Lurgan 299288 225841879 2008-07-15T17:29:06Z Eireabu 6645090 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225840053 by [[Special:Contributions/Doomsday77|Doomsday77]] ([[User talk:Doomsday77|talk]])undoing vandalism {{Infobox UK place | |official_name= Lurgan |irish_name= An Lorgain |scots_name= |local_name= Lurgan |static_image= |static_image_caption= |map_type= Northern Ireland |latitude= 54.464722 |longitude= -6.332222 |belfast_distance= 19 miles |population= 25,000 (est) |irish_grid_reference= J080585 |unitary_northern_ireland= [[Craigavon Borough Council|Craigavon Borough]] |country= Northern Ireland |post_town= CRAIGAVON |postcode_area= BT |postcode_district= BT66 & 67 |dial_code= 028, +44 28 |constituency_westminster= [[Upper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)|Upper Bann]] |lieutenancy_northern_ireland= [[County Armagh]] |website= [http://www.lurgan-forward.com www.lurgan-forward.com] }} '''Lurgan''' ({{derive|Irish|An Lorgain|the long low ridge of land}}), is a town in [[County Armagh]], [[Northern Ireland]] with a population of approximately 25,000.<ref>[http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/environment/Craigavon%20Stage%202-3%20AQRA%20Jan%2005%20Final.pdf Craigavon Borough Council]</ref><ref>[http://www.portadowntown.com/about/heritage.asp portadown.com]</ref> Lurgan is situated in the [[Craigavon Borough Council]] area, to the south of [[Lough Neagh]] in the centre of Northern Ireland. The town is approximately 19&nbsp;miles (30&nbsp;km) southwest of [[Belfast]] and is linked by both the [[M1 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M1 motorway]] and a railway line to the capital. 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 and includes a sizable lake, and an original [[Coalbrookdale]] fountain. The park is overlooked by Brownlow House, a magnificent 19th century Elizabethan-style manor house<ref>[http://www.lurganpark.com/aboutus.asp Lurgan Park]</ref>. 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. == History == [[Image:Lurgan_Park_Fun_Run_June_2008.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Lurgan Park, before a charity fun run.]] Earlier names of Lurgan include "Lorgain Chlann Bhreasail" (Lurgan of Clanbrassil), "Lorgain Bhaile Mhic Cana" (Long low ridge of McCann's townland &mdash; Lurgan Bally McCann) and Lurgivallivacket (the long hill of the 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 [[England|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 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 built up the [[linen]] industry and it is said that the greatest manufacture of linen was carried on in the town in the late 17th century. == The Troubles == Lurgan and the associated towns of [[Portadown]] and [[Craigavon]] make up what is known as the "murder triangle".<ref>[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,560618,00.html 'A man who stood up for truth' | UK news | The Observer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For more information see [[The Troubles in Lurgan]], which includes a list of incidents in Lurgan during the Troubles that caused two or more fatalities.Outside of Belfast, Lurgan was considered a Provisional IRA stronghold. It surpassed all areas outside of Belfast for incidents during the troubles. == Sport == Lurgan is home to the following sports clubs: *[[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]]) *[[Football (soccer)]] **[[Glenavon F.C.]] competes in the [[Irish Football League|Irish Premier League]] **[[Lurgan Celtic F.C.]] competes in the first Division **Lurgan Town Boys Football Club *[[Hurling]] **Sean Treacy's, winner of the 2006 Junior Armagh Championship *[[Cricket (sport)|Cricket]] **Lurgan Cricket Club plays in the Ulster Bank Premier League at Pollock Park and have recently started their Lurgan Tigers youth development program. This should enable them to attract and develop youngsters. *Tennis **Lurgan Tennis Club has a facility in Lurgan Park that includes six courts, two of which are hard courts. Lurgan has two 18-hole golf courses, an artificial ski slope 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 == *Wilbur W. "Billy" Cush (June 10, 1928 – July 28, 1981) was a former Northern Ireland footballer and platoon leader in the Ulster Special Constabulary. *Field Marshal Sir [[John Greer Dill]] - Soldier and diplomat. *James McCabe b.1748 in Lurgan to a clockmaking family. Famous Georgian clock & watchmaker who established his business in London in 1775. Died Stoke Newington, London, 6th October 1811. *[[Len Ganley]] MBE - Well known and respected world championship snooker referee. Returned home in 1999 after retiring from the sport, and is currently coaching children snooker in the local community. *[[Sammy Jones (footballer)|Sammy Jones]] - Former professional footballer. Made over 100 appearances for [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] and received one cap for the [[Ireland national football team (IFA)|Irish national team]]. *[[Neil Lennon]] - Former captain of the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] [[football (soccer)|football]] team. Former captain of the Glasgow Celtic football team. Currently back at Celtic working in a coaching role at the club. *[[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 V.C]] born [[October 9]], [[1895]] - died [[July 1]], [[1916]]. Died after a full box of grenades dropped into a trench on the first day of the battle of the Somme. *[[Rosemary Nelson]] - Solicitor killed by a [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] car bomb in 1998. == Education == *[[Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias]] *[[Carrick Primary School, Lurgan|Carrick Primary School]] *[[Dickson Primary School]] *[[King's Park Primary School, Lurgan]] *[[Lurgan College]] *[[Lurgan Junior High School]] *[[Lurgan Model Primary School]] *[[St. Josephs' Primary School, Lurgan|St. Josephs' Primary School]] *[[St. Mary's High School, Lurgan|St. Mary's High School]] *[[St Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan|St. Michael's Grammar School]] *[[St. Paul's Junior High School]] *[[St. Teresa's Primary School, Lurgan|St. Teresa's Primary School]] *[[Tannaghmore Primary School]] *[[Tullygally Primary School]] ==Transport== *[[Lurgan railway station]] opened on [[18 November]] [[1841]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Lurgan station| work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref> == See Also == *[[Speir's school]] Some details of the Laird of Braidstane's Scotch Colony of 1606. == References == <references/> *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/mccall_grave.shtml McCall Grave] *[http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=3&to=52&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland] ==External links== *[http://www.lurgan-forward.com/ Lurgan Forward] - Lurgan Town Centre Management Company. *[http://www.portadownnews.com/ Portadown News] - a satirical look at life in Northern Ireland, and in particular in Lurgan. *[http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/brownlow.htm Lord Brownlow] - Public Record Office records for Lord Brownlow *[http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/museum/townsbody2.htm Craigavon Museum] == See also == *[[List of towns in Northern Ireland]] *[[List of villages in Northern Ireland]] {{County Armagh}} [[Category:Towns in County Armagh]] [[es:Lurgan]] [[lt:Lerganas]] [[nl:Lurgan]] [[pl:Lurgan]]