View source for Lurgan


{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name            = Lurgan
| irish_name               = An Lorgain
| scots_name               =
| local_name               =
| static_image_name        =
| static_image_width       = 200
| static_image_alt         =
| static_image_caption     = Statue of linen-makers in Lurgan town centre
| map_type                 = Northern Ireland
| coordinates              = {{coord|54.465|-6.332|display=inline,title}}
| belfast_distance         = {{convert|18|mi|km}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-it-between.htm |title=Free Map Tools – "How Far Is It Between?" |access-date=18 April 2010 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420052656/http://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-it-between.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population               = 28,634
| population_ref           = (2021 Census)
| irish_grid_reference     = J080585
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council|Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon]]
| country                  = Northern Ireland
| historic_county          =
| post_town                = CRAIGAVON
| postcode_area            = BT
| postcode_district        = BT66, BT67
| dial_code                = 028
| constituency_ni_assembly = [[Upper Bann (Assembly constituency)|Upper Bann]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Upper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)|Upper Bann]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Armagh]]
| website                  ={{url|lurgan-forward.com}}
}}
'''Lurgan''' ({{Irish derived place name|An Lorgain|the long low ridge}}) is a town in [[County Armagh]], [[Northern Ireland]], near the southern shore of [[Lough Neagh]] and roughly {{convert|18|mi|km}} southwest of [[Belfast]]. The town is linked to Belfast by both the [[M1 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M1 motorway]] and the [[Belfast–Dublin railway line]]. Lurgan had a population of about 28,634 (38,198 District Area) at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 UK census]], and falls within the [[Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council|Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district]]. For certain purposes, Lurgan is treated as part of the "Craigavon Urban Area", along with neighbouring [[Craigavon, County Armagh|Craigavon]] and [[Portadown]].
Lurgan is typical of many [[Plantation of Ulster]] settlements, with its straight and wide, planned streets, and is the home of a number of historic listed buildings, such as [[Brownlow House]] and [[Lurgan Town Hall]]. Lurgan Park is the largest urban park in Northern Ireland.<ref>[http://www.outdoorni.com/local-outdoors/venues/lurgan-park/ Lurgan Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126080941/http://www.outdoorni.com/local-outdoors/venues/lurgan-park/ |date=26 January 2019 }}. Outdoor NI. Retrieved 27 July 2019.</ref>
Historically, and after the [[Industrial Revolution]], the town of Lurgan was known as a major centre for the production of textiles (mainly [[Irish linen|linen]]), something which continued steadily until that industry's gradual decline in the late 20th century.
The development of [[Craigavon, County Armagh|Craigavon]], the "new" city, had a major impact on Lurgan in the 1960s, at a time when much industry was attracted to the area.
==History==
[[File:Middle Row, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, late 19th century (7163415146).jpg|thumb|250px|Middle Row, Lurgan, in the late 19th century]]
[[File:Bird's Eye View, Lurgan, Co. Armagh (26632482445).jpg|thumb|250px|Birds-eye view of Lurgan in the early 20th century]]
[[File:Edward Street, Lurgan (16484093242).jpg|thumb|250px|Edward Street, Lurgan, in the early 20th century]]
The name Lurgan is an [[Anglicisation of names|anglicisation]] of the [[Irish name]] ''An Lorgain'',  literally meaning "the shin", but within the context of placenames refers to a "shin"-shaped hill or ridge (i.e., long, low and narrow). Previous names of Lurgan included ''Lorgain Chlann Bhreasail'' (anglicised ''Lurganclanbrassil'', "the long low ridge of [[Oneilland East|Clanbrassil]]") and ''Lorgain Bhaile Mhic Cana'' (anglicised ''Lurganvallivackan'', meaning "the long low ridge of McCann's settlement").<ref>[http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=11111 Place Names NI: Lurgan]</ref> The [[Mac Cana]] (McCanns) were a sept of the [[O'Neill dynasty|O'Neills]] and [[Earl of Clanbrassil|Lords of Clanbrassil]] prior to the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century.<ref name="RiseOfPortadown">{{cite web
| title=The Rise and Development of Portadown
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/luttonriseofportadown.html
| last=Lutton
| first=SC
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 5 No. 2
| access-date=9 April 2010
| archive-date=22 November 2017
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122141115/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/luttonriseofportadown.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
Around 1610, during the [[Plantation of Ulster|Plantation]]—and at a time when the area was sparsely populated by [[Gaelic Ireland|Irish Gaels]]<ref name="RiseOfPortadown"/>—the lands of Lurgan were granted to the English lord [[William Brownlow (1726–1794)|William Brownlow]] and his family.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Lurgan}}</ref> Initially, the Brownlow family settled near the [[Loch|lough]] at Annaloist; however, by 1619, they had already established a castle and [[bawn]] for their own accommodations on a nearby ridge, along with "fair Town, consisting of 42 Houses, all of which are inhabited with English Families, and the streets all paved clean through also to water Mills, and a Wind Mill, all for corn".<ref name="Site of Craigavon">{{cite web
| title=The Site of Craigavon
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/weatherupsiteofcraigavon.html
| last=Weatherup
| first=D.R.M.
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 2 No. 1
| access-date=30 March 2010
| archive-date=1 March 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301152707/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/weatherupsiteofcraigavon.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
Brownlow became MP for Armagh in the [[Irish House of Commons|Irish Parliament]] in 1639. During the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]], Brownlow's castle and bawn were destroyed, and he and his wife and family were taken as prisoners to Armagh, and then [[Dungannon]], County Tyrone.<ref name="ClendinningRiseOfLurgan">{{cite web
| title=The Brownlow Family and the Rise of Lurgan
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/clendinningbrownlowfamily.html
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 1 No. 1
| last=Clendinning
| first=Kieran
| access-date=29 March 2010
| archive-date=7 July 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707052202/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/clendinningbrownlowfamily.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The land was then passed to the Mac Cana clan and the [[Ó hAnluain|O'Hanlons]]. In 1642, Brownlow and his family were released by the forces of [[Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway|Lord Conway]]. As the rebellion ended, they returned to their estate in Lurgan. William Brownlow died in 1660, but the family would continue their contributions to the development of the linen industry, which peaked in Lurgan in the late 17th century.<ref>{{cite web
|title       = Lurgan History And Heritage
|url         = http://www.lurgan-forward.com/history-and-heritage/
|access-date  = 4 March 2009
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090204175312/http://lurgan-forward.com/history-and-heritage/
|archive-date = 4 February 2009
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
[[Theobald Wolfe Tone]] would often pass through Lurgan on his journeys, writing in 1792 — "Lurgan green as usual".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism|last=Kee|first=Robert|publisher=Penguin Group|year=2000|isbn=978-0-14-029165-0|pages=55}}</ref>
===The Great Famine===
A [[workhouse]] was built in Lurgan, opening in 1841 under the stipulations of the [[Poor Law]], which stated that each [[Poor Law Union]] would build a workhouse to give relief to the increasing numbers of [[Extreme poverty|destitute]] poor. In 1821, Lurgan's population was 2,715; this increased to 4,677 within 20 years, by 1841. There were a number of reasons for this sudden surge in population; the opportunities provided by the booming linen industry of the day led many workers to abandon their likely-meagre living (in rural areas), relocating to Lurgan with the hopes of gaining employment. Furthermore, the ever-expanding town gave tradesmen the opportunity to secure work in construction of new structures and building, such as Brownlow House.
Eventually, the excess numbers of poorer workers moving into town resulted in issues of over-crowding, poor sanitation and a very low general standard of living. When the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|potato crop failed for a second time in 1846]], the subsequent [[famine]] in-turn led to a workhouse which had exceeded its 800-person capacity, by the end of that year. In an attempt to alleviate the problem, a relief committee was established in Lurgan, as was customary in other towns. The relief committee raised money by subscriptions from local landowners, [[gentry]] and members of the clergy, with the funds being matched from [[Dublin]]. With this setup, food was purchased and distributed to the ever-increasing numbers of starving people via [[soup kitchen]]s. In an attempt to provide employment, and thereby give the destitute the means to buy their own food items, Lord Lurgan devised a scheme of land-drainage on his estate.
