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Lurgan

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Lurgan
Population25,000 (estimate)
Irish grid referenceJ080585
• Belfast22 miles
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCRAIGAVON
Postcode districtBT66
BT67
Dialling code+44 (0)28
PoliceNorthern Ireland
FireNorthern Ireland
AmbulanceNorthern Ireland
NI Assembly
Websitewww.lurgan-forward.com
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Armagh

Lurgan (from Irish an Lorgain 'the long ridge'), is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Lurgan is situated to the south of Lough Neagh in the Craigavon Borough Council area, and in the traditional county of Armagh. 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.[6] It has a population of 25,000.

Lurgan is characteristic of many Plantation of Ulster settlements, with its straight, wide planned streets and rows of cottages. Historically it was known as a major centre for the production of textiles, principally linen, after the industrial revolution and continued to be a major producer of textiles until that industry steadily declined in the 1990s and 2000s.

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.[7] 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. [8]

In the 1960s, when the British government was developing a program of new towns in Britain to deal with population growth, the Northern Ireland government also planned a new town to deal with the projected growth of Belfast and to prevent an undue concentration of population in the city. Craigavon was designated as a new town in 1965, intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown. The plan largely failed, [9] and today, 'Craigavon' locally refers to the rump of the residential area between the two towns. [10] However the Craigavon development did impact Lurgan in a number of ways. The sort of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths that were built in Craigavon were also incorporated into newer housing areas in Lurgan, additional land in and around the town was zoned for industrial development, neighbouring rural settlements such as Aghacommon and Aghagallon were developed as housing areas, and there was an increase in the town's population, although not on the scale that had been forecast.

For many years, Craigavon had a so-called centre that consisted of an office building, a civic building, several acres of parkland, and a small shopping centre. In the 1990s the shopping centre was expanded to form what is now called Rushmere Retail Park. This has had a detrimental effect on the retail trade in Lurgan in the same way that out-of-town shopping developments in England have damaged traditional town centres there.

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.

The Troubles

Main article: The Troubles in Lurgan

Lurgan and the associated towns of Portadown and Craigavon make up part of what is known as the "murder triangle", [11] an area known for a significant number of incidents and fatalities during The Troubles.

Governance

Lurgan had its own town council until local government was reformed in Northern Ireland in 1973 under the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. This abolished the two tier system of town and county councils with the single tier system still in use today. Lurgan was placed under the jurisdiction of Craigavon Borough Council. The former Lurgan Town Hall is now owned by the Mechanics' Institute, and the local council now sits at Craigavon Civic Centre.

Culture and Community

Community Facilities

Lurgan has a municipal swimming pool and leisure complex called Waves. This includes a swimming pool, squash courts, a gym, and offers such activities as pilates, circuit training, and spinning classes. [12]

Oxford Island is a nature reserve on the shore of Lough Neagh that includes Kinnego Marina and the Lough Neagh Discovery Center, an interpretive visitor centre offering information about the surrounding wildlife, conference facilities, and a cafe.[13]

Lurgan Park, before a charity fun run.

Lurgan Park, located a few hundred yards from the main street, is the largest urban park in Northern Ireland[14] 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. [15] Lurgan Park is home to annual summer events such as the Lurgan Agricultural Show, and the Lurgan Park Rally, noted as the largest annual motor sport event in Northern Ireland and a stage in the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

Newspapers

Lurgan is served by the following weekly local newspapers:

  • Lurgan Mail, published by Johnston Publishing (NI) [16] - reporting news and sport from around the local area
  • Lurgan and Portadown Examiner - Reporting local news and sport and an emphasis on photographs of local people at sporting and social events

Townlands

The town sprang up in a townland (baile fearainn) called Lurgan, from which its name is derived. Since then, the urban area has spread into the neighbouring townlands, which lend their names to many roads and housing estates. These townlands are:

