Armagh (city) - Administration, History, 2001 Census, Education, Sport

54°21N 6°39W, pop (2000e) 14 800. City in Armagh district, Co Armagh, SE Northern Ireland, UK; seat of the kings of Ulster, 400 BC–AD 333; religious centre of Ireland in the 5th-c, when St Patrick was made archbishop here; Protestant and Catholic archbishoprics; city status, 1995; textiles (linen), engineering, shoes, food processing; St Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic, 1840–73), observatory (1791), Royal School (1627); Navan Fort nearby, palace of the kings of Ulster.

Armagh is a city in Northern Ireland, the county town of County Armagh. Armagh was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994, and City status was officially re-conferred in 1995. Armagh is the least populated city in Northern Ireland, and the second least populated in the island of Ireland, Kilkenny being the smallest.

The city is home to Armagh Observatory, founded in 1790 and to the Armagh Planetarium established in 1968 to complement the research work of the Armagh Observatory.

Administration

The city is run by Armagh City and District Council, headquartered in Armagh, which covers a larger area than just the city, but not the entire county. Armagh constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. The city has a long reputation as an administrative centre and currently located in the city is the headquarters of the Southern Education and Library Board and the Southern Health and Social Services Board. The secretariat of the North-South Ministerial Council is based in Armagh, and consists jointly of members of the civil services of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Armagh is the seat of both an Anglican and a Roman Catholic archbishop, the Archbishop of Armagh, both of whom hold the position of Primate of All Ireland for their respective denomination.

History

Emain Macha or Navan Fort, at the edge of the City, has a genuine claim to be the oldest settlement in Ireland, dating back to Queen Macha in 600 BC. The Celtic Queen gave her name to the City - Ard Macha, meaning The Height of Macha, reflecting the fact that the City developed on the hill overlooking Navan Fort. The claim that Armagh is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland dates back to the early fifth century when Saint Patrick established his principal Church in Ireland here. Saint Patrick decreed that only those educated in Armagh could spread the gospel. The educational tradition was carried on with the foundation of The Royal School, Armagh in 1608. Generously assisted by Archbishop Robinson in the 18th century, the school, along with the Armagh Observatory, formed part of the Archbishops plan to have a university founded in the city. Armagh acquired rail links to Belfast in 1848, Monaghan in 1858, Newry in 1864 and Keady in 1909. The line to Newry was closed in 1933, and all other lines to Armagh were closed in 1957. The Armagh rail disaster occurred on June 12, 1889 near Armagh on the line to Newry.

The Troubles

For more information see The Troubles in Armagh, which includes a list of incidents in Armagh during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

2001 Census

Armagh city is classified as a Medium Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 14,590 people living in Armagh.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Education

Armagh Integrated College Armstrong Primary School City of Armagh High School Collone Primary School Drumhillery Primary School Mount St Catherine's Primary School The Royal School, Armagh St. Colmcille's Primary School St. Malachy's Primary School Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh St. Patrick's Primary School Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School The Drelincourt Primary School

Sport

Armagh Gaelic Football