The so-called "famine roads" were not built in Lurgan in the same way as the rest of Ireland, although land owners also provided outdoor relief by employing labourers to lower hills or repair existing road issues. During the period between 1846–1849, the famine claimed 2,933 lives in the Lurgan Union alone. The workhouse was situated on the grounds of what is now [[Lurgan Hospital]], where a commemorative [[mural]] can be seen along the adjacent [[Tandragee]] Road.<ref>{{cite web
| title = The Irish Famine
| url = http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/lurgan_history.html
| access-date = 5 February 2010
| archive-date = 13 November 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131113095727/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/lurgan_history.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
===New city===
[[File:Lurgan High Street, 1960 geograph-3773914-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|250px|Lurgan's main street in 1960]]
The town of Lurgan grew steadily over the centuries as an industrial market town, and, in the 1960s—when the UK government was developing a programme of [[new towns]] in Great Britain, to deal with population growth—the Northern Irish government also planned a new town to deal with the projected urban growth of Belfast. This was also to prevent an undue case of overcrowding in the city. [[Craigavon, County Armagh|Craigavon]] (a name unpopular with the Nationalist community) was designated as a new town in 1965, intended to be a linear city incorporating the neighbouring towns of Lurgan and [[Portadown]]. The plan, largely, failed;<ref>{{cite web
| title = The Lost City of Craigavon
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/lostcity/index.shtml
| access-date = 5 February 2010
| archive-date = 13 June 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613192558/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/lostcity/index.shtml
| url-status = live
}}</ref> today, 'Craigavon' locally refers to the rump of the residential area between the two towns.<ref>{{cite web
| title=The 'lost' city of Craigavon to be unearthed in BBC documentary
| url=http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/The-39lost39-city-of-Craigavon.3536951.jp
| publisher=Portadown Times
| access-date=5 February 2010
| date=30 November 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304200426/http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/The-39lost39-city-of-Craigavon.3536951.jp
| archive-date=4 March 2009
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The Craigavon development, however, did affect Lurgan in a number of
ways. The sort of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths that were built in Craigavon were also incorporated into newer housing areas in Lurgan, additional land in and around the town was zoned for industrial development, neighbouring rural settlements such as [[Aghacommon]] and [[Aghagallon]] were developed as housing areas, and there was an increase in the town's population, although not on the scale that had been forecast.
The textile industry remained a main employer in the town until the late twentieth century, with the advent of access to cheaper labour in the developing world leading to a decline in the manufacture of clothing in Lurgan.<ref name="LurganTextileDecline">{{cite news
| title=UK: Northern Ireland Taskforce appeal after jobs blow
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/450524.stm
| date=18 September 1999
| access-date=13 April 2010
| publisher=BBC
| archive-date=13 March 2014
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313033855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/450524.stm
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
===The Troubles===
{{Main|The Troubles in Lurgan}}
Lurgan and the associated towns of Portadown and Craigavon made up
part of what was known as the "murder triangle"; an area known for a significant number of incidents and fatalities during [[The Troubles]].<ref name="martinOHagan">{{cite news
| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,560618,00.html
| title=A man who stood up for truth
| publisher=The Observer
| access-date=25 February 2010
| location=London
| first=Kevin
| last=Toolis
| date=30 September 2001
| archive-date=6 February 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206102448/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,560618,00.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> By 2010 the town was one of the few areas in Northern Ireland where so-called [[dissident republicans]] have a significant level of support.<ref>{{cite news
| title=Sectarian Tension Returns to Northern Ireland
| url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889416,00.html
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408052943/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889416,00.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=8 April 2009
| date=4 April 2009
| access-date= 18 March 2010
| first=Bryan
| last=Coll
| publisher=Time
}}</ref> The legacy of the Troubles is continued tension between Roman Catholics and Protestants, which has occasionally erupted into violence at flashpoint '[[interface area]]s'.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Lurgan Park a sectarian battleground
| publisher=Lurgan Mail
| date=25 October 2007
| access-date=22 March 2010
| url=http://www.lurganmail.co.uk/news/Lurgan-Park-a-sectarian-battleground.3412069.jp?articlepage=1
}}{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On 5 March 1992, a 1,000 lb truck bomb, believed to have been planted by the IRA, exploded in Main Street causing mass damage to commercial properties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/05/IRA-blamed-in-blasts-seven-injured/9056699771600/|title=IRA blamed in blasts, seven injured|website=upi.com|access-date=13 September 2018|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913073858/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/05/IRA-blamed-in-blasts-seven-injured/9056699771600/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 5 February 2020, the PSNI [[Brexit Day bomb plot|found a bomb on a lorry]]. The Continuity Irish Republican Army admitted they had planted it. They expected the lorry to be put on a North Channel ferry in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/07/continuity-ira-admits-brexit-day-lorry-bomb-plot |title=Continuity IRA admits Brexit Day bomb plot |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=7 February 2020 |access-date=27 May 2020 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422163031/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/07/continuity-ira-admits-brexit-day-lorry-bomb-plot |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Geography==
Lurgan sits in the north-eastern corner of [[County Armagh]] in a relatively flat part of Ireland by the south east shore of Lough Neagh, on the border with [[County Down]] and less than 2 miles from the border of [[County Antrim]]. The two main formations in north Armagh are an area of estuarine clays by the shore of the lough, and a mass of [[basalt]] farther back. The earliest human settlements in the area were to the northwest of the present day town near the shore of the lough. When the land was handed to the Brownlow family, they initially settled near the lough at Annaloist, but later settled where the town was eventually built.<ref name="Site of Craigavon"/> The oldest part of the town, the main street, is built on a long ridge in the [[townland]] (''baile fearainn'') of Lurgan. A neighbouring hill is the site of Brownlow House, which overlooks Lurgan Park.
===Townlands===
Like the rest of Ireland, the Lurgan area has long been divided into [[townland]]s, whose names mostly come from the [[Irish language]]. Lurgan sprang up in the townland of the same name. Over time, the surrounding townlands have been built upon and they have given their names to many roads and housing estates. The following is a list of townlands within Lurgan's urban area, alongside their likely [[etymology|etymologies]]:<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.placenamesni.org/index.php
|title=Northern Ireland Placenames Project
|access-date=27 July 2019
|archive-date=27 July 2019
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727133926/http://www.placenamesni.org/index.php
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.logainm.ie/?parentID=293&typeID=BF
| title=Placenames Database of Ireland
| access-date=25 February 2010
| archive-date=2 March 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302131741/http://www.logainm.ie/?parentID=293&typeID=BF
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://sinton-family-trees.com/maps2/mapsx.php
| publisher=Sinton Family Trees
| title=Townland Maps
| access-date=25 February 2010
| archive-date=26 November 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126183729/http://sinton-family-trees.com/maps2/mapsx.php
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
Shankill parish:
* Aghnacloy ({{etymology|ga|Achadh na Cloiche|field of the stone}})
* Ballyblagh (from ''Baile Bláthach'' meaning "flowery townland")
* Demesne (an English name – this townland was carved out of Drumnamoe and others, and includes Lurgan Park)
* Derry (from ''Doire'' meaning "oak grove")
* Dougher (formerly ''Doucharron'', probably from ''An Dubhcharn, Dúcharn'' meaning "the black [[cairn]]")
* Drumnamoe (from ''Druim na mBó'' meaning "ridge of the cows")
* Knocknashane (formerly ''Knocknashangan'', from ''Cnoc na Seangán'' meaning "hill of the ants")
* Lurgantarry (from ''Lurgain an tSamhraidh'' meaning "summer ridge" or "ridge of the [[Transhumance|summer grazing]]")
* Shankill (from ''Seanchill'' meaning "old church" or ''Seanchoill'' meaning "old wood")
* Taghnevan (formerly ''Tegnevan'', from ''Teach Neamhain'' meaning "Neamhan's house" or "Neamhan's church")<ref>[http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/mooneydaneslough.html "The "Danes" on Lough Neagh"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308034222/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/mooneydaneslough.html |date=8 March 2019 }}. Journal of Craigavon Historical Society, Vol. 1 No. 2.</ref>
* Tannaghmore North & Tannaghmore South (from ''an Tamhnach Mór'' meaning "the big grassy field")
* Toberhewny (from ''Tobar Shuibhne'' meaning "[[Buile Shuibhne|Sweeney's]] well" or ''Tobar Chainnigh'' meaning "[[Cainnech of Aghaboe|Cainneach's]] well")
* Tirsogue (from ''Tír Sídheóg'' meaning "land of the fairies")
Seagoe parish:
* Ballynamony (from ''Baile na Mónadh'' meaning "townland of the bog")
* Drumnakelly (from ''Dromainn Uí Cheallaigh'' meaning "O’Kelly's ridge")
* Silverwood (an English name – formerly called ''Killinargit'', from ''Coill an Airgid'' meaning "wood of the silver")
* Turmoyra (from ''Tír Maighre'' meaning "land of the salmon")
===Climate===
Lurgan has a [[temperate]] climate in common with inland areas in Ireland. Summer temperatures can reach the 20s °C and it is rare for them to go higher than {{convert|30|°C}}. The consistently humid climate that prevails over Ireland can make temperatures feel uncomfortable when they stray into the high 20s °C (80–85&nbsp;°F), more so than similar temperatures in hotter climates in the rest of Europe.
