County Armagh

The name Armagh derives from the Irish {{lang|ga|Ard Macha}}, meaning Macha's height/Macha's high place. Macha is a mythological figure who is mentioned in The Book of the Taking of Ireland. Macha is also said to have been responsible for the construction of the hill site of {{lang|ga|Emain Macha}} (now Navan Fort near Armagh City) to serve as the capital of the {{lang|ga|Ulaid}} kings (who give their name to Ulster) and is believed to be the high place from which the county takes its name.

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. In the north it gives way to flatlands where rolling flats and small hills reach sea level at Lough Neagh.

File:Orchard, Grange Road, County Armagh, July 2013 (02).JPG

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 counties 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 the county's northern boundary.

Numerous uninhabited islands are located in the county's section of Lough Neagh: Coney Island Flat, Croaghan Flat, Padian, Phil Roe's Flat, and the Shallow Flat.

Despite lying in the east of Ireland, Armagh enjoys an oceanic climate strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream: featuring 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 to 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.

On 22 July 2021 the record for highest outside air temperature ever measured in Northern Ireland was set in Armagh City when a reading of 31.4 °C was registered at Armagh Observatory's weather station.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57932848 | title = NI temperature record broken for third time in a week | work = BBC News | date = 22 July 2021 | publisher = British Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = 22 July 2021 | archive-date = 22 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210722160920/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57932848 | url-status = live }}

{{Weather box|location = County Armagh| metric first = yes

|Jan high C = 7

|Feb high C = 7.6

|Mar high C = 9.7

|Apr high C = 12.2

|May high C = 15.2

|Jun high C = 17.7

|Jul high C = 19.6

|Aug high C = 19.2

|Sep high C = 16.6

|Oct high C = 13

|Nov high C = 9.5

|Dec high C = 7.6

|year high C = 12.9

|Jan low C = 1.7

|Feb low C = 1.7

|Mar low C = 2.9

|Apr low C = 4

|May low C = 6.3

|Jun low C = 9.1

|Jul low C = 11.4

|Aug low C = 11

|Sep low C = 9

|Oct low C = 6.7

|Nov low C = 3.5

|Dec low C = 2.4

|year low C = 5.8

|Jan precipitation mm = 79.8

|Feb precipitation mm = 57.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 64.9

|Apr precipitation mm = 55.4

|May precipitation mm = 54.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 55.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 52.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 71.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 67.1

|Oct precipitation mm = 81.1

|Nov precipitation mm = 72.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 83.4

|year precipitation mm = 759.4

|source 1 ={{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/armagh.html= |title=Met Office |access-date=4 October 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|date=August 2010

}}

{{Historical populations

|state=collapsed

|1653|5904

|1659|6748

|1821|197427

|1831|220134

|1841|232393

|1851|196084

|1861|190086

|1871|179260

|1881|163177

|1891|143289

|1901|125392

|1911|120291

|1926|110070

|1937|108815

|1951|114154

|1961|117594

|1966|125164

|1971|133969

|1981|133230

|1991|141585

|2001|162957

|2011|174792

|2021|footnote=For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865.[http://www.cso.ie/census Census for post 1821 figures.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/ |date=9 March 2005 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org |title=Histpop – The Online Historical Population Reports Website |date= |website=www.histpop.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}[http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census NISRA – Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (c) 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |date=17 February 2012 }}. Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk (27 September 2010). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.{{cite book

|last=Lee

|first=JJ

|editor-last=Goldstrom

|editor-first=J. M.

|editor2-last=Clarkson

|editor2-first=L. A.

|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell

|year=1981

|publisher=Clarendon Press

|location=Oxford, England

|chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses

}}{{Cite journal

| last1 = Mokyr

| first1 = Joel

| author-link = Joel Mokyr

| last2 = O Grada

| first2 = Cormac

| title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850

| journal = The Economic History Review

| volume = 37

| issue = 4

| pages = 473–488

|date=November 1984

| url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2012-12-04

| doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x

| hdl = 10197/1406

| hdl-access = free

}}

|194394}}

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 clans of the county were descendants of the Collas, the O'Hanlons and Mac Cana, and the Uí Néill, 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. The area around the base of Slieve Gullion near Newry also became home to a large number of the Clan McGuinness as they were dispossessed of hereditary lands held in the County Down.

