Armagh Gaol was the primary women's prison in Northern Ireland. Muirchú writes that a pagan chieftain named Dáire would not let Patrick build a church on the hill of Ard Mhacha, but instead gave him lower ground to the east. The local GAA handball club is Eugene Quinn's, named after a player from the Armagh area who died on an attempted swim from Tory Island to the coast of Donegal. Acton is a hamlet and townland of 22 acres in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, about a half mile north of Poyntzpass. A border county, Armagh has a large Catholic population. It had a population of 14,777 people in the 2011 Census,[5] making it the least-populated city in Ireland and the fifth smallest in the United Kingdom. Warner, Richard. Armagh County Museum is the oldest county museum in Ireland. Dáire has similarities with the Irish god the Dagda.[10]. to do in Armagh, County Armagh on Tripadvisor: See 1,571 traveller reviews and photos of Armagh tourist We have reviews of the best places to see in Armagh. Brian was buried at Armagh cathedral after his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. [15] By the end of the Nine Years' War, Armagh lay in ruins, as shown on Richard Bartlett's 1601 map. The race was first organised in 1980 and takes place every February with athletes coming from England, Scotland, Wales, continental Europe and the United States. Patterson was erected on The Mall in 2019. Ó hÁdhmaill, Pádraig. According to tradition, Saint Patrick founded his main church there in the year 445, and it eventually became the head church of Ireland. [39] The Newry and Armagh Railway (N&A) opened in 1864 and the Castleblayney, Keady and Armagh Railway (CK&A) was completed in 1910. In 1830, most of Armagh's urban townlands were amalgamated for administration and became known as Corporation Lands or simply Corporation. Seamus Mallon (1936 – ), born in County Armagh, first deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid (also known as Voluntii, Ultonians, Ulidians, Ulstermen) before the fourth century AD. 20.90% were aged under 16 years and 15.44% were aged 65 and over; 52.52% of the usually resident population were female and 47.48% were male; 68.85% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 26.95% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion; 44.39% had an Irish national identity, 27.18% indicated that they had a British national identity and 26.43% had a Northern Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity); 37 years was the average (median) age of the population; 18.76% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaelic) and 4.08% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots. A hoard seemingly lost by Vikings in the River Blackwater shows the high quality of metalwork being made in Armagh at this time. [27] For most of its working life it was a women's prison although not exclusively so. Ian Paisley (1926 – ), born in County Armagh, clergyman, politician, second First Minister of Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1771 by Archbishop Richard Robinson (later created The 1st Baron Rokeby in 1777), using his own library as its nucleus. See Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade for further information. [28] It is especially rich in 17th- and 18th-century books in English, including Dean Jonathan Swift's own copy of the first edition of his Gulliver's Travels with his manuscript corrections. Armagh Market House was built in 1815 as a two-storey five-bay building, and is currently used as a library. Like the rest of Ireland, this parish is divided into townlands, whose names mostly come from the Irish language. Its circular shape matches the modern street layout. [61] Connor Phillips (1981), born in County Armagh, Radio, Television Presenter and DJ. Armagh has been an educational centre since the time of Saint Patrick, and thus it has been referred to as "the city of saints and scholars". Gaelic football is represented by Armagh Harps and Pearse Ógs. The original public house stood a few hundred yards away, at the bottom of the Ballymoyer Road. The name “Armagh” derives from the Irish word Ard meaning “height” and Macha, together meaning “height (or high place) and Macha. Samuel Knox (1756–1832), born in County Armagh, Presbyterian clergyman, school principal, and author. The educational tradition continued with the foundation of the Royal School in 1608, St Patrick's College in 1834 and the Armagh Observatory in 1790. St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, as it is now called, was first founded in the year 445, and has been destroyed and re-built 17 times since then. In 1986 the prison closed and its prisoners were transferred to the new prison at Maghaberry.[27]. Perhaps one of the more well known of the buildings is the former women's prison. It has one public house, which was built in the 1970s on the site of the old police barracks. The secretariat of the North/South Ministerial Council is based in Armagh, and consists jointly of members of the civil services of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Although classed as a medium-sized town,[4] Armagh was given city status in 1994 and Lord Mayoralty status in 2012, both by Queen Elizabeth II. County town of County Armagh in Northern Ireland. Annaleigh Margey, Eamon Darcy, Elaine Murphy (editors). The church at Armagh looked to both the Airthir and neighbouring Uí Néill for patronage. One day, Dáire's horses die after grazing on the church land. The Palace Stables heritage centre is a reconstructed stable block dating from the 18th century, which was once part of the Archbishop's estate. The Troubles: [66] All averages refer to the 1981–2010 observation period. Typically the coldest night of the year should fall to −6.8 °C (19.8 °F)[65] and 40.4 nights should register an air frost. Eunan O’Neill (1982), born in County Armagh, journalist. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. [20] It had no charter granted but claimed the title by prescription; Acts of the Parliament of Ireland in 1773 and 1791 refer to the "City of Armagh". Famous People with Armagh roots: Singer Tommy Makem, William McCrum (inventor of the penalty kick in soccer), Arthur Hunter Palmer (Premier of Queensland), Field Marshal John Dill, Frank Aiken, Andrew Trew Wood, John Stephenson (built world's first street car), poet Paul Muldoon, First Minister of Northern Ireland Ian Paisley. [14], Archbishop Máel Patraic Ua Scannail rebuilt Armagh cathedral in 1268 and founded a Franciscan friary, whose remains can still be seen. Today, Armagh is home to two cathedrals (both named after Saint Patrick) and the Armagh Observatory, and is known for its Georgian architecture. [26] Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council presently holds the status on behalf of the city as there is no localised council body since the aforementioned districts were merged in 2015 as a result of local government reform. Although relatively short-lived it was very successful for that time, attracting many tens of thousands of members. The city is home to the Armagh Observatory, founded in 1790, and to the Armagh Planetarium, established in 1968 to complement the research work of the Observatory. The Observatory was part of Archbishop Lord Rokeby's plan to have a university in the city. The Education Authority (Southern) and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust[37] have their headquarters in the city, which has a long reputation as an administrative centre. Navan Fort, now a tree ring mound which once housed the rulers of Ulster with modern interactive visitor centre. The Ulster Railway linked Armagh with Belfast in 1848 and Monaghan in 1858.