{{Weather box
|location = Lurgan
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 7
|Feb high C = 8
|Mar high C = 10
|Apr high C = 12
|May high C = 15
|Jun high C = 17
|Jul high C = 19
|Aug high C = 19
|Sep high C = 16
|Oct high C = 13
|Nov high C = 10
|Dec high C = 7
|Jan low C = 2
|Feb low C = 2
|Mar low C = 3
|Apr low C = 4
|May low C = 6
|Jun low C = 9
|Jul low C = 11
|Aug low C = 10
|Sep low C = 9
|Oct low C = 7
|Nov low C = 4
|Dec low C = 3
|Jan precipitation cm = 5.6
|Feb precipitation cm = 4.67
|Mar precipitation cm = 4.46
|Apr precipitation cm = 4.62
|May precipitation cm = 4.22
|Jun precipitation cm = 4.38
|Jul precipitation cm = 4.49
|Aug precipitation cm = 4.84
|Sep precipitation cm = 4.58
|Oct precipitation cm = 6.79
|Nov precipitation cm = 5.94
|Dec precipitation cm = 5.61
|source 1 = MSN.com<ref name="Lurgan Weather:Precipitation and Averages" >{{cite web
| title=Weather Averages – Lurgan, GBR
| url=http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx?eid=19489&q=Lurgan-GBR
| work=msn.com
| publisher=Microsoft
| access-date=30 March 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729162627/http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx?eid=19489&q=Lurgan-GBR
| archive-date=29 July 2012
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
== Governance ==
Lurgan is part of the [[Upper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)|Upper Bann constituency]] for the purpose of elections to the [[UK Parliament]] at [[Westminster]]. This has long been a safe [[Ulster unionism|unionist]] seat<ref>{{cite news
| title=Upper Bann
| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/1387/upper-bann
| work=The Guardian
| access-date=23 March 2010
| location=London
}}</ref> and the current MP is [[Carla Lockhart]] of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]].
Members of the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] at [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Stormont]] are elected from six-member constituencies using [[proportional representation]] and using the same constituencies as for Westminster.
Lurgan [[town commissioners]] were first elected in 1855,<ref>{{cite web
| title=Lurgan – some quick facts
| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/A948648.shtml
| publisher=BBC
| access-date=29 March 2010
| archive-date=1 March 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301104005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/A948648.shtml
| url-status=live
}}</ref> and they were replaced by Lurgan Urban District Council following the [[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898]]. This effectively ended landlord control of local government in Ireland.<ref name=beckett>{{cite book
|title=The Making of Modern Ireland 1603–1923
|last=Beckett
|first=J C
|year=1966
|publisher=Faber & Faber
|location=London
|isbn=0-571-09267-5
|page=406 }}</ref><ref name=gailey>{{cite journal
|last1=Gailey
|first1=Andrew
|date=May 1984
|title=Unionist Rhetoric and Irish Local Government Reform, 1895–9
|journal=Irish Historic Studies
|volume=24
|issue=93
|pages=52–68
|doi=10.1017/S0021121400034027
|jstor=30008026 |s2cid=159923053
}}</ref><ref name=shannon>{{cite journal
|last1=Shannon
|first1=Catherine B
|date=March 1973
|title=The Ulster Liberal Unionists and Local Government Reform, 1885–98
|journal=Irish Historic Studies
|volume=18
|issue=71
|pages=407–423 |doi=10.1017/S0021121400025876
|jstor=30005423 |s2cid=159924754
}}</ref>  The town council was abolished when local government was reformed in Northern Ireland in 1973 under the [[Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971]] and the [[Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972]]. These abolished the two-tier system of town and county councils replacing it with the single-tier system. Lurgan was placed under the jurisdiction of Craigavon Borough Council, and remained so until a new act streamlined and merged the various districts in 2015. Today Lurgan forms part of the new [[Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council|Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District]]. The Lurgan area contains the following wards: Church, Donaghcloney, Knocknashane, Magheralin, Mourneview, Parklake, and Waringstown.
Seven councillors are elected to represent the Lurgan electoral area on [[Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council]]. The councillors for the DEA are:
{{Multi seat members begin
|constituency = District electoral area
|title        = Current council members
}}
{{Multi seat constituency
|name    = Lurgan
|seats   = 7
|member1 = {{sortname|Keith|Haughian|nolink=1}}
|party1  = Sinn Féin
|member5 = {{sortname|Peter|Lavery|nolink=1}}
|party5  = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
|member3 = {{sortname|Liam|Mackle|nolink=1}}
|party3  = Sinn Féin
|member7 = {{sortname|Sorchá|McGeown|nolink=1}}
|party7  = Sinn Féin
|member2 = {{sortname|Peter|Haire|nolink=1}}
|party2  = Democratic Unionist Party
|member6 = {{sortname|Stephen|Moutray}}
|party6  = Democratic Unionist Party
|member4 = {{sortname|Mary|O'Dowd|nolink=1}}
|party4  = Sinn Féin
}}
{{end}}
==Demography==
{{Historical populations
|1821|2715
|1831|2842
|1841|4677
|1851|4205
|1861|7772
|1871|10632
|1881|10135
|1891|11429
|1901|11782
|1911|12553
|1926|12500
|1937|13766
|1951|16183
|1961|17872
|1966|20673
|1971|25431
|1981|20991
|1991|21905
|2001|23534
|2011|25069
|2021|28634
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cso.ie/census
|title=Census for post 1821 figures
|access-date=23 August 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/
|archive-date=9 March 2005
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title=Historical Populations
| url=http://www.histpop.org
| access-date=23 August 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/
| archive-date=7 May 2016
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title=Lurgan, County Armagh
| url=http://www.libraryireland.com/UlsterDirectory1910/Lurgan.php
| publisher=Belfast and Ulster Towns Directory for 1910
| access-date=22 March 2010
| archive-date=12 December 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212170222/http://www.libraryireland.com/UlsterDirectory1910/Lurgan.php
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title=Northern Ireland Census of Population
|url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/
|archive-date=17 February 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Lee
|first=J. J.
|author-link=J. J. Lee (historian)
|editor-last=Goldstrom
|editor-first=J. M.
|editor2-last=Clarkson
|editor2-first=L. A.
|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
|year=1981
|publisher=Clarendon Press
|location=Oxford, England
|chapter=On the accuracy of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Pre-famine]] Irish censuses}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
| last1 = Mokyr
| first1 = Joel
| author-link = Joel Mokyr
| last2 = Ó Gráda
| first2 = Cormac
| author2-link = Cormac Ó Gráda
| title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850
| journal = The Economic History Review
| volume =  37
| issue =  4
| pages = 473–488
|date=November 1984
| url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 4 December 2012
| doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
| hdl = 10197/1406
| hdl-access = free
}}</ref><ref name="DHSSPSNICensus">{{cite web
| title=Census data
| url=http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ward_gender.xls
| access-date=14 April 2010
| publisher=Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services, and Public Safety
| archive-date=18 February 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218182522/http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ward_gender.xls
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
}}
For census purposes, Lurgan is not treated as a separate entity by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Instead, it is combined with [[Craigavon, County Armagh|Craigavon]], [[Portadown]] and [[Bleary]] to form the "Craigavon Urban Area". A fairly accurate population count can be found by combining the data of the electoral wards that make up the Lurgan urban area. These are Church,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL07&sName=Church
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Church ward 95LL07
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=16 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054926/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL07&sName=Church
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Court,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL09&sName=Court
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Court ward 95LL09
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=26 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926230042/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL09&sName=Court
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Drumnamoe,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL14&sName=Drumnamoe
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Drumnamoe ward 95LL14
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=5 June 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605033228/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL14&sName=Drumnamoe
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Knocknashane,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL18&sName=Knocknashane
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Knocknashane ward 95LL18
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=26 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926230250/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL18&sName=Knocknashane
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Mourneview,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL20&sName=Mourneview
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Mourneview ward 95LL20
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=26 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926230335/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL20&sName=Mourneview
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Parklake,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL21&sName=Parklake
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Parklake ward 95LL21
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=26 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926230357/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL21&sName=Parklake
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Taghnevan<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL22&sName=Taghnevan
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Taghnevan ward 95LL22
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=26 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926230426/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL22&sName=Taghnevan
| url-status=live
}}</ref> and Woodville.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL26&sName=Woodville
| title=NISRA – Ward Information for Woodville ward 95LL26
| access-date=16 April 2010
| archive-date=5 June 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605033422/http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/pf_report.asp?sLevel=WARD&sID=95LL26&sName=Woodville
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
On the day of the last census (21 March 2021) the combined population of these wards was 31,068. The latest religious data published is from 2011 with an estimated population of 25,069 (27 March 2011) Of this population, 62.2% were from a Catholic background, and 33.7% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
The town is divided along ethnic/political/sectarian lines with entire housing areas being almost exclusively Nationalist/Catholic/Irish or almost exclusively Unionist/Protestant/British.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Comparative Perspectives on Housing Segregation: Northern Ireland and US Frostbelt Cities
| url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/segregat/callaghan01.htm
| author=Sandra J. Callaghan
| year=2001
| access-date=23 March 2010
| archive-date=7 December 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207121413/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/segregat/callaghan01.htm
| url-status=live
}}</ref> The north end of the town centre is considered Nationalist/Catholic, the south end is considered Unionist/Protestant, with the "invisible dividing line" starting at the end of Market Street and the beginning of High Street at Windsor Avenue and Union Street.<ref name="1996Parades">{{cite web
| title=Marching Through 1996
| url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/parade_protest.pdf
| date=1 May 1996
| access-date=31 March 2010
| last1=Jarman
| first1=Neil
| last2=Bryan
| first2=Bryan
| archive-date=8 June 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608062342/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/parade_protest.pdf
| url-status=live
}}</ref>  In the 1980s there were two Unionist/Protestant enclaves in the north end of the town, Gilpinstown and Wakehurst. They have both since changed to become Nationalist/Catholic areas as Unionists/Protestants gradually moved out.<ref name="1996Parades" />
There was a Synagogue at 49 North Street for the Lurgan Hebrew Congregation, founded prior to 1906 by Joseph Herbert (originally Herzberg) from Tukums in Latvia, but this closed in the 1920s around the time of the founder's death.
