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County Armagh
(Former) The Orchard County
Location
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County seat:	Armagh
Area:	1,254 km² (484 sq mi)
Population (2001)	159,0851

County Armagh (Contae Ard Mhacha in Irish - from the height of Macha) is a county in Ulster in the north east of Ireland. It is the smallest of the six counties that form Northern Ireland in area and second smallest in Ulster. County Armagh is known as the "Orchard County" because the land is so fertile for apple-growing. Its county town is Armagh, in the middle of the county, although both Lurgan and Portadown, in the north of the county, each have larger populations. Traditionally the centre of Christianity in Ireland, both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland leaders in Ireland are based in Armagh. The County also boasts a broad range of historical sites and remains and was served as the power centre of a number of important leaders down the through the ages.

County Armagh borders Lough Neagh to the north, County Down and Carlingford Lough to the east, County Tyrone to the north-west, and counties Louth and Monaghan, both in the Republic of Ireland, to the south and south-west respectively.

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.

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 unoticed with seemless 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.

Gosford Castle, outside Markethill, County Armagh.

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 enjoys a Oceanic climate strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream with damp mild winters, and temperate, wet summers. Overal temperatures rarely drop below freezing during daylight hours and 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.

Weather averages for County Armagh
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °F	45	46	49	54	59	64	67	67	62	55	49	46	55
Average low °F	35	35	37	39	43	48	53	52	48	44	38	36	42
Precipitation inches	3.14	2.26	2.56	2.18	2.14	2.19	2.06	2.83	2.64	3.19	2.84	3.28	29.9
Average high °C	7	7.6	9.7	12.2	15.2	17.7	19.6	19.2	16.6	13	9.5	7.6	12.9
Average low °C	1.7	1.7	2.9	4	6.3	9.1	11.4	11	9	6.7	3.5	2.4	5.8
Precipitation mm	79.8	57.5	64.9	55.4	54.4	55.7	52.3	71.9	67.1	81.1	72.1	83.4	759.4
Source: 2 October 4th, 2008

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 Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency) and Newry & Armagh Northern Ireland Assembly electoral constituencies. County Armagh also remains as a ditrict 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.

Cities and Towns

Newry's Town Hall from the Armagh side of the Clanrye River

See main article: Towns in County Armagh, Villages in County Armagh, List of places in County Armagh

The city of Armagh, known as the "ecclesiastical capital" of Ireland it is the centre of Christianity in Ireland. There are two cathedrals in the city, both dedicated to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. One is the Church of Ireland Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican archbishop, the primate of the Church of Ireland. St. Patrick is believed to have founded a church on this site in the fifth century AD, but the present building is mainly a result of thirteenth and nineteenth century re-building, as the church has frequently been destroyed or fallen into decay during the turbulent history of the region. The Roman Catholic Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Primate of All Ireland and was constructed in the Victorian-era.

Craigavon, Portadown, Lurgan, Tandragee and Loughall are also significant towns in County Armagh.

Transport

The M1 near Lurgan

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 fo the County. Armagh has numerous local roads connecting settlements in the county.

Portadown railway station

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

• George Buchanan Armstrong, (1822-1871), born in County Armagh, developed new system of sorting mail on trains in the United States.³
• Brian Boru, (941 - 1014), buried in Armagh City, victor of Clontarf, High King of Ireland
• Samuel Knox, (1756-1832), born in County Armagh, Presbyterian clergyman, school principal, and author.⁴
• Frank Aiken (1898-1983), born in County Armagh, Irish Republican, Irish Minister for External Affairs, Tánaiste
• Tomás Ó Fiaich (1923-1990), born in County Armagh, clergyman, Archbishop of Armagh, Prelate
• Seamus Mallon (1936 - ), born in County Armagh, first deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
• Ian Paisley (1926 - ), born in County Armagh, clergyman, Politician, second First Minister of Northern Ireland
• Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (1759 - 1822), educated in The Royal School, Armagh. British Foreign Secretary, Secretary for War, Leader of the United Kingdom House of Commons and Chief Secretary for Ireland
• Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760 - 1842), educated in The Royal School, Armagh. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Governor General of India
• Arthur Hunter Palmer, (1819 - 1898), born in County Armagh, 5th Premier of Queensland

