| County Armagh Contae Ard Mhacha | ||
| Location | ||
| ||
| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Ulster | |
|---|---|---|
| County Town: | Armagh | |
| Area: | 1,254 km² | |
| Population (est.) | 141,000[citation needed] | |
County Armagh (Contae Ard Mhacha in Irish) is a county in Ulster. It is the smallest of the six counties that form Northern Ireland. County Armagh is known by some as the Orchard County because the land is so fertile for apple-growing. Its main town is Armagh, in the middle of the county, although Lurgan at the extreme north-east has a larger population.
In Northern Ireland the county borders Lough Neagh to the north, County Down to the east and County Tyrone, and borders County Louth to the south and County Monaghan to the west, both in the Republic of Ireland.
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The River Blackwater runs along the border with County Tyrone. The River Bann enters Lough Neagh in the north, flowing though the north-east of the county. Mountains in Armagh include Slieve Gullion, Carrigatuke and Camlough Mountain as well as the Mega Mountain,which on a clear day day can be seen as far away as county Donegal.
There are also a number of 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.
Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Voluntii or Uladh (Ultonians, Ulidians, Ulstermen) before the 4th Century AD. They were ruled by the Red Branch. Nearby Armagh town was their capital, Emain Macha, the Navan Fort. The Red Branch played an important role in the Ulster Cycle, and 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. Upper Fews were under the O'Larkins, who were later displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland East was the territory of the O'Garveys, who were displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland West, like Oneilland East, was once O'Neill territory, 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. Misc was ruled by O'Kelaghan. Armagh was the seat of St. Patrick, and continues to be the see of St. Patrick.
County Armagh is divided for administrative purposes between three district councils: Armagh City and District Council, most of Craigavon Borough Council, and approximately the western third of Newry and Mourne District Council.
The city of Armagh, known as the "city of scholars and saints" is the centre of Christianity on the island of Ireland. There are two large cathedrals in the city, the oldest being St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland), the central cathedral for Church of Ireland. St. Patrick's was actually founded by the patron-Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. There is also a Victorian-era Roman Catholic Cathedral in Armagh City, also called St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Craigavon, Portadown, Lurgan, Tandragee and Loughall are also significant towns in County Armagh.
See Also:
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
See Also:
Connacht: Galway * (~City *) • Leitrim * • Mayo * • Roscommon * • Sligo *
Munster: Clare * • Cork * (~City *) • Kerry * • Limerick * (~City *) • Tipperary * (North~ *; South~ *) • Waterford * (~City *)
Leinster: Carlow * • Dublin * (~City *; Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown *; Fingal *; South~ *) • Kildare * • Kilkenny * • Laois * • Longford * • Louth * • Meath * • Offaly * • Westmeath * • Wexford * • Wicklow *
Ulster: Antrim † • Armagh ;† • Cavan * • Donegal * • Down † • Fermanagh † • Londonderry † • Monaghan * • Tyrone †
† denotes counties in Northern Ireland * denotes counties in the Republic of Ireland;
italics denotes non-administrative counties; (parentheses) denotes non-traditional counties
ca:Comtat d'Armagh de:Armagh (County) es:Condado de Armagh fr:Comté d'Armagh ga:Contae Ard Mhacha it:Armagh (contea) nl:County Armagh ja:アーマー州 no:Armagh (grevskap) pl:Hrabstwo Armagh ru:Арма (графство) fi:Armagh'n kreivikunta sv:Armagh (grevskap) tg:Вилояти Армар uk:Арма (графство)