==Economy==
Lurgan has historically been an industrial town in which the linen industry predominated as a source of employment during the [[Industrial Revolution]], and is said to have employed as many as 18,000 handloom weavers at the end of the 19th century, a figure significantly higher than the town's resident population at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Linen Industry – Lurgan |url=http://www.craigavonmuseum.com/exhibition/linen/linen5.shtml |publisher=Craigavon Museum |access-date=22 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708200852/http://www.craigavonmuseum.com/exhibition/linen/linen5.shtml |archive-date=8 July 2011 }}</ref> That particular branch of the textile industry declined as consumer tastes changed, but other textiles continued to be produced in the town providing a major source of employment until the 1990s and 2000s<ref name="LurganTextileDecline"/> when the textile industry across the UK suffered a major decline as a result of outsourcing to low wage countries.<ref>{{cite news
| title=Textiles in Decline
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/551532.stm
| date=6 December 1999
| access-date=13 April 2010
| publisher=BBC
| archive-date=6 March 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306141416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/551532.stm
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
The large [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] fan-belt factory at Silverwood Industrial Estate was a product of the Craigavon development when large tracts of land in Lurgan, Portadown, and areas in between were zoned off for exclusive industrial use. The Goodyear factory closed in 1983 after failing to make a profit, resulting in the loss of 750 jobs.<ref>{{cite news
| title=Goodyear Closure
| work=New York Times
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/business/goodyear-closure.html
| date=26 July 1983
| access-date=22 March 2010
| archive-date=24 May 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524142655/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/business/goodyear-closure.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> The facility was later partly occupied by Wilson Double Deck Trailers and DDL Electronics. Silverwood Industrial Estate continues to host other manufacturing and light engineering firms. Other industrial areas in the town are Annesborough and Halfpenny Valley (Portadown Road) industrial estates; areas in which growth has been limited compared to other industrial estates in the Craigavon Borough.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Craigavon Area Plan 2010 Policy Framework: Industry
| publisher=Northern Ireland Planning Service
| url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/dev_plans/devplans_az/craigavon_2010/craigavon_part2/craigavon_industry.htm
| access-date=29 March 2010
| archive-date=19 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719200059/http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/dev_plans/devplans_az/craigavon_2010/craigavon_part2/craigavon_industry.htm
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
A key component of the Craigavon development was a central business district halfway between Lurgan and Portadown that would serve as the city centre for the whole of the new city. What was built was an office building, a court house, a civic building, and a small shopping centre alongside several acres of parkland that were developed around the newly created [[balancing lake]]s that also serve as part of the area's drainage system. In the 1990s, the shopping centre was significantly expanded to form what is now Rushmere Retail Park, containing many major retail stores. This has had a detrimental effect on the retail trade in Lurgan in the same way that out-of-town shopping developments in other parts of Northern Ireland have damaged other traditional town centres.<ref>{{cite web
|title       = John Lewis decision welcomed
|url         = http://lurgan-forward.com/news/17/
|publisher   = Lurgan Forward
|date        = 26 May 2006
|access-date  = 30 March 2010
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714002731/http://lurgan-forward.com/news/17/
|archive-date = 14 July 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> The town's Chamber of Commerce is not functioning and has remained dormant despite numerous attempts to revive it.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Town meeting
| url=http://www.lurganmail.co.uk/news/Town-meeting.6177052.jp
| date=25 March 2010
| access-date=12 April 2010
| publisher=Lurgan Mail
}}</ref>
==Culture and community==
===Cultural references===
There is a [[figure of speech]] used in Ireland – ''to have a face as long as a Lurgan spade'' – meaning "to look miserable".<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wilkinson
| first = Peter Richard
| title = Thesaurus of traditional English metaphors
| publisher = Routledge
| year = 2002
| pages = F.28a
}}</ref> The origins of this expression are disputed. One theory is that a "Lurgan spade" was an under-paid workman digging what is now the Lurgan Park lake.<ref name="ClendinningRiseOfLurgan"/> Another theory is that it could be from the Irish language ''lorga spád'' meaning the shaft (literally "shin") of a spade.
The [[ballad]] ''[[Master McGrath]]'' concerns a [[greyhound]] of that name from Lurgan which became an Irish sporting hero. The dog was bought in Lurgan by the Brownlow family, and the song also mentions his owner [[Charles Brownlow, 2nd Baron Lurgan|Charles Brownlow]], referred to in the lyrics as [[Baron Lurgan|Lord Lurgan]]. Master McGrath won the [[Waterloo Cup]] [[hare coursing]] competition three times in 1868, 1870 and 1871 at a time when this was a high-profile sport. A post mortem found that he had a heart twice the size of what is normal for a dog of his size.<ref>{{cite web
| title=The end of Master McGrath
| url=http://www.lurganmail.co.uk/lurgan-yesteryear/The-end-of-Master-McGrath.6145804.jp
| publisher=Lurgan Mail
| date=11 March 2010
| access-date=22 March 2010
}}</ref> He is remembered all over the town, including in its coat of arms. The dog was named McGrath after the kennel boy responsible for its care. A statue of him was unveiled at Craigavon Civic Centre in 1993, over 120 years after his last glory in 1871. The statue was relocated to Lurgan town centre in 2013. A festival is also held yearly in his honour. A Lurgan pub is also named after Master McGrath.
The town is a frequent recipient of derision by the [[BBC Northern Ireland]] comedy panel show [[The Blame Game (BBC)|The Blame Game]].
===Community facilities===
Oxford Island is a nature reserve on the shore of [[Lough Neagh]] that includes Kinnego Marina and the Lough Neagh Discovery Center, which is an interpretive visitor centre offering information about the surrounding wildlife, conference facilities, and a café.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Lough Neagh Discovery Centre
|publisher=Craigavon Borough Council
|url=http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/leisure/action-a-fun/82-lough-neagh-discovery-centre.html
|access-date=24 February 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120081036/http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/leisure/action-a-fun/82-lough-neagh-discovery-centre.html
|archive-date=20 January 2010
}}</ref>
Lurgan Park, a few hundred yards from the main street, is the largest urban park in Northern Ireland<ref>{{cite web
| title = Lurgan Park
| publisher = Northern Ireland Tourist Board
| url = http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Lurgan-Park-Lurgan-Craigavon-P11100
| access-date = 4 March 2009
| archive-date = 22 March 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090322031130/http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Lurgan-Park-Lurgan-Craigavon-P11100
| url-status = live
}}</ref> and the second-largest in Ireland after Phoenix Park, Dublin. It used to be part of the estate of Brownlow House, a 19th-century Elizabethan-style manor house.<ref>{{cite web
|url         = http://www.lurganpark.com/aboutus.asp
|title       = Lurgan Park
|access-date  = 22 March 2010
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100324162152/http://www.lurganpark.com/aboutus.asp
|archive-date = 24 March 2010
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> In 1893, the land was purchased by Lurgan Borough Council and opened as a public park in 1909 by Earl Aberdeen, [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web
|title       = Lurgan Park
|url         = http://www.disabledramblersni.com/rambles/lurgan-park/
|publisher   = Disabled Ramblers Northern Ireland
|access-date  = 22 March 2010
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710132044/http://www.disabledramblersni.com/rambles/lurgan-park/
|archive-date = 10 July 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> It includes a sizeable artificial lake and an original [[Coalbrookdale]] fountain. Today the park is home to annual summer events such as the Lurgan Agricultural Show, and the Lurgan Park Rally, noted as the largest annual motor sport event in Northern Ireland and a stage in the [[Circuit of Ireland]] rally.
