavanagh). "Area Profiles". Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/default.asp. Retrieved 2008-08-08. 
  2. ↑ "Met Office". http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/armagh.html=. Retrieved October 4, 2008. 
  3. ↑ For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy March 14, 1865.
  4. ↑ Census for post 1821 figures.
  5. ↑ http://www.histpop.org
  6. ↑ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
  7. ↑ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A.. Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. 
  8. ↑ Mokyr, Joel; O Grada, Cormac (November). "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850". The Economic History Review Volume 37 (Issue 4): 473–488. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "Statistical classification of settlements". NI Neighbourhood Information Service. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm. Retrieved 23 February 2009. 
  10. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  11. ↑ Ibid.

External links

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