St. Patrick is considered the first bishop of the Diocese of Armagh. The 9th-century Irish illuminated manuscript Book of Armagh (also known as the Cannon of Patrick) contains accounts of Patricks' life, his Confessio and a complete New Testament.{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=48 |isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}} The book is now held at the library of Trinity College Dublin.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, County Armagh was a major center of guerrilla warfare, cattle raiding, and brigandage by local Rapparees; including Count Redmond O'Hanlon, Cormacke Raver O'Murphy, and Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh.Tony Nugent (2013), Were You at the Rock? The History of Mass Rocks in Ireland, Liffey Press, Dublin. Pages 32–39.

County Armagh is presently one of four counties of Northern Ireland to have a majority of the population from a Catholic background, according to the 2011 census.

{{Main|The Troubles in Armagh}}

The southern part of the county has been a stronghold of support for the Provisional IRA, earning it the nickname "Bandit Country".{{cite news | title = Myth of Bandit Country | url = http://www.cuchulainntours.com/recent-history | publisher = Iarchimi Ard Mhacha Theas | date = 16 May 2014 | access-date = 16 May 2014 | location = Armagh | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152636/http://www.cuchulainntours.com/recent-history | archive-date = 17 May 2014 | url-status = dead }} South Armagh is predominantly nationalist, with much of the population being opposed to any form of British presence, especially that of a military nature. The most prominent opposition to British rule was the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade.{{cite book|title=Pirates, Terrorists, and Warlords: The History, Influence, and Future of Armed Groups Around the World|editor1-first=Jeffrey|editor1-last=Norwitz|page=107|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-1-626-36987-0}}

On 10 March 2009, the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA), a republican paramilitary group that emerged from a split in the Provisional IRA, claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of a PSNI officer in Craigavon, County Armagh—the first police fatality in Northern Ireland since 1998. The officer was fatally shot by a sniper as he and a colleague investigated "suspicious activity" at a house nearby when a window was smashed by youths causing the occupant to phone the police. The PSNI officers responded to the emergency call, giving a CIRA sniper the chance to shoot and kill officer Stephen Carroll.{{cite news | title = Continuity IRA shot dead officer | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7934426.stm | work = BBC News | date = 10 March 2009 | access-date = 10 March 2009 | location = London | archive-date = 13 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210413171633/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7934426.stm | url-status = live }}{{cite web|title=Continuity IRA claims PSNI murder |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html |publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311135830/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html |archive-date=11 March 2009 }}

The county was administered by Armagh County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|title=Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030152505/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/9/contents|url-status=live}}

County Armagh remains officially used for purposes such as a Lieutenancy area – the county retains a lord lieutenant who acts as representative of the British Monarch in the county.See the Northern Ireland (Lieutenancy) Order 1975 (SI 1975 No. 156)

Currently the county is covered for local government purposes by three district councils, namely Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, approximately the western third of Newry, Mourne and Down Council and a part of Mid Ulster District Council, centred around Peatlands Park.

Armagh ceased to serve as an electoral constituency in 1983 but remains the core of the Newry and Armagh constituency represented at Westminster and the Newry and Armagh constituency represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly. County Armagh also remains as a district for legal and property purposes; however, its baronies no longer have any administrative use.

The -XZ suffix is currently used on vehicle registration plates for vehicles registered in County Armagh. Other suffixes have been -IB and -LZ. These marks are followed by up to four numbers, e.g., JLZ 6789

{{bar box

|title = Religious Background in Armagh (2021)

|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Per cent |float=right

|bars =

{{bar percent|Catholic|DarkOrchid|58.2}}

{{bar percent|Protestant and Other Christian|Blue|34.0}}

{{bar percent|None|grey|6.7}}

{{bar percent|Other faiths|grey|1.2}}

}}

As of the 2021 Census, County Armagh recorded a population of 194,394. It is one of four counties in Northern Ireland with a Catholic majority, with 58% of the population coming from a Catholic community background. Around 10% of the population was born outside the United Kingdom and Ireland, mainly immigrants from the European Union and concentrated in the Craigavon urban area (Lurgan, Portadown and Craigavon).