Mount Zion House in Edward St, formerly the St Joseph's [[Convent]], is now a cross-community centre run by the Shankill Lurgan Community Association/Community Projects. It is funded by the [[Department for Social Development]], the EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, and the Physical and Social Environment Programme.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dsd/news-dsd-october-2008/news-dsd-231008-ritchie-opens-play.htm
| title=Ritchie opens play area at Mount Zion House, Lurgan
| date=23 October 2008
| access-date=19 March 2010
| publisher=Northern Ireland Executive
| archive-date=25 February 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225125844/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dsd/news-dsd-october-2008/news-dsd-231008-ritchie-opens-play.htm
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
==Landmarks==
[[File:Lurgan Town Hall.jpg|thumb|[[Lurgan Town Hall]] in Union Street, built in 1868.]]
[[File:Brownlow House.jpg|thumb|right|top|alt=manor house|Brownlow House]]
[[File:Lurgan Park Fun Run June 2008.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Lurgan Park|Lurgan Park, formerly part of the Brownlows' estate, and now a public space.]]
[[File:Former Linen Mill - geograph.org.uk - 129113.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Former Johnson & Allen linen mill, Victoria St.|The former Johnson & Allen linen factory on Victoria Street, built in 1888 and now used as multiple small industrial and retail units]]
Lurgan town centre is distinctive for its wide main street, Market Street, one of the widest in Ireland, which is dominated at one end by Shankill (Anglican) Church in Church Place. A grey granite hexagonal temple-shaped [[war memorial]] sits at the entrance to Church Place, topped by a bronze-winged statue representing the spirit of Victorious Peace. A marble pillar at the centre displays the names of over 400 men from the town who lost their lives in the [[First World War]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Lurgan War Memorial
| url=http://www.ulsterwarmemorials.net/html/lurgan.html
| access-date=23 March 2010
| archive-date=21 November 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121074252/http://www.ulsterwarmemorials.net/html/lurgan.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
The rows of buildings on either side of Market Street are punctuated periodically by large access gates that lead to the space behind the buildings, gates that are wide enough to drive a horse and cart through. The town's straight planned streets are a common feature in many Plantation towns, and its industrial history is still evident in the presence of many former linen mills that have since been modified for modern use.
At the junction of Market Street and Union Street is [[Lurgan Town Hall]], a listed building erected in 1868. It was the first site of the town's library in 1895,<ref name="library1">{{cite web
| title=Lurgan Free Library Before Carnegie
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/weatheruplurganlibrary.html
| first=D.R.M.
| last=Weatherup
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 6 No. 1
| access-date=29 March 2010
| archive-date=27 October 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027220541/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/weatheruplurganlibrary.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> was temporarily used as a police station from 1973<ref>{{cite web |date=2 May 1977 |title=Lurgan Town Hall |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1977-05-02/debates/69abe78c-24c1-441a-b9b3-e2dbef483f17/LurganTownHall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526004255/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1977-05-02/debates/69abe78c-24c1-441a-b9b3-e2dbef483f17/LurganTownHall |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=UK Parliament |publisher=Hansard}}</ref> and is today available for conferences and community functions.<ref>{{cite web
|url         = http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/development/centres/88-town-halls.html
|access-date  = 25 February 2010
|title       = Town Halls
|publisher   = Craigavon Borough Council
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110325010708/http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/development/centres/88-town-halls.html
|archive-date = 25 March 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
[[Brownlow House]], known locally as 'Lurgan Castle', is a distinctive mansion built in 1833 with Scottish [[sandstone]] in an [[Elizabethan architecture|Elizabethan]] style with a lantern-shaped tower and prominent array of chimney pots. It was originally owned by the Brownlow family, and today is owned by the Lurgan Loyal Orange District Lodge. A former lodge to the Brownlow House estate became the Brownlow Arms Hotel on Market Street, run by the McCaffrey family, which served as the US 5th Army's Officers' Mess during WW2 but closed in the early 1960s. The adjacent Lurgan Park, now a public park owned by Craigavon Borough Council, used to be part of the same estate.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.brownlowhouse.com/about-history.htm
| title=Brownlow House – History
| publisher=Brownlow House
| access-date=25 February 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018013359/http://www.brownlowhouse.com/about-history.htm
| archive-date=18 October 2018
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The park is the venue for the [[Lurgan Park Rally]].
===Religious sites===
{{Redirect|Shankill Cemetery|the cemetery in Belfast|Shankill Graveyard}}
[[File:St Peter's Church, Lurgan - geograph.org.uk - 65190.jpg|thumb|right|alt=St Peter's Church, North St.|St Peter's Catholic Church, North St. built in 1832]]
The site of what is now Shankill cemetery served as a place of worship over the centuries. It began in ancient times as a simple double [[ring fort]], the outline of which is still noticeable,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/mccorryshankillgraveyard.html
| last=McCorry
| first=Francis X
| access-date=25 February 2010
| title=Shankill Graveyard, Lurgan
| publisher=Craigavon Historical Society
| archive-date=27 October 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027205157/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/mccorryshankillgraveyard.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> and is today an historic burial site holding the remains of people who lived in the earliest days of the town's existence, including the Brownlow family. Dougher cemetery is another old graveyard that was donated to the Catholic people by the Brownlows following passage of the [[Catholic Relief Act]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Parish of St. Peter's, Shankill
| url=http://www.lisburn.com/books/dromore-diocese/parish-stpeters-shankill.html
| last=McCorry
| first=Francis
| access-date=30 March 2010
| publisher=Dromore Diocesan Historical Society
| archive-date=27 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927095913/http://www.lisburn.com/books/dromore-diocese/parish-stpeters-shankill.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
The two most prominent modern places of worship are Shankill Parish Church in Church Place and St Peter's Church in North Street, the steeples of which are visible from far outside the town.