  • Aghacommon (from Irish Achadh Camán 'hurling field')
  • Aghnaclone
  • Ballyblagh
  • Ballynamony (from Irish Baile na Móna 'townland of the bog')
  • Ballyreagh (from Irish Baile Riach 'greyish townland')
  • Demense
  • Derry (from Doire meaning "oak grove")
  • Dougher or Doughcorran (from Irish Dúchorrán/Dubh Charn 'black cairn')
  • Drumnamoe
  • Knocknashane (from Irish Cnoc na Seáin 'Seán's hill')
  • Shankill (from Irish Seanchill 'old church')
  • Taghnevan (from Irish Teach Naomháin 'Nevan's home')
  • Tannaghmore North & Tannaghmore South (from Irish Tamhnach Mhór 'big grassland')
  • Toberhewny

Sources: [17][18][19]

A Lurgan spade

There is a figure of speech used in Northern Ireland – to have a face as long as a Lurgan spade – meaning "to look miserable".[20] The origins of this expression are disputed. One theory is that a "Lurgan spade" was an under-paid workman digging what is now the Lurgan Park lake.[21] Another theory is that it could be from the Irish language lorga spád meaning the shaft (literally "shin") of a spade.

Sport

Lurgan is home to the following clubs:

Other sports

Lurgan has two 18-hole golf courses[22], an artificial ski slope[23] 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.

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.[24] 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.[25]
  • Rosemary Nelson - Human Rights Solicitor killed by a loyalist car bomb in 1998.[26]
  • Lurgan historians: K.Clenndining, J.McIlmurray, F.McCorry.
  • Margorie McCall - Accidentally buried alive but revived by grave robbers, circa 1705.[27]
  • John Cushnie - Broadcaster, Panellist on the BBC radio 4 show Gardeners' Question Time, Presenters on the BBCNI show The Greenmount Garden
  • Ike Weir - Boxer, featherweight champion of the world born in Castle Lane on 5th of February 1867. Died 12th of september 1908 in Massachusetts.

Education

Primary

  • Carrick Primary School
  • Dickson Primary School
  • King's Park Primary School
  • Lurgan Model Primary School
  • Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias
  • St. Francis` Primary School
  • St. Teresa's Primary School
  • St. Anthony's Primary School
  • Tannaghmore Primary School
  • Tullygally Primary School

Post Primary

Transport

Lurgan railway station opened on 18 November 1841, connecting the town to the Belfast-Dublin railway line.[28] Lurgan is also situated by the M1 motorway connecting the town to Belfast.

References

  1. ^ Census for post 1821 figures.
  2. ^ http://www.histpop.org
  3. ^ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
  4. ^ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.). Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
  5. ^ 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 {{citation}}: |issue= has extra text (help); |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); More than one of |author2= and |last2= specified (help)
  6. ^ Dublin - Belfast - Dublin Mainline timetable
  7. ^ "Craigavon Museum - Lurgan". Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  8. ^ "Lurgan History And Heritage". Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  9. ^ "The Lost City of Craigavon". Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  10. ^ "The 'lost' city of Craigavon to be unearthed in BBC documentary". 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2010-02-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publication= ignored (help)
  11. ^ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,560618,00.html 'A man who stood up for truth' | UK news | The Observer]
  12. ^ [http://www.swim.com/swimming-pools/gb/northern-ireland/lurgan/waves-leisure-centre-37581/ accessdate=2010-02-24 "Waves Leisure Centre"]. swim.com. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing pipe in: |url= (help); line feed character in |url= at position 90 (help)
  13. ^ "Lough Neagh Discovery Centre". Craigavon Borough Council. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  14. ^ "Lurgan Park". Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  15. ^ Lurgan Park
  16. ^ "The Lurgan Mail". British Newspapers Online.
  17. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
  18. ^ http://sinton-family-trees.com/maps2/mapsx.php
  19. ^ http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx#V1,707958,858523,5
  20. ^ Wilkinson, Peter Richard (2002). Thesaurus of traditional English metaphors. Routledge. pp. F.28a.
  21. ^ Clendinning, K, "The Brownlow family and the rise of Lurgan", Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society, 1 (1)
  22. ^ "World Golf". Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  23. ^ "Craigavon Golf Ski Centre". Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  24. ^ "AE -George William Russell - Theospohical History". Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  25. ^ "Your Place And Mine - Armagh". BBC. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  26. ^ "So who did kill Rosemary Nelson?". The Guardian. 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  27. ^ "Your Place And Mine - The Living Dead in Lurgan". BBC. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  28. ^ "Lurgan station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-08-28.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Towns in County Armagh.
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