Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs

Local History Project

Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs in conjunction with Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme

BY PRIMARY 7 PUPILS LURGAN MODEL PRIMARY SCHOOL Local History presented to the pupils

by David Weir, Jim Conway, Pascal Downing and James Martin

Local History Project

Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs in conjunction with Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme

1

Introduction

A local book, ‘Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs’ was published in December 2022. This publication was funded by Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme, an initiative supported by the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It was agreed that proceeds of the sale of the book will be used to support local charities and to encourage and promote local history and education.

To realise the objective of promoting local history and education, we decided to run a creative writing competition for P6 and P7 pupils in some local primary schools. Certificates for the competition and treats for the those taking part was provided from proceeds from the sale of ‘Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs’ book.

We would especially like to thank Gerard O’Hagan and Miriam Azghoud for the warm welcome into Lurgan Model Primary School.

We appreciate them finding time within the busy school schedule to enable guest speakers from ‘Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs’ to visit and give a series of talks to their P7 class about local history.

2

As part of the programme the P7 class learned about the history of Lurgan town and its buildings and were treated to visits to Shankill Graveyard, Brownlow House and Lurgan Park. We would like to thank Jim Conway, James Martin and Pascal Downing respectively for assisting David in facilitating these local history lessons and visits. They in turn, would like to express their appreciation of the pupils who enthusiastically engaged throughout. They are a credit to their teachers and to the school.

Contained within this booklet are examples of some the pupils work, what they learned, as well as written pieces about their favourite place in Lurgan. We applaud the tremendous effort that the pupils put into their work, giving us an insight into their thoughts on the town. We hope that they will continue to take an interest in their local history and the town.

David Weir (Education Officer, Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme) Norah McCorry (Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs) Paul Carville (Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs)

3

Year 7 class of Lurgan Model Primary School, pictured in their leaver’s hoodies, May 2024.

4

Photographs of class visits to Brownlow House and Lurgan Park on Friday 3 May 2024.

5

A few facts we learned about Lurgan town...

•

Lurgan town is over 400 years old (Flavius, Rozalia)

•

The Browlow family created the town of Lurgan (Dylan, Katie, Lucas, Rizwan, Ryan)

•

The name comes from the old Irish name for the place ‘an lorgain’ and means ‘shin shaped ridge’ (Joshua)

•

A lot of Lurgan’s streets are called after Kings, Queens and famous people (like Brownlows). But Market Street is called this because in the old days everyone met up in the middle of the town to sell things. It has changed a lot (Luna)

•

Church Walk is called this because it was the road Brownlows walked to church from Brownlow House and only they could use it as they wanted away from other people (Jamie)

•

The tallest building in Lurgan is St. Peters Parish Church (Jessica, Kevin)

•

Two things I learned about Lurgan was that the Brownlow’s dog Master McGrath, was a famous racing dog, who won 3 world championships and when your walking on the pavements your walking on Chinese granite (Luke)

6

Aerial views of Lurgan Town, c.2018. Photographs courtesy of ABC Council.

7

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park, because it’s a beautiful place filled with memories and lots of history.

Lurgan Park is wonderful. It is full of fun and joy. It has a lovely fountain (that doesn’t work). It is a joyful park for kids to play.

Lurgan Park has lots of greenery and flowers and trees it’s a wonderful place for anybody to enjoy. And it’s a great place to walk your dog.

I have made lots of memories in Lurgan Park. That’s where I learned to ride my bike and so did my sister. I always go there in summer.

Once me and my sister both went down the twirly slide at the same time we nearly got stuck, it was so funny. My dad has been taking me since I was 3, that’s 7 whole years! It’s an amazing place for memories. Did you know the fountain at Lurgan Park used to be in the main street in the town centre where the war memorial is now?

These are the things I would do to improve Lurgan Park. There is a lot of dog dirt, so maybe if there wasn’t that much and if there was less litter aS there seems to be a lot.

By Aliya

8

9

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

I picked Lurgan Park because its very fun. I love to go on walks with my dog and play. I like the café, they have nice cakes and buns, with hot chocolate and coffees. I like to sit near the fountain and play fetch with my dog while he runs about. I love their ice cream.

