About County Armagh
County Armagh is one of the smallest counties in Ireland but carries an outsized significance in Irish history. Known as the Orchard County for its apple orchards, Armagh has been the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland since Saint Patrick established his church here in the 5th century. Both the Catholic and Church of Ireland primates still hold their seats in the city of Armagh today.
History
Armagh was the seat of the ancient kingdom of Ulster and site of Navan Fort, the legendary capital of the Ulster kings. The county was fought over for centuries, its fertile land making it a prize for successive waves of settlers. The Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century transformed its demographic landscape, creating the complex cultural mix that still defines the region today.
How Armagh families left Ireland
Armagh families emigrated in large numbers during the Famine, many through Newry and Belfast. The linen weaving tradition that once sustained the county's economy collapsed in the 19th century, pushing thousands toward American cities like New York and Boston where they found work in textile mills.
Places worth visiting in County Armagh
- Navan Fort, the ancient seat of the Ulster kings, one of Ireland's most significant archaeological sites
- Armagh city, twin cathedrals on twin hills, the spiritual heart of Ireland for 1,500 years
- Saint Patrick's Trail, following the path of Ireland's patron saint through the county
- Orchard County drives, the apple blossom routes that turn the county pink every spring
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