Lurgan
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Coordinates: 54°27′53″N 6°19′56″W / 54.464722°N 6.332222°W
| Lurgan | |
| Irish: an Lorgain | |
  Lurgan shown within Northern Ireland |
|
| Population | 25,000 (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Irish grid reference | |
| - Belfast | 22 miles |
| District | Craigavon |
| County | County Armagh |
| Constituent country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CRAIGAVON |
| Postcode district | BT66 BT67 |
| Dialling code | +44 (0)28 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| European Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| NI Assembly | Upper Bann |
| Website: www.lurgan-forward.com | |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Armagh | |
Lurgan (from the Irish: an Lorgain meaning "the long ridge"), is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Lurgan is situated in the Craigavon Borough Council area, to the south of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. The town is approximately 19 miles (30 km) southwest of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway and the Belfast-Dublin railway line.
Lurgan is characteristic of many Plantation of Ulster settlements, with its straight, wide planned streets and rows of cottages. Lurgan Park, located a few hundred yards from the main street is the largest urban park in Northern Ireland[1] and the second largest in Ireland after Phoenix Park, Dublin. It includes a sizable lake and an original Coalbrookdale fountain. The park is overlooked by Brownlow House, a 19th century Elizabethan-style manor house [2]. Lurgan Park is home to annual summer events such as the Lurgan Agricultural Show, the Lurgan Park Rally, noted as the largest annual motor sport event in Northern Ireland and a stage in the Circuit of Ireland Rally. Lurgan is known as the "Spade town" of Ulster, where its inhabitants call a spade, a spade. This resulted in a board game Spade Town Challenge[3] being named after it.
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[edit] History
Earlier names of Lurgan include Lorgain Chlann Bhreasail (long ridge of Clanbrassil), Lorgain Bhaile Mhic Cana (long ridge of McCann's townland) and Lurgivallivacket (long hill of McCann's place). The McCann sept (clan) were Lords of Clanbrassil, prior to the Plantation of Ulster period in the early 17th century. The McCanns were septs of the O'Neills.
In around 1610, during the Plantation period, the lands of Lurgan were given to the English lord William Brownlow and his family. In 1641, William Brownlow, his wife and family were taken prisoner and brought to Armagh and then to Dungannon, in County Tyrone. The land was then passed to the McCanns, and also to the O'Hanlons. In 1642, Brownlow and his family were released by the forces of Lord Conway, who was operating in the Dungannon area. The family contributed to the development of the linen industry and it is said that the greatest manufacture of linen was carried on in the town in the late 17th century[4].
The textile industry remained a main employer in the town until recent times, with the advent of access to cheaper labour in the developing world leading to a decline in the manufacture of clothing in Lurgan.
[edit] The Troubles
Lurgan and the associated towns of Portadown and Craigavon make up part of what is known as the "murder triangle",[5] an area known for a significant number of incidents and fatalities during The Troubles.
[edit] Sport
Lurgan is home to the following clubs:
- Soccer
- Gaelic football
- Clann Éireann GFC
- Clan na Gael CLG
- St Peter's GFC
- St Paul's GFC
- Éire Óg CLG (Craigavon)
- Wolfe Tones GFC/St Enda's Camogie Club (Derrymacash)
- Sarsfields GFC (Derrytrasna)
- St Michael's GFC (Magheralin)
- St Mary's GFC (Aghagallon)
- Hurling
- Sean Treacy's
- Rugby union
- Lurgan RFC
- Cricket
- Lurgan Cricket Club
- Cycling
- Apollo CT
- [1]Clann Éireann CC
- Lurgan Road Club
- Tennis
- Lurgan Tennis Club
[edit] Other sports
Lurgan has two 18-hole golf courses[6], an artificial ski slope[7] and an equestrian centre for show jumping. Arguably the most famous sporting character from Lurgan is Master McGrath, a greyhound who was bought in Lurgan by the Brownlow family and won the Waterloo Cup three times in 1868, 1870 and 1871. He is remembered all over the town, including in its Coat of Arms. A statue of him was unveiled at Craigavon Civic Centre in 1993, over 120 years after his last glory in 1871. A festival is also held yearly in his honour. A well known pub was also named after Master McGrath, although it has been renamed in recent years.
[edit] People
- Field Marshal Sir John Greer Dill - Soldier and diplomat.
- Barry Douglas - classical pianist and conductor.
- Len Ganley MBE - Retired world championship snooker referee.
- Sammy Jones - Former professional footballer. Made over 100 appearances for Blackpool and received one cap for the Irish national team.
- Neil Lennon - Former captain of the Northern Ireland football team. Former captain of the Glasgow Celtic football team. Currently back at Celtic working in a coaching role at the club.
- Jim Harvey - Former professional fooballer, and former assistant manager Northern Ireland football team. He has also played for Glenavon Arsenal F.C.Tranmere Rovers.
- George William Russell (April 10, 1867 – July 17, 1935) - Wrote under the pseudonym Æ, was an Anglo-Irish supporter of the Nationalist movement in Ireland, a critic, poet, and painter. He was also a mystical writer, and centre of a group of followers of theosophy in Dublin, for many years. AE was born in William Street, Lurgan.
- William Frederick McFadzean (October 9, 1895 - July 1, 1916). Died when he threw himself on a box of primed grenades prior to the Battle of the Somme and was awarded the Victoria Cross.[8]
- Rosemary Nelson - Human Rights Solicitor killed by a loyalist car bomb in 1998.
- Lurgan historians: K.Clenndining, J.McIlmurray, F.McCorry.
- Margorie McCall - Was accidentally buried alive but revived by grave robbers, circa 1705[9].
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary
- Carrick Primary School
- Dickson Primary School
- King's Park Primary School
- Lurgan Model Primary School
- Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias
- St. Josephs' Primary School
- St. Teresa's Primary School
- Tannaghmore Primary School
- Tullygally Primary School
[edit] Post Primary
- Lurgan College
- Lurgan Junior High School
- St. Mary's High School
- St. Michael's Grammar School
- St. Paul's Junior High School
- Upper Bann Institute of Further Education
[edit] Transport
Lurgan railway station opened on 18 November 1841, connecting the town to the Belfast-Dublin railway line.[10] Lurgan is also situated by the M1 motorway connecting the town to Belfast.
[edit] References
- ^ "Lurgan Park". Northern Ireland Tourist Board. http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Lurgan-Park-Lurgan-Craigavon-P11100. Retrieved on 2009-03-04.
- ^ Lurgan Park
- ^ Spade Town Challenge
- ^ "Lurgan History And Heritage". http://www.lurgan-forward.com/history-and-heritage/. Retrieved on 2009-03-04.
- ^ 'A man who stood up for truth' | UK news | The Observer
- ^ "World Golf". http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/northernireland/countyarmagh/lurgan-golf-club.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Craigavon Golf Ski Centre". http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/leisure/ski.asp. Retrieved on 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Your Place And Mine - Armagh". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/A766055.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
- ^ Gracey, James (August 2004). "The Living Dead in Lurgan". http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/mccall_grave.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-03-04.
- ^ "Lurgan station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
[edit] External links
- Lurgan Forward - Lurgan Town Centre Management Company.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Towns in County Armagh |
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- Speir's school Some details of the Laird of Braidstane's Scotch Colony of 1606.
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