Shankill Parish Church belongs to the Anglican [[Church of Ireland]]. The original church was established at Oxford Island on the shore of Lough Neagh in 1411, but a new church was built in Lurgan on the site of what is now Shankill Cemetery in 1609 as the town became the main centre of settlement in the area.<ref name=BBC-Shankill>{{cite web
|title=History from Headstones
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/shankill_graveyard.shtml
|access-date=22 March 2010
|publisher=BBC
|archive-date=10 August 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810161245/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/shankill_graveyard.shtml
|url-status=live
}}</ref> It was eventually found to be too small given the growth of the town, and the [[Parliament of Ireland|Irish Parliament]] granted permission to build a replacement in 1725 one mile away on the 'Green of Lurgan', now known as Church Place, where it stands to this day. It is believed to be the largest parish church in Ireland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shankillparish.com/#/about-us/4530676533|title=About Us – Shankill Parish Church|access-date=17 March 2010|archive-date=2 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202210754/http://www.shankillparish.com/#/about-us/4530676533|url-status=live}}</ref> and contains the only set of [[change ringing]] bells in County Armagh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dove's Guide Search |url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?searchString=&numPerPage=10&Submit=Go&searchCountry=Armagh&searchDiocese=&searchPracN=&searchRingable=&searchBells=&searchNote=&searchAmount==&searchWeight=&searchMetric=cwt&searchDetails=&searchGF=&searchSimulator=&searchToilet=&sortBy=Place&sortDir=Asc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526005012/https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove?geo_region=Armagh&pagesize=10 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2019-05-29 |website=dove.cccbr.org.uk}}</ref>
Following passage of the Catholic Relief Act, Charles Brownlow granted a site to the Roman Catholic parish priest the Reverend William O'Brien in 1829 for the construction of a church on Distillery Hill, now known as lower North Street. It was there that work began in 1832 on what is now St Peter's Church.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.lurganparish.com/content/view/85/76/
| title=History of St Peter's Church
| first=Frank
| last=McCorry
| access-date=17 March 2010
| archive-date=14 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714002731/http://www.lurganparish.com/content/view/85/76/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
[[File:First Lurgan Presbyterian Church, High Street, Lurgan - geograph.org.uk - 615717.jpg|thumb|First Lurgan Presbyterian Church built in 1827–28]]
In 1966, another Catholic church, St Paul's, was built at the junction of Francis Street and Parkview Street. This was a radical departure from traditional church architecture with its grey plaster finish, copper roof, slim spire, hexagonal angles and modern design throughout. Many of its architectural features such as the copper roof and gray plaster finish are shared by the neighbouring St Paul's School. It was designed to cope with the extra demand for worship space following the growth of the surrounding Taghnevan and Shankill housing estates.<ref name="stPaulsHistory"/>
The first [[Methodist Church|Methodist]] church was built in Nettleton's Court, Queen Street in 1778. It was found to be too small and a new church was built on High Street in 1802, and replaced by a newer building in front of it in 1826. This High Street Methodist Church was extensively renovated in 1910 and stands to this day sporting a simple facade.<ref>{{cite web
| title=J0858 : High Street Methodist Church, Lurgan
| url=http://www.geograph.ie/photo/615716
| access-date=23 March 2010
| year=2007
| archive-date=21 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124753/http://www.geograph.ie/photo/615716
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
==Education==
[[File:Lurgan Model Primary School - geograph.org.uk - 65185.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Lurgan Model Primary School|Lurgan Model Primary School]]It was the late 19th century that saw the development of formal education in Lurgan and a significant move away from the less organised [[hedge schools]] of before.<ref name="19thCenturySchoolsPt2">{{cite web
| title=19th Century Schools in Lurgan – Part 2
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/wilsoni19thcenturypt2.html
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 5 No. 1
| last=Wilson
| first=Ian
| access-date=5 April 2010
| archive-date=27 October 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027212429/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/wilsoni19thcenturypt2.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
Today, schools in Lurgan operate under the [[Dickson Plan]], a transfer system in north Armagh that allows pupils at age 11 the option of taking the [[11-plus]] exam to enter [[grammar schools]], with pupils in comprehensive junior high schools being sorted into grammar and non-grammar streams. Pupils can get promoted to or demoted from the grammar stream during their time in those schools depending on the development of their academic performance, and at age 14 can take subject-based exams across the syllabus to qualify for entry into a dedicated grammar school to pursue [[GCSE]]s and [[A-levels]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Parents will have last word on Grammar schools
| url=http://www.sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/parents_will_have_last_word_on_grammar_schools/
| last=Emerson
| first=Newton
| publisher=The Irish News via Slugger O'Toole
| date=30 August 2005
| access-date=31 March 2010
| archive-date=13 January 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113120130/http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/parents_will_have_last_word_on_grammar_schools/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
As is common in Northern Ireland, most of the schools in Lurgan are attended mainly by children from one or other of the two main ethno-religious blocs, reflecting the existence of sectarian and political divisions in society.{{fact|date=July 2024}} Some schools are in the Catholic 'maintained' sector, i.e. maintained by the [[Council for Catholic Maintained Schools]], and others are controlled directly by the state. Directly controlled state schools generally have a predominantly Protestant intake.
===Primary education===
* Lurgan Model Primary School (Controlled) – this school was part of the [[National school (Ireland)|national schools]] programme proposed in 1831 in which each county in Ireland would have at least one school that would serve as an example to other national schools in the area and as a teacher training establishment (although teacher training did not take place at this particular school). Initially it had a multi-denominational intake, offered such services as night classes and industry-relevant [[Vocational Education|vocational]] courses, and was enthusiastically supported by William Brownlow who is thought to have brought the school to the town. It was undermined, however, by church interests, which were opposed to its lack of ecclesiastical control, and criticism of the efficiency of its management, hence losing much of its earlier prestige as the premier educational establishment in the town.<ref name="19thCenturySchools">{{cite web
| title=19th Century Schools in Lurgan
| url=http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/wilsoni19thcentury.html
| publisher=Review – Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society Vol. 4 No. 3
| last=Wilson
| first=Ian
| access-date=5 April 2010
| archive-date=27 October 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027211521/http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/wilsoni19thcentury.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> It is now co-educational, non-denominational and accepts pupils irrespective of race or religion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our school |url=http://lurganmodelprimaryschool.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526005251/https://www.lurganmodelintegrated.co.uk/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Lurgan Model Primary School}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2019 |title=Lurgan Model Primary School |url=https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/lurgan-model-ps |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526005506/https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/lurgan-model-ps |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=13 May 2022 |website=EANI}}</ref>
* St. Francis' Primary School and Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias (Catholic Maintained)<ref>{{cite web |title=St Francis Primary School and Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias |url=https://www.stfrancisps.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526005814/https://www.stfrancisps.co.uk/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=St Francis Primary School and Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias}}</ref>
* St Teresa's Primary School (Catholic Maintained)<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Teresa's Primary School |url=https://www.stteresaslurgan.com/home/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526010129/https://www.stteresaslurgan.com/home/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=St. Teresa's Primary School}}</ref>
* St Anthony's Primary School (Catholic Maintained)<ref>{{cite web |title=Home {{!}} St. Anthony's Primary School |url=https://www.stanthonysprimaryschool.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526010449/https://www.stanthonysprimaryschool.co.uk/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=St. Anthony's Primary School}}</ref>
* Tannaghmore Primary School (Catholic Maintained)<ref>{{cite web |title=Tannaghmore Primary School |url=https://www.tannaghmoreps.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526010752/https://www.tannaghmoreps.com/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Tannaghmore Primary School}}</ref>
* [[Tullygally Primary School]] (Catholic Maintained)<ref>{{cite web |title=Tullygally Primary School – Tullygally Primary School |url=https://www.tullygallyps.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526011201/https://www.tullygallyps.com/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Tullygally Primary School}}</ref>
* Carrick Primary School (Controlled)<ref>{{cite web |title=Carrick Primary School |url=https://www.carrickprimary.co.uk/welcome/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526011756/https://www.carrickprimary.co.uk/welcome/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Carrick Primary School}}</ref>
* Dickson Primary School (Controlled)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dickson Primary School |url=https://www.dicksonprimary.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526012221/https://www.dicksonprimary.co.uk/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Dickson Primary School}}</ref>
* King's Park Primary School (Controlled)<ref>{{cite web |title=Kings Park Primary School |url=https://www.kingsparklurgan.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526012700/https://www.kingsparklurgan.com/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=King's Park Primary and Nursery School Lurgan}}</ref>
===Post-primary education===
* [[Lurgan College]] – a co-ed 14–18 grammar school, was established in 1873 as an all-boys school to provide what was known as 'classical education' as opposed to the more practical vocational education on offer at the Model School. Its initial charter included a provision that "no person being in Holy Orders, or a minister of any religious denomination shall at any time interfere in the management of the said school, or be appointed to serve as master" and that no religious instruction was to take place during school hours.<ref name="19thCenturySchoolsPt2"/>
* [[St Ronan's College]] – A co-ed secondary school for 11–18-year olds. It was formed from the merger of St Mary's Junior High School, St Paul's Junior High School, and [[St Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan|St Michael's Grammar School]]. St Mary's Intermediate School was built on Kitchen Hill after land was acquired from the [[Sisters of Mercy]] in 1955 and was opened in 1959 as an all-girls school. The nearby all-boys St Paul's Intermediate School was opened in 1962.<ref name="stPaulsHistory">{{cite web
|url         = http://www.lurganparish.com/content/view/271/73/
|title       = History of Saint Paul's Parish
|first       = Kieran
|last        = Clendinning
|access-date  = 17 March 2010
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714002745/http://www.lurganparish.com/content/view/271/73/
|archive-date = 14 July 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
*[[Lurgan Junior High School]] – A co-educational 11–14 High School.
A number of people from Lurgan also attend [[Lismore Comprehensive School]] and [[Brownlow Integrated College]] in Craigavon.
* [[Southern Regional College]] – Lurgan Technical College was renamed Lurgan College of Further Education, and subsequently merged with Portadown CFE and Banbridge CFE into the larger Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education (UBIFHE). Further education in the region was consolidated further when this institution was merged with other FE colleges in Armagh, Newry and Kilkeel to form the Southern Regional College. It offers vocational courses as an alternative to A-Levels, and adult education services.