• In County Armagh, 2.95% claim to use Irish daily and 0.29% claim Irish is their main language.

• 0.98% claim to use Ulster Scots daily in County Armagh.

{{Main|List of places in County Armagh}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census){{cite web | title=Statistical classification of settlements | work=NI Neighbourhood Information Service | url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | access-date=23 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217122433/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/statistical%20classification.htm | archive-date=17 February 2010 | url-status=dead }}

• Newry (though part of the settlement is in County Down)
• Craigavon, includes:
• Lurgan
• Portadown

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

• Armagh (has city status)

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

• none

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

• Bessbrook
• Keady
• Richhill
• Tandragee

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

• Crossmaglen
• Markethill
• Mullavilly/Laurelvale
• Poyntzpass (a part of the settlement is in County Down)

{{Col-break}}

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

• Acton
• Annaghmore
• Annahugh
• Aughanduff
• Ardress
• Ballymacnab
• Bannfoot
• Belleeks
• Blackwatertown
• Bleary
• Broomhill
• Camlough
• Clonmore
• Charlemont
• Cladymore
• Creggan
• Cullaville
• Cullyhanna
• Darkley
• Derryadd
• Derryhale
• Derrymacash
• Derrymore
• Derrynoose
• Derrytrasna
• Dorsey
• Dromintee
• 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

{{col-end}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

Baronies

File:Baronies of Armagh.jpg

{{Main|Baronies of Ireland}}

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

Parishes

{{Main|List of civil parishes of County Armagh}}

Townlands

{{Main|List of townlands in County Armagh}}

{{col-end}}

File:M1 Moira (1) - geograph.org.uk - 195736.jpg]]

File:Train, Portadown station.jpg]]

County Armagh is traversed by two major highways – the M1 linking Belfast to Dungannon crosses the north of the county whilst the A1/N1 from Belfast to Dublin runs in the far south east. Other major roads in the county include the A3 and A29.

Armagh once had a well-developed railway network with connections to, among others, Armagh City, Culloville, {{rws|Goraghwood}}, Markethill, {{rws|Vernersbridge}}, Tynan (see History of rail transport in Ireland) but today only Newry (Bessbrook), {{rws|Portadown}}, {{rws|Poyntzpass}}, {{rws|Scarva}}, and {{rws|Lurgan}} are served by rail.

There is a possible railway re-opening from Portadown to {{rws|Armagh}} in the future.The Ulster Gazette. 16 May 2013 Government Minister for the Department for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA indicates railway restoration plans of the line from Portadown to Armagh.{{cite web|url = http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/local/kennedy-has-rail-hopes-for-armagh-line-restoration-1-5364856|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130821102625/http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/local/kennedy-has-rail-hopes-for-armagh-line-restoration-1-5364856|url-status = dead|archive-date = 21 August 2013|title = Kennedy has hopes for Armagh line restoration – Portadown Times|access-date = 21 August 2013}}

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 an hour and Belfast in little over forty minutes, several times daily.

County Armagh is traversed by the Ulster Canal and the Newry Canal which are not fully open to navigation.

In association football, the NIFL Premiership, which operates as the top division, has one team in the county: Glenavon, with Portadown, Annagh United, Armagh City, Dollingstown, Loughgall and Lurgan Celtic competing in the NIFL Championship, which operates as levels two and three.

The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA organises Gaelic games in the county.