I love the smell at Lurgan Park it smells like a natural scent. I love the smell of nature. I like going down the slide all the time and my favourite is the swings.

By Amy

I picked Lurgan Park too because it is very fun, noisy and very big. I like the play park and the ducks. I especially love their flowers and the way the wind blows. I like to walk my dog and going for a park runs. I think the council should add a skateboard track and a baseball court, maybe a football pitch too.

By Dawid

10

11

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Belvedere Manor and I am going to tell you a bit about it.

I have made a lot of memories here over the years from the very first day I moved here until now.

The first memory I made here was moving, the trip was exciting, but I mostly just ate sweets. This place is way better than my old town!

The second memory I made here was my dog Biffy having puppies, there was eighteen total in the litter! Most of them were black like Biffy but a few were white. I sold most of them but kept one and we called her Luna.

I have made a lot of friends in Belvedere, such as Noah.

Unfortunately, I’m not friends with him anymore but he was good fun to hang around with at the time.

A boy called Joshua who goes to my school, lives in Belvedere too.

He is one of my best friends to date.

Belvedere is practically perfect, but it does have a lot of bullies so if I could change anything I would tackle that problem.

But that is all I have to say about Belvedere Manor, it is a good place to live, and I’m proud to say I live there.

By Corey

12

13

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park in Windsor Avenue.

I picked this place because I have lots of childhood memories there.

I also love the environment in the park. All the plants and flowers and trees.

The pond I love where the swans swim, and I love all the history about George ‘AE’ Russell in the park. He would’ve sat on the righthand side at the entrance to the park.

When you walk into the park on a summer morning, you can smell the plants and trees.

The park has loads of history from years back, like in WW2, there are some pictures on the internet of soldiers training in the park, they dug up holes for them to squat down.

There is also a photo on the internet of cannons in the park to celebrate that “The war is over”, but then later it started again and they used the cannons to melt them down for more weapons.

I think there could be a few changes to the park. Maybe put flowers running down each side of the park path.

By Declan

14

Soldiers of the 16th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles practising trench warfare in Lurgan Park, c.1914. Photograph courtesy of Royal Ulster Rifles Museum.

15

Neat Little Town of Lurgan There’s a neat little town they call Lurgan, Situated in the county Armagh, Made famous from Lisbon to Durban, By that wonderful dog called McGra. It’s been the home of the Brownlow’s for centuries, The Castle is plain to be seen, By a beautiful lake, it’s surrounded, It’s fit for a King or a Queen.

We’ve got a park there in Lurgan, A park that is second to none, With that hollow ground lake in the centre, Where the wild fowl are safe from the gun.

The children romp and play cricket, While the park ranger counts up the runs, As he sits on the Jubilee fountain, With his eye on the big German gun.

Author unknown – published in ‘Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs’.

16

Photograph showing World War 1 German howitzer guns displayed in Lurgan Park as ‘war trophies’ until they were removed in the 1940s and melted to make weapons for World War 2.

17

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

I picked Clan Na Gael Gaelic Football club because it is much fun to play football and Gaelic with my friends.

Clan Na Gael has a very good Gaelic pitch and a 4g pitch. The grounds are very clean, it’s very big and nice to play football with friends. It also has a bar at the front when you go in it for a soft drink.

I have a memory of being there and bringing my dog for a walk around the pitch.

I think that “Clans” should get an indoor pitch for when it’s raining so you don’t have to do training outside in the rain.

By Donnacha

18

Clan na Gael’s home – Davitt Park, Francis Street, Lurgan.

Image courtesy of Clan na Gael.

19

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Tannaghmore Gardens because I have good memories with my family. The park is my favourite part because of the zipline, the slide and the ground is really soft so when kids fall it won’t hurt as much.

The Animal Farm is ok but it’s pretty boring. I like the Maze beside it.

There are colourful benches that are nice. The cool statues everywhere which is nice. It is a beautiful place in Lurgan, and I think its lovely.

By Elliott

20

21

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

I picked Lurgan Park because that was the first park I went to in Ireland.

