County Armagh () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It is located in the province of Ulster and adjoins the southern shore of Lough Neagh. It borders the Northern Irish counties of Tyrone to the west and Down to the east. The county borders Louth and Monaghan to the south and southwest, which are in the Republic of Ireland. It is named after its county town, Armagh, which derives from the Irish Ard Mhacha, meaning "Macha's height". Macha was a sovereignty goddess in Irish mythology and is said to have been buried on a wooded hill around which the town of Armagh grew. County Armagh is colloquially known as the "Orchard County" because of its many apple orchards.
The county covers an area of , making it the smallest of Northern Ireland's six counties by size and the sixth-smallest county on the island of Ireland. With a population of 194,394 as of the 2021 census, it is the fourth-most populous county in both Northern Ireland and Ulster. It is the 10th most populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties, as well as the fifth-most densely populated. In addition to the city of Armagh and the western portion of the city of Newry, notable towns in the county include Lurgan, Portadown and Craigavon.
Etymology The name Armagh derives from the Irish , meaning Macha's height/Macha's high place. Macha is a mythological figure who is mentioned in The Book of the Taking of Ireland. Macha is also said to have been responsible for the construction of the hill site of (now Navan Fort near Armagh City) to serve as the capital of the kings (who give their name to Ulster) and is believed to be the high place from which the county takes its name.
Geography and features From its highest point at Slieve Gullion, in the south of the county, Armagh's land falls away from its rugged south with Carrigatuke, Lislea and Camlough mountains, to rolling drumlin country in the middle and west of the county. In the north it gives way to flatlands where rolling flats and small hills reach sea level at Lough Neagh.
County Armagh's boundary with Louth is marked by the rugged Ring of Gullion rising in the south of the county, whilst much of its boundary with counties Monaghan and Down goes unnoticed with seamless continuance of drumlins and small lakes. The River Blackwater marks the border with County Tyrone, and Lough Neagh otherwise marks the county's northern boundary.
Numerous uninhabited islands are located in the county's section of Lough Neagh: Coney Island Flat, Croaghan Flat, Padian, Phil Roe's Flat, and the Shallow Flat.
Climate Despite lying in the east of Ireland, Armagh enjoys an oceanic climate strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream: featuring damp mild winters, and temperate, wet summers. Overall temperatures rarely drop below freezing during daylight hours, though frost is not infrequent in the months November to February. Snow rarely lies for longer than a few hours even in the elevated south-east of the county. Summers are mild and wet and, although with sunshine often interspersed with showers, daylight lasts for almost 18 hours during high-summer.
On 22 July 2021 the record for highest outside air temperature ever measured in Northern Ireland was set in Armagh City when a reading of 31.4 °C was registered at Armagh Observatory's weather station.
History
Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid (also known as Voluntii, Ultonians, Ulidians, Ulstermen) before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha (or Navan Fort) near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha. The Red Branch play an important role in the Ulster Cycle, as well as 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 clans of the county were descendants of the Collas, the O'Hanlons and Mac Cana, and the Uí Néill, 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, and Upper Fews were under governance of the O'Larkins, who were later displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland East was the territory of the O'Garveys, who were also displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland West, like Oneilland East, was once O'Neill territory, until 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. Miscellaneous tracts of land were ruled by O'Kelaghan. The area around the base of Slieve Gullion near Newry also became home to a large number of the Clan McGuinness as they were dispossessed of hereditary lands held in the County Down.
St. Patrick is considered the first bishop of the Diocese of Armagh. The 9th-century Irish illuminated manuscript Book of Armagh (also known as the Cannon of Patrick) contains accounts of Patricks' life, his Confessio and a complete New Testament. The book is now held at the library of Trinity College Dublin.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, County Armagh was a major center of guerrilla warfare, cattle raiding, and brigandage by local Rapparees; including Count Redmond O'Hanlon, Cormacke Raver O'Murphy, and Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh.Tony Nugent (2013), Were You at the Rock? The History of Mass Rocks in Ireland, Liffey Press, Dublin. Pages 32–39.
County Armagh is presently one of four counties of Northern Ireland to have a majority of the population from a Catholic background, according to the 2011 census.
The Troubles
The southern part of the county has been a stronghold of support for the Provisional IRA, earning it the nickname "Bandit Country". South Armagh is predominantly nationalist, with much of the population being opposed to any form of British presence, especially that of a military nature. The most prominent opposition to British rule was the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade.
On 10 March 2009, the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA), a republican paramilitary group that emerged from a split in the Provisional IRA, claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of a PSNI officer in Craigavon, County Armagh—the first police fatality in Northern Ireland since 1998. The officer was fatally shot by a sniper as he and a colleague investigated "suspicious activity" at a house nearby when a window was smashed by youths causing the occupant to phone the police. The PSNI officers responded to the emergency call, giving a CIRA sniper the chance to shoot and kill officer Stephen Carroll.