===Special needs education===
Ceara School provides education for pupils aged 3 through 19 who have severe learning difficulties.<ref>{{cite web
|title       = Secretary of State opens Ceara School, Lurgan
|url         = http://www.selb.org/news/archive/cearaopening/index.htm
|date        = 12 December 2001
|access-date  = 23 March 2010
|publisher   = Southern Education and Library Board
|url-status     = dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929062036/http://www.selb.org/news/archive/cearaopening/index.htm
|archive-date = 29 September 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
==Sport and leisure==
===Facilities===
Lurgan has two 18-hole golf courses,<ref>{{cite web
| title = World Golf
| url = http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/northernireland/countyarmagh/lurgan-golf-club.html
| access-date = 5 March 2009
| archive-date = 7 October 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081007034117/http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/northernireland/countyarmagh/lurgan-golf-club.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> an artificial ski slope<ref>{{cite web
| title = Craigavon Golf & Ski Centre
| url = http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Craigavon-Golf-and-Ski-Centre-Lurgan-Craigavon-P9631
| access-date = 30 March 2010
| publisher = Northern Ireland Tourist Board
| archive-date = 19 April 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100419065704/http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Craigavon-Golf-and-Ski-Centre-Lurgan-Craigavon-P9631
| url-status = live
}}</ref> and an equestrian centre for show jumping.
===GAA===
Lurgan has a large [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] presence, with [[Gaelic football]] being played by clubs [[Clan na Gael CLG]], [[Clann Éireann GAC]], [[Éire Óg Craigavon GAA|Éire Óg CLG]], [[Sarsfields GAA (Armagh)|Sarsfields GAC]] ([[Derrytrasna]]), St Mary's GAC ([[Aghagallon]]), St Michael's GAC ([[Magheralin]]), [[St Paul's GFC, Lurgan|St Paul's GFC]], St Peter's GAC and [[Wolfe Tone GAC, Derrymacash]]. There is also a well-respected girl's [[camogie]] club at Clann Éireann, and hurling club [[Seán Treacy's HC (Lurgan)|Seán Treacy's]], which has been amalgamated at a youth level with Portadown's St Malachy's, to create North Armagh Hurling.
===Football===
The town is home to [[NIFL Premiership]] club [[Glenavon F.C.|Glenavon]], established in 1889 and based at [[Mourneview Park]]. In [[1951–52 Irish League|1952]], Glenavon became the first club outside Belfast to win the Irish League title, and picked up a further two titles in [[1956–57 Irish League|1957]] and [[1959–60 Irish League|1960]]. [[NIFL Premier Intermediate League]] club [[Dollingstown F.C.|Dollingstown]] play at nearby Planters Park.
Lurgan is also home to several teams which play in the lower leagues, with clubs such as [[Lurgan Town F.C.|Lurgan Town]], [[Oxford Sunnyside F.C.|Oxford Sunnyside]] and [[Craigavon City F.C.|Craigavon City]] representing the area in the intermediate divisions of the [[Mid-Ulster Football League]], while Derryhirk United, Hill Street, Lurgan BBOB and Goodyear play in the junior divisions.{{fact|date=July 2024}}
[[Lurgan Celtic F.C.|Lurgan Celtic]] previously played in the [[NIFL Championship]] and [[NIFL Premier Intermediate League|Premier Intermediate League]], but following financial difficulties, the club resigned from league football on 15 August 2019, and planned to resume senior activities from Mid-Ulster Junior Division 3 for the 2020–21 season.{{update-inline|date=July 2024}}
===Other sport===
[[Boxing]] is a common sport among children and adults, with local boxing clubs including South Paw Boxing and Fitness club and The Fitness Factory.{{fact|date=July 2024}}
[[Cricket]] has two clubs, [[Lurgan Cricket Club]] and Victoria Cricket Club. [[Rugby union]] is played by Lurgan RFC, who share their Pollock Park ground with Lurgan Cricket Club.
Tennis is played by Lurgan Tennis Club which is in Lurgan Park. Lurgan Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course bordering on Lurgan lake.{{fact|date=July 2024}}
The [[Lurgan Park Rally]], inaugurated in 1980, was one of the largest [[motorsport]] events on the island of Ireland. However, the event has been on hiatus since 2017.{{fact|date=July 2024}}
Lurgan Park is home to Lurgan Bowling Club who field lawn bowling teams in the NIBA, the NIWBA and the Veterans leagues.{{fact|date=July 2024}}
==Railway links==
[[Lurgan railway station]] opened by the [[Ulster Railway]] on 18 November 1841, connecting the town to [[Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station|Belfast Great Victoria Street]] in the east and [[Portadown]] and [[Armagh]] in the west. The [[Great Northern Railway of Ireland]] provided further access to the west of Ulster which was then closed in the 1950s and 1960s from [[Portadown railway station]].
Presently [[Lurgan railway station]] is run by [[Northern Ireland Railways]] with direct trains to [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]] and as part of the [[Dublin-Belfast railway line]]. The [[Enterprise (train service)|Enterprise]] runs through Lurgan from [[Dublin Connolly]] to [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]], and a change of train may be required at [[Portadown railway station|Portadown]] to travel to {{stnlnk|Newry}} or [[Dublin Connolly]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Lurgan station
| work=Railscot – Irish Railways
| url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf
| access-date=28 August 2007
| archive-date=26 September 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926042407/http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
Railway access at [[Sydenham railway station, Northern Ireland|Sydenham]] links into [[George Best Belfast City Airport]] on the line to [[Bangor railway station, Northern Ireland|Bangor]].
==Road transport and public services==
[[File:Middle Row, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, 1990 (7163391236).jpg|thumb|High Street.]]
Lurgan is situated by the [[M1 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M1 motorway]] connecting the town to Belfast. Bus services, provided by [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Translink]], arrive and depart on a regular basis from bus stops on Market Street to Belfast, Portadown, Armagh, Dungannon, and surrounding areas.
Electricity is supplied by [[Northern Ireland Electricity]] which was privatised in 1993 and is now a subsidiary of [[ESB Group]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nieenergy.co.uk/aboutus.php
|title=NIE Energy – About Us
|publisher=NIE Energy
|access-date=22 March 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117095706/http://www.nieenergy.co.uk/aboutus.php
|archive-date=17 January 2010
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The gasworks used to be in North St., but there is no longer any [[town gas]] since it was abolished in Northern Ireland in the 1980s by the Thatcher government for being uneconomical,<ref>{{cite web
| title=Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1985
| work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]
| url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1985/jul/26/gas-northern-ireland-order-1985
| date=26 July 1985
| access-date=23 March 2010
| archive-date=7 July 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707030754/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1985/jul/26/gas-northern-ireland-order-1985
| url-status=live
}}</ref> although it was restored to the greater Belfast area in 1996. Water is supplied by [[Northern Ireland Water]], a public owned utility.
