Steeped in tradition and history, the towns and villages of the Craigavon area are a rich mix of market towns, rural settlements and 'New Cities'. The extracts below are a brief outline of information on our local towns.

Contents

Brownlow
Lurgan
Portadown
Donaghcloney
Magheralin
Maghery
Waringstown

Brownlow
Brownlow is the central urban area of Craigavon and was developed as Ulster's first new town in the early sixties. Brownlow has many open spaces and landscaping provided to a high standard.

Lurgan
The history of Lurgan (or Lurgivallivacket - the long hill of the McCann's place), is dominated by the arrival of the Brownlow family during the Plantation of Ulster and the rise of the linen industry. 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 town is well known for its large wooded park and lake, which is overlooked by Brownlow House, Lurgan's most outstanding piece of architecture. The Park is home to the annual summer events of the Lurgan Agricultural Show, the Car Rally and a stage in the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

The most famous character from Lurgan is the 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.

Portadown
Portadown derives its name from the Irish Port-ne-dun, (Port of the Fortress) and is associated with the ancient and powerful local family of McCann who were among the area's earliest settlers and whose cattle commanded the passage of the River Bann (White River). The construction of the Newry Canal in 1740 and the later development of the railway lines to Belfast and Dublin put Portadown at the hub of transport routes which continues today as the only stop on the high speed train link between the two cities. One of Portadown's chief claims to international fame arose from its rose growing made famous by local grower Samuel McGready.

Donaghcloney
Donaghcloney is a typical Ulster village linked to the linen industry when Ewart Liddel became a major manufacturer of linen in 1742. The tradition with linen has been continued with the Liddel factory being the largest damask linen weaving company in Ireland. (The weaving process in the factory can be seen as part of the Irish Linen Tour - Tel: 01806-23322). The cottage style houses clustered in the village centre give Donaghcloney an unique atmosphere and like nearby Waringstown, the village has a history of cricket playing over many generations.

Magheralin
This village is grouped around the confluence of a number of roads, and has an attractive parish church and several fine planters' houses, such as Blacklion and Drumcro by Newfoge Bridge over the Lagan. The two village churches date back to the 1840's and display fine architecture and are some of the best in Ulster in which to see the works of Irish artists in stained glass.

Maghery
Situated on the shores of Lough Neagh seven miles from Portadown, Maghery is a popular centre for boating enthusiasts and for exploring the Lough shoreline. Nearby on the hilltop stand the impressive ruins of O'Connors (or Derrawarragh) Castle. A few hundred yards off the shore lies Coney Island, which was once linked to the mainland by Saint Patrick's Road. There is a suggestion that the name Coney Island in New York harbour received its name from the Lough Neagh isle.

Waringstown
Waringstown is one of Ireland's most charming villages and was founded in 1667 by William Waring, whose Jacobean style mansion-house is part of the old village centre. The village has won many awards including Best Kept Small Town, Ulster in Bloom and Entente Florale. Waringstown was noted in the past for the local handloom damask weaving trade, but is better known today for the cricket played at `The Lawn' ground.

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