ARMAGH

In 1868, the parish of Armagh contained the following places:

"ARMAGH, a parish, city, and market-town in the baronies of Armagh and O'Neilland West, in the county of Armagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 81 miles by road, or 98 miles by railway, to the N.W. of Dublin. It is a parliamentary borough, the county town, and the seat of the primacy of Ireland. It is situated near the centre of the county on the river Callan, and is a station on the Ulster railway. It was originally called by a name which signified "hill of sallows;" its present name, contracted from Ard-magh, signifies "high place," or "high field."-The city boasts of a very high antiquity, and had an ecclesiastical origin. It was founded in the middle of the 5th century, by St. Patrick, who also established here a monastery of the Augustine order. This house received considerable endowments from the kings, and became very wealthy. A college was connected with it, to which immense numbers of students resorted, and from which learned men went forth to all parts of Europe. The students at one period numbered 7,000. So much importance was attached to the course of study pursued and the privileges enjoyed here, that in the 12th century a synodal decree was passed that no one should teach theology who had not learnt it at the College of Armagh. The city at an early period became distinguished as the chief city in Ireland. One historian in the 6th century names it the "seat of empire." During the 7th and 8th centuries it was three times destroyed by fire. In 830 the Danes stormed and took the city, and afterwards destroyed it. Thenceforward, for two centuries and a half, the story of the place is almost entirely made up of Danish inroads and violence and native insurrections. In 1004, the town came into the possession of the famous Brian Boru, whose remains, with those of his son, were interred here. It was taken by Edward Bruce in 1315. The insurgent, Shane O'Nial, having retired to Armagh before Lord Sussex, in 1557, the town was again nearly destroyed by the lord lieutenant. O'Nial attacked the city again in 1566, and did not spare even the cathedral. In 1601 Lord Mountjoy recovered it from the O'Nials and placed a strong garrison in it. Sir Phelim O'Nial had possession of the place a short time in 1641. It was garrisoned by the Earl of Tyrconnel for James II., retaken by Lord Blayney, and soon lost again. James remained a short time here on his way from the siege of Derry. In 1690 it was taken by Duke Schomberg. Armagh received a charter of incorporation from James I. in 1613, which, after being superseded by another granted by James II., was restored by William III. The style of the corporation was, the "sovereign, free burgesses, and commonalty of the borough of Ardmagh," under which the local government was till lately carried on. The borough returned two members to the Irish parliament from the reign of James I. till the Union; it has since sent one member to the Imperial parliament. A chief police station is established in Armagh, and the assizes and quarter sessions are held here. Petty sessions are held by the county magistrates weekly. Armagh is the seat of a Poor-law Union. The city is situated on the slope of a hill, on the winding back of the river Callan. The houses are handsome, many being built of the beautiful limestone found in the neighbourhood. The approaches through the surrounding country are very pleasant. The principal object in the city is the cathedral, standing in a central position, to which many of the streets converge. The town is lighted with gas, and well supplied with water. An elegant market-house was erected by Archbishop Stuart. There is a public library, founded and endowed by Primate Robinson; who also erected a handsome building for the library, an observatory, and the archiepiscopal palace, with a chapel near it. The Tontine buildings include an assembly-room, news-room, savings-bank, and other apartments. There is a public walk called the Mall, which was formed by subscription on land formerly part of the town commons. At the north end of this walk is the sessions-house, which was erected in 1809, and at the south end is the county gaol. The linen-ball, which is open for sales on Tuesdays was erected by Leonard Dobbin, Esq., a member for the borough, There are tanneries, flour-mills, two distilleries, gas works, waterworks, barracks for 200 men, five banks, a county lunatic asylum, an ale brewery, &c. Two newspapers are published, the Ulster Gazette, and the Armagh Guardian. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Armagh and Clogher, value with the perpetual curacies of Armagh Breague, Killylea, and others, £1,458, in the patronage of the primate. The original cathedral church, founded by St. Patrick in 445, perished in 836, when the city was destroyed by the Danes. It is not known when the present church was built. It is chiefly in the early English style, and was restored in 1675 by Archbishop Margetson. The length of the building is 183 feet, and its breadth across the transepts 119 feet. It stands on Druimsailech hill, the site of the first cathedral. A tower was erected by Primate Robinson, and a more thorough restoration was carried out by Mr. Cottingham at the expense of Primate Beresford. Several interesting ancient details have been brought to light which had long been concealed; among them are, a sculpture of St. Patrick, with shamrocks above it, and one of St. Peter. There are some fine monuments in the cathedral; one by Rysbrach, to Dean Drelmcourt; one to Primate Robinson, by Bacon; one to Primate Stuart, by Chantry, and several others. A new and handsome church has been erected near the cathedral., It is dedicated to St. Mark. The living is a perpetual curacy Among the primates have been Usher, Bramhall, and Hoadly. There are chapels belonging to the Presbyterians, Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists. There is a free endowed grammar school, the buildings of which were erected by Primate Robinson in 1774. The charter school was founded in 1738, and has received various endowments from time to time. Another school was founded and endowed in 1819, by Primate Stuart, for 105 boys and 84 girls. There area national and several other schools in the parish. One of the Wesleyan chapels stands near the spot where John Wesley frequently used to preach. The branch provincial bank occupies the site of the monastery of St. Columba. One of the Presbyterian chapels was built of the remains of the monastery of SS. Peter and Paul. On the slope of the hill on which the cathedral stands is the county infirmary, built of limestone, and finished in 1774. There is a fever hospital a short distance from the city. The observatory, which is erected on a hill 100 feet in height, has two domes and a residence for the astronomers. In the palace grounds, which extend over 800 acres, are remains of the ancient abbey, and an obelisk to the memory of the Duke of Northumberland. A Roman Catholic cathedral has been erected in the city. Two miles from Armagh is Eamania, the ancient residence of the kings of Ulster. Adjoining it is Crieve Roe, said to be the seat of an ancient knightly order, called "Men of the Red Branch." Not far from these is Navau Fort. Many weapons and military relics have been found near these places. A mound on the banks of the Callan marks the burial place of "Nial of the hundred battles." Vicar's Cairn is a very large pile of loose stones on a lofty hill 4 miles from the town. Armagh gives the title of Earl to the king of Hanover."

"NAVANRATH, (or Eamania), the site of the palace of the Ulster kings, in the parish and county of Armagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 2 miles W. of Armagh. Many Celtic relics, as arrow and spear heads, rings, torques, &c., have been found at this spot, and some are preserved in Mr. Corry's museum at Armagh.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018