Armagh
City of Armagh
Armagh is often compared to Wells in England as they are both small cities but big on history, dominated by no less than two Cathedral’s this city has a long history, it is the county town of Armagh and is the least populated city in Ireland.
Armagh has been an important religious centre since the 5th century this was when St Patrick built the first stone church. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. The city also became a place of learning and was known as the city of saints and scholars. This educational tradition continued with the foundation of the Royal School in 1608
Armagh was settled in c 370 BCE and derives its name from the Irish Queen Macha of the Red locks and Ard Mhacha, meaning "Macha's height", in ancient times along with Navan Fort it was one of the great royal capitals of pagan Gaelic Ireland. Today it is home to two cathedrals both called St Patricks and the Armagh Observatory, this latter was founded in 1790 and is Irelands foremost astronomical research institute.
A lot is known about early Armagh from the famous book of Armagh a 9th-century Irish manuscript which details the life of St Patrick, the gospels and other material this lovely book is now in the Library of Trinity College Dublin It contains some of the oldest surviving specimens of Old Irish.
The city like other others in Britain and Ireland was subject to Viking raids in 839 and 869 they ransacked the monastery and in one in particular raid the place was burned to the ground.
In the 18th century, Archbishop Robinson used some of his fortune to totally transform the place as it had become very rundown. The great man built palaces, libraries, schools and an infirmary.
This refurbishment also included the planting of trees, the building of terraced houses a jail and barracks and paving of the streets, he also restored the cathedral.
The town is an interesting destination and is a good base for exploring the surrounding area there is also an open air market.
Activities in Armagh
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