==Media==
Lurgan is served by two weekly local newspapers. The [[Lurgan Mail]], published by [[Johnston Publishing (NI)]],<ref>{{cite web
| title=The Lurgan Mail
| url=http://www.britishpapers.co.uk/n-ireland/lurgan-mail/
| publisher=British Newspapers Online
| access-date=22 March 2010
| archive-date=9 January 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109103940/http://www.britishpapers.co.uk/n-ireland/lurgan-mail/
| url-status=live
}}</ref> reports news and sport from around the local area. The 'Lurgan and Portadown Examiner' which reported local news and sport was owned by Observer Newspapers NI Ltd, based in [[Dungannon]]. This business closed in 2017 and the newspaper ceased publication.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2017 |title=Weekly paper group Observer Newspapers NI ends publication |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39576420 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526013217/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-39576420 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=BBC NI}}</ref>
==Notable people==
===Living people===
<!-- Kept in alphabetical order by surname because there's no other obvious order of precedence -->
* [[Jocelyn Bell Burnell]] (born 1943) - Northern Irish astrophysicist, discovered the first radio pulsars.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bain |first=Mark |date=7 June 2022 |title=Lurgan-born astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell hopes science-themed £50 note will raise profile of women in the sector |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/lurgan-born-astrophysicist-dame-jocelyn-bell-burnell-hopes-science-themed-50-note-will-raise-profile-of-women-in-the-sector-41729090.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526013456/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/lurgan-born-astrophysicist-dame-jocelyn-bell-burnell-hopes-science-themed-50-note-will-raise-profile-of-women-in-the-sector/41729090.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* [[Barry Douglas (musician)|Barry Douglas]] (born 1960) – classical pianist and conductor, has residences in Paris and Lurgan.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Alf |date=26 May 2022 |title=Lurgan-born pianist Barry Douglas returns to perform in Ulster Hall for the first time in three years |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/lurgan-born-pianist-barry-douglas-returns-to-perform-in-ulster-hall-for-the-first-time-in-three-years-41691979.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526013853/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/lurgan-born-pianist-barry-douglas-returns-to-perform-in-ulster-hall-for-the-first-time-in-three-years/41691979.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* [[Jim Harvey]] (born 1958) – Lurgan-born professional footballer, assistant manager of the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] [[association football|football]] team; played for [[Glenavon]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Tranmere Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Beacom |first=Steven |date=25 July 2008 |title=Football: Harvey set to be Sam's number two |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/football-harvey-set-to-be-sams-number-two-28310826.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526014130/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/football-harvey-set-to-be-sams-number-two/28310826.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* [[Geraldine Heaney]] (born 1967) – Lurgan-born Canadian women's [[ice hockey]] player and Olympic gold medallist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smyth |first=Grant |date=4 July 2008 |title=Ice Hockey:Secret heartache of golden girl Geraldine |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/ice-hockeysecret-heartache-of-golden-girl-geraldine-28125510.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526014510/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ice-hockeysecret-heartache-of-golden-girl-geraldine/28125510.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* [[Gayle Williamson]] (born 1980) – [[Miss Northern Ireland]] 2002 and [[Miss United Kingdom]] 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Stephanie |date=5 August 2020 |title=The Big Ask: Former Miss UK Gayle Williamson on starting dream doggy daycare business with fiance |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/the-big-ask-former-miss-uk-gayle-williamson-on-starting-dream-doggy-daycare-business-with-fiance-39423357.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526014726/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/the-big-ask-former-miss-uk-gayle-williamson-on-starting-dream-doggy-daycare-business-with-fiance/39423357.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* [[Neil Lennon]] (born 1971) – football player and manager<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/2209193.stm | title=Profile: Neil Lennon | access-date=2 April 2010 | date=22 August 2002 | work=BBC Sport | archive-date=20 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320105509/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/2209193.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Jonathan Magee]] (born 1972) – academic and former footballer<ref>{{cite web |title=About our Technical Director: Jonathan Magee |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-8746-124298-0-0&sID=261079 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526014935/https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-8746-124298-0-0&sID=261079 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Peninsula Strikers Junior FC |publisher=Peninsula Strikers Junior F. C.}}</ref>
===Deceased people===
* [[Edward Costello]] (1887–1916) – took part in the [[Easter Rising]] in April 1916, received a fatal bullet wound to the head on 25 April and died in Jervis Street Hospital, [[Dublin]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 May 2016 |title=Police charge man over dissident parade |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/police-charge-man-over-dissident-parade-1235089 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526015323/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/police-charge-man-over-dissident-parade-1235089 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=[[News Letter]]}}</ref>
* [[John Cushnie]] (1943–2009) – broadcaster and panellist on [[BBC Radio 4]] show Gardeners' Question Time; presented [[BBCNI]] TV show The Greenmount Garden.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 January 2010 |title=John Cushnie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/6921760/John-Cushnie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526015529/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/6921760/John-Cushnie.html |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=1 January 2010 |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=[[Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>
* Field Marshal Sir [[John Dill]] (1881–1944) – British commander in World War I and World War II; later a diplomat; born in Lurgan<ref>{{cite odnb|id=32826|title=Sir John Dill |publisher=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography}}</ref>
* [[William McFadzean]] (1895–1916) – soldier; died when he threw himself on a box of primed grenades prior to the Battle of the Somme and was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/A766055.shtml| title=Your Place And Mine – Armagh| publisher=BBC| access-date=21 October 2008| archive-date=21 May 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521084347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/armagh/A766055.shtml| url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Len Ganley]] (1943–2011) – MBE, a world championship [[snooker]] referee; was a resident of the town.<ref>{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=30 August 2011 |title=Len Ganley obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/30/len-ganley-obituary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526015733/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/30/len-ganley-obituary |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
* [[Billy Hanna]] (c. 1929–1975) – founder and first commander of the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]'s [[UVF Mid-Ulster Brigade|Mid-Ulster Brigade]]; native of Lurgan. He was shot dead outside his home in the Mourneview estate by members of his own organisation.<ref>CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths: 1975</ref>
* [[Sammy Jones (footballer)|Sammy Jones]] (1911–1993) – professional footballer who made over 100 appearances for [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] and received one cap for the [[Ireland national football team (IFA)|Irish national team]]; born in Lurgan<ref>{{cite web |title=Samuel Jones |url=https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/76831-samuel-jones |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526020132/https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/76831-samuel-jones |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Football Database |publisher=}}</ref>
* [[James Logan (statesman)|James Logan]] (1674–1751) – born in Lurgan; became an American colonial statesman and scholar, secretary to his friend [[William Penn]], and was noted as a jurist, political philosopher, and botanist.<ref>{{cite web| title=Encyclopedia of World Biography| url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404703946.html| year=2004| access-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>
* [[Cecil Maguire]] (1930–2020) – Irish landscape and figurative artist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hilliard |first=Mark |date=12 May 2020 |title=Death of celebrated landscape painter Cecil Maguire |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/death-of-celebrated-landscape-painter-cecil-maguire-1.4251978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526020357/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/death-of-celebrated-landscape-painter-cecil-maguire-1.4251978 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |accessdate=16 November 2020 |newspaper=[[Irish Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Richard McGhee]] (1851–1930) – Irish [[Protestant Nationalist]] home rule politician;  [[Land League]] and trade union activist; [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)]] for more than 20 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard McGhee |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcghee-richard-a9965 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526020535/https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcghee-richard-a9965 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]]}}</ref>
* [[Rosemary Nelson]] (1958–1999) – human rights solicitor; killed by a [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] car bomb<ref>{{cite news| title=So who did kill Rosemary Nelson?| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jul/04/rosemary-nelson-murder-public-inquiry| date=4 July 2009| access-date=5 February 2010| work=The Guardian| location=London| archive-date=5 May 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505211111/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jul/04/rosemary-nelson-murder-public-inquiry | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Martin O'Hagan]] (1950–2001) – journalist for [[Sunday World]] newspaper; murdered on 28 September 2001 in front of his wife near his own home in the town.<ref name="martinOHagan"/>
* [[George William Russell]] (1867–1935) – writer; wrote under pseudonym Æ; [[Anglo-Irish]] supporter of the nationalist movement in Ireland; critic, poet, painter, mystical writer, and was at the centre of a group of followers of [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|theosophy]] in Dublin for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/ae.html|title=AE – George William Russell – Theosophical History|access-date=5 February 2010|archive-date=13 June 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613191852/http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/ae.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Philip Smith (VC)|Philip Felix Smith]] (1825–1906) – soldier; recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]]; birth is recorded in the parish of Shankill at St. Peter's RC Church, Lurgan.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vconline.org.uk/philip-smith-vc/4588266511.html|title=Philip Smith|publisher=VC Online| access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Norman Uprichard]] (1928–2011) – goalkeeper who began his career playing [[Gaelic Football]] with St. Peter's GAC. His decision to sign for [[Glenavon]] cost him a league medal under the [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]]'s now-defunct 'Rule 27'. He was finally awarded his medal by St. Peter's in 2004. He went on to play for [[Swindon Town]], [[Portsmouth]] and [[Southend United]] at club level, and won 18 caps for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] at international level.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/norman-uprichard-goalkeeper-who-helped-northern-ireland-reach-the-1958-world-cup-quarterfinals-2212535.html |title=Norman Uprichard: Goalkeeper who helped Northern Ireland reach the 1958 World Cup quarter-finals |access-date=1 July 2012 |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Ivan |last=Ponting |date=12 February 2011 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110173812/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/norman-uprichard-goalkeeper-who-helped-northern-ireland-reach-the-1958-world-cup-quarterfinals-2212535.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Ike Weir]] (1867–1908) –  boxer, credited with being the first man to take the Featherweight Championship of the World in a match against Frank Murphy on 31 March 1889, in [[Kouts, Indiana]].<ref name="The Salt Lake Tribune p. 15, 13">"Little Giants of the Ring", ''The Salt Lake Tribune'', Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 15, 13 July 1980</ref><ref name="BR">{{cite web |title=Ike Weir |url=http://boxrec.com/boxer/43763 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526021123/https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/43763 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |accessdate=7 March 2016 |website=BoxRec |publisher=}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of towns in Northern Ireland]]
* [[List of villages in Northern Ireland]]
* [[List of townlands in County Armagh]]
==References==
{{Reflist|3}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Lurgan}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030406041841/http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/ Craigavon Borough Council] (archived 2003)
{{County Armagh}}
{{NorthernIrishTowns}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}
[[Category:Lurgan| ]]
[[Category:Towns in County Armagh]]
[[Category:Civil parish of Shankill, County Armagh]]
[[Category:Townlands of County Armagh]]