Administration The county was administered by Armagh County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973.
County Armagh remains officially used for purposes such as a Lieutenancy area – the county retains a lord lieutenant who acts as representative of the British Monarch in the county.See the Northern Ireland (Lieutenancy) Order 1975 (SI 1975 No. 156)
Currently the county is covered for local government purposes by three district councils, namely Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, approximately the western third of Newry, Mourne and Down Council and a part of Mid Ulster District Council, centred around Peatlands Park.
Armagh ceased to serve as an electoral constituency in 1983 but remains the core of the Newry and Armagh constituency represented at Westminster and the Newry and Armagh constituency represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly. County Armagh also remains as a district for legal and property purposes; however, its baronies no longer have any administrative use.
The -XZ suffix is currently used on vehicle registration plates for vehicles registered in County Armagh. Other suffixes have been -IB and -LZ. These marks are followed by up to four numbers, e.g., JLZ 6789
Demography
As of the 2021 Census, County Armagh recorded a population of 194,394. It is one of four counties in Northern Ireland with a Catholic majority, with 58% of the population coming from a Catholic community background. Around 10% of the population was born outside the United Kingdom and Ireland, mainly immigrants from the European Union and concentrated in the Craigavon urban area (Lurgan, Portadown and Craigavon).
Community background and religion +Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census)Religion or religion brought up inNumber(%)Catholic113,09358.2Protestant and Other Christian66,02134.0None (no religion)13,0186.7Other religion2,2621.2Total194,394100.0 +Religion (2021 Census)ReligionNumber(%)Christian166,53885.7Catholic107,05855.1Church of Ireland24,43712.6Presbyterian17,5609.0Methodist4,1942.2Other Christian (including Christian related)13,2906.8Protestant and Other Christian: Total59,48130.6Other2,0371.0Islam8820.5Hinduism1680.09Other religions9860.5None/not stated25,82013.3No religion22,94411.8Religion not stated2,8761.5Total194,394100.0
Ethnicity +Ethnic groups (2021 Census)Ethnic groupNumber(%)White: Total188,34796.9White: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)172,92389.0White: Other14,5427.5White: Irish Traveller6750.3White: Roma2070.1Asian or Asian British: Total2,4451.3Asian/Asian British: Indian6150.3Asian/Asian British: Chinese5890.3Asian/Asian British: Filipino4050.2Asian/Asian British: Pakistani1920.01Asian/Asian British: Arab1070.055Asian/Asian British: Other Asian5370.3Black or Black British: Total1,5970.8Black/Black British: Black African1,0860.6Black/Black British: Black Other5110.2Mixed: Total1,4800.8Other: Any other ethnic group: Total5220.3Total194,394100.0
Country of birth +Country of birth (2021 Census)Country of birthNumber(%)United Kingdom and Ireland175,54890.3Northern Ireland162,21383.4England5,9313.1Scotland1,0710.6Wales2340.1Republic of Ireland6,0993.1Europe14,4407.4European Union13,9467.2Other non-EU countries4940.2Rest of World4,4062.3Middle East and Asia2,3561.2Africa9210.5North America, Central America and Caribbean6490.3Antarctica, Oceania and Other2500.1South America2300.1Total194,394100.0
Languages spoken +Main language of all usual residents aged 3 or over (2021 Census)Main languageUsual residents aged 3+(%)English171,71392.0Polish3,8182.0Lithuanian2,8601.5Portuguese1,7450.9Bulgarian1,5750.8Romanian7250.4Irish5640.3All other languages3,6772.0Total (usual residents aged 3+)186,677100.0
Knowledge of Irish +Ability in Irish of all usual residents aged 3 or over (2021 Census)Ability in IrishNumber(%)Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish9,8035.3Speaks and reads but does not write Irish1,2060.6Speaks but does not read or write Irish4,9522.7Understands but does not read, write or speak Irish13,1507.0Other combination of skills2,5531.4Has some knowledge of Irish: Total31,66517.0No ability in Irish155,01283.0Total (usual residents aged 3+)186,677100.0
In County Armagh, 2.95% claim to use Irish daily and 0.29% claim Irish is their main language.
Knowledge of Ulster Scots +Ability in Ulster Scots of all usual residents aged 3 or over (2021 Census)Ability in Ulster ScotsNumber(%)Speaks, reads, writes and understands Ulster Scots1,6530.9Speaks and reads but does not write Ulster Scots7230.4Speaks but does not read or write Ulster Scots1,7951.0Understands but does not read, write or speak Ulster Scots8,8134.7Other combination of skills1,3100.7Has some knowledge of Ulster Scots: Total14,2947.7No ability in Ulster Scots172,38392.3Total (usual residents aged 3+)186,677100.0
0.98% claim to use Ulster Scots daily in County Armagh.
National identity