Places of Interest

• Armagh Observatory, founded in 1790 & Armagh Planetarium, a modern working astronomical research institute with a rich heritage
• Armagh Public Library on Abbey Street in Armagh City, especially rich in 17th and 18th century English books, including Dean Jonathan Swift's own copy of the first edition of his Gulliver's Travels with his manuscript corrections
• Navan Fort, now a tree ring mound which once housed the rulers of Ulster with modern interactive vistor centre
• Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathederal, founded 445, seat of the Episcopalian Archbishop of Armagh, containing the grave of Brian Boru
• Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathederal, commenced in 1838, seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, stands on a hill and dominates the local countryside
• Gosford Castle, mock medieval 19th century castle with substantial grounds
• Slieve Gullion, extinct volcano with crater lake, highest burial cairn in Ireland, views of 9 counties, with visitor centre at its foot

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	Detail of the 9th century Book of Armagh

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. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.
2. ^ "Met Office" (in English). Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
3. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
4. ^ Ibid.

• Neil Lennon-former captain of Glasgow Celtic F.C.(autobiography:Man and Bhoy)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: County Armagh

External links

• Armagh and Down Tourism
• Armagh history
• Public Records Office of Northern Ireland - Irish Administrative Divisions
• Triskelle - County Armagh
• Notes on County Armagh
• Selected Monuments in County Armagh

See also

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Armagh)
• The Royal School, Armagh
• St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
• Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
• Counties of Ireland
• Counties of Northern Ireland
• List of Irish counties by population
• List of Irish counties by area
• Counties of the United Kingdom
• Provinces of Ireland
• Lieutenancy area
• Newry Canal
• MacNeill's Egyptian Arch
• Newry River
• Newry Town Hall
• Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
• Newry and Armagh by-election, 1986
• Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)

v • d • e Places in County Armagh Cities Armagh · Newry Towns Craigavon · Crossmaglen · Lurgan · Portadown · Keady Villages Acton · Allistragh · Annaghmore · Annahugh · Ardress · Ballsmill · Bannfoot · Belleek · Bessbrook · Bleary · Broomhill · Ballydougan · Camlough · Carnagh · Carrickaness · Charlemont · Cladymilltown · Cladymore · Clare · Collegeland · Creggan · Cullaville · Cullyhanna · Darkley · Derryadd · Derryhale · Derrymacash · Derrymore · Derrynoose · Derrytrasna · Dollingstown · Drumnacanvy · Drumintee · Edenaveys · Forkhill · Gamblestown · Gibson's Hill · Hamiltonsbawn · Jonesborough · Killeen · Killylea · Kilmore · Laurelvale · Lislea · Lisnadill · Loughgall · Loughgilly · Madden · Magheralin · Maghery · Markethill · Meigh · Middletown · Milford · Milltown · Mountnorris · Mullaghbawn · Mullaghbrack · Mullaghglass · Mullavilly · Newtownhamilton · Poyntzpass · Richhill · Scotch Street · Silverbridge · Tandragee · Tartaraghan · Tassagh · The Birches · Tynan · Whitecross Townlands Aughanduff · Ballymacnab · Ballydougan · Creeveroe  · Granemore  · Millvale, Bessbrook

v • d • e Counties of Ireland Connacht Galway (Galway City) · Leitrim · Mayo · Roscommon · Sligo Munster Clare · Cork (Cork City) · Kerry · Limerick (Limerick City) · Tipperary (North Tipperary • South Tipperary) · Waterford (Waterford City) Leinster Carlow · Dublin (Dublin City • Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown • Fingal • South Dublin) · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Longford · Louth · Meath · Offaly · Westmeath · Wexford · Wicklow Ulster Cavan · Donegal · Monaghan · Antrim · Armagh · Down · Fermanagh · Londonderry · Tyrone Italics denote non-administrative counties. Parentheses () denote eponymous cities or non-traditional counties.

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