{{See also|Category:People from County Armagh}}

• Frank Aiken (1898–1983), born in County Armagh, Irish Republican, Irish Minister for External Affairs, Tánaiste
• Saint Benignus of Armagh, (died 467), first rector of the Cathedral School of Armagh and Bishop of Armagh
• Brian Boru (941–1014), buried in Armagh City, victor of Clontarf, High King of Ireland
• Sir Robert Hart (1835–1911), born in County Armagh, second Inspector-General of China's Imperial Maritime Customs Service (IMCS) from 1863 to 1911
• Arthur Hunter Palmer (1819–1898), born in County Armagh, 5th Premier of Queensland
• Tommy Makem (1932–2007), born in County Armagh, singer, musician, and songwriter, often called "The Bard of Armagh"
• Seamus Mallon (1936–2020), born in County Armagh, first deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
• Jim McAllister (1943–2013), born in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, politician and author
• John McCreesh, American politician who served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1935 to 1958 was born in Armagh County in 1881.{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania State Senate – John J McCreesh Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=5170&body=S |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |access-date=8 February 2019}}
• Colin Morgan (born 1986), born in County Armagh, actor
• Paul Muldoon (born 1951), born in County Armagh, poet, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the T. S. Eliot Prize
• Andrew Nesbitt (born 1960), raised in Aughnagurgan, County Armagh, professional rally driver and winner of the 2000 and 2002 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
• Tomás Ó Fiaich (1923–1990), born in County Armagh, Cardinal, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland 1977–90
• Eunan O'Neill (born 1982), born in County Armagh, journalist, RT TV network
• Sir William Olpherts (1822–1902), born in County Armagh, soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Ian Paisley (1926– 2014), born in County Armagh, clergyman, politician, second First Minister of Northern Ireland
• Saint Patrick (fifth century), first Bishop of Armagh
• George William Russell 'Æ' (1867–1919), born in County Armagh, author, critic and painter
• 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
• Colin Turkington (born 1982), born in Portadown, County Armagh, professional racing driver and 2009 British Touring Car champion.
• James Ussher (1581–1656), Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland 1625–1656
• Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760–1842), educated in The Royal School, Armagh. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Governor General of India

• 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 a modern interactive visitor centre
• Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral, founded 445, seat of the Church of Ireland's Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, containing the grave of Brian Boru
• Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral, commenced in 1838, seat of the Roman 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, a Mass rock, and a visitor centre at its foot

Image:Slieve Gullion.jpg|View of Slieve Gullion

Image:Enterprise train.jpg|The Enterprise near Newry

Image:BackofAughanduff.JPG|South Armagh Countryside

Image:Forkhill.JPG|Forkhill Mountain

Image:Navan.jpg|Emain Macha

Image:Moyry Castle, Geograph.jpg| Moyry Castle

Image:Kilnasaggart inscribed stone County Armagh 1.jpg| Killnasaggart Stone, 700 A.D.

Image:ArmaghCICathedral.jpg|St. Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, est. 445

Image:Cathedrale d Armagh.jpg|Armagh City

Image:Central Markethill County Armagh Northern Ireland.JPG|The small town of Markethill

Image:Stone bridge, Clare Glen, Tanderagee (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1590572.jpg|Clare Glen Forest, Tandragee

Image:Crossmaglen.jpg|Approach to Crossmaglen

Image:The Knock Bridge near Portadown - geograph.org.uk - 521158.jpg|The Knock Bridge near Portadown on the Newry Canal

Image:GosfordCastle.jpg|Gosford Castle, outside of Markethill

• Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Armagh)
• List of Irish counties by area
• List of Irish counties by population
• Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
• High Sheriff of Armagh

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

• [https://wikishire.co.uk/map/#County_Armagh County Armagh on the interactive map of the counties of Great Britain and Ireland] – Wikishire
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124234005/http://www.armaghanddown.com/ Armagh and Down tourism]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160130045459/http://www.rootedinireland.com/ Armagh history]
• [http://sammymorse.livejournal.com/18531.html#cutid1 Notes on County Armagh]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080705034958/http://www.irishmegaliths.org.uk/armagh.htm Selected Monuments in County Armagh]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152636/http://www.cuchulainntours.com/recent-history South Armagh – The Myth of Bandit Country]

{{Geographic Location

|North = Lough Neagh

|South = County Louth

|East = County Down 36px

|West = County Monaghan

|Northwest = County Tyrone 30px

|Centre = County Armagh

}}

{{County Armagh}}

{{Counties and cities of Northern Ireland}}

{{Ireland_counties}}

{{Places of Interest in County Armagh}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|54.3499|N|6.6546|W|region:IE|display=title}}

Armagh

Category:Lord-lieutenants of Armagh