It has a wonderful smell. It smells like flowers and there is a gentle breeze. The park has a sand pit and swings, and it even has one swing for people in wheelchairs. There is also a trampoline and baby slides.

I think if they added a skate park or a football pitch with a net and some more slides, two more baby slides it would make it look better and make the park bigger. Somewhere to feed the ducks and swans would be nice as well.

By Flavius

22

23

A few facts we learned about Shankill Graveyard •

The oldest place in Lurgan is the graveyard (Elliott)

•

There is a place in Lurgan called Shankill graveyard. It contains lots of graves. It has one of the most famous ghost stories. All I have to say “died once, buried twice”! (Rose)

•

Marjorie McCall was the lady who died once but was buried twice. She was pronounced dead but was in a coma and got buried. She was woken by a grave robber (Rizwan)

•

A man named Henry Cuppage is another ghost in the graveyard (Donnacha, Jack, Jamie)

•

Cuppage’s ghost can be seen walking the train tracks, and the chains of his grave shake (Amy)

•

Shankill Church used to be in Shankill graveyard (Dylan, Kaitlin, Liam)

•

The old Shankill Church was on top of the hill. There is a building there now which the Brownlow family are buried in (Flavius, Fraser, Katie)

24

•

Many orphans and poor people are buried in the graveyard but they have no headstones as they could not afford them (Connie)

•

It wasn’t always graveyard. Thousands of years ago it was was a ringfort which people lived in (Ciara)

Above photograph shows the Brownlow Mausoleum in which members of the Brownlow family were buried from 1737.

It occupies the site of the old Shankill Church.

25

A poem written about Majorie McCall Twice Buried Grandmother told us many a tale On many a winter’s night; Some stories that oft made us quail, And some that gave delight.

Of giants great, and robbers bold, That were the people’s dread; And fairies small, and witches old, And ghosts of people dead.

But truthful tales she told as well, And some the strangest too, She said this one she used to tell Was fact all people knew.

In Lurgan town a lady died, And in the grave was laid, And at the midnight hour next night, Arose up from the dead.

And while her husband sleepless lay, Her death lamenting sore, Her well-known knock e’re break of day, He heard loud at the door!

26

Though struck as by electric shock The sound again to hear; He rose to open to her knock; And see her ghost appear.

Then at the opened door, behold!

What sight there did he meet?

His risen Margery, pale and cold, Wrap’d in her winding sheet.

No fancied phantom met his gaze – The form of her he mourned; He saw there by the pale moon’s rays, Fresh from the grave returned.

That back to life he soon believed, His wife had really come, And then as from the dead received Her to his arms and home.

When from the lady life seemed fled, And friends in sorrow wept, Two days and nights, as o’er the dead, In but a trance she slept.

27

A diamond on her finger shone, In golden setting bright, But force could not remove the stone; The ring was found so tight.

The servant went at dead of night Resolved the ring to have, And dug up by his lantern’s light, Her body from the grave.

Then when the treasure to obtain, He cut her finger deep; So sensibly she felt the pain, She waked up from her sleep.

Tradition says she was restored Her duties to renew Of faithful wife, and even spared To be a mother too.

Upon her gravestone we have read, In Shankill (read by all) The true record, that twice lay dead Dame Margery McCall.

John Capper, Tullygally, 1882 (Collected by ‘Heart and Soul of the Montiaghs’)

28

Above is the grave of Marjorie McCall, who ‘Lived Once, but was Buried Twice’.

Marjorie and her husband John are recorded as living in Church Place, Lurgan in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Photograph courtesy of ABC Council.

29

The Ghost of Henry Cuppage

by Jim Conway The closest grave in Shankill graveyard to the railway line is the Cuppage family burial ground.

The Cuppages were once one of Lurgan’s most important families.

They lived in Silverwood House, which was demolished in the 1960s to make way for Silverwood Industrial Estate.

One of the most famous ghost stories in the town relates to the untimely death of Henry Croker Cuppage.

Henry joined the army when he was 16 and served with the Bengal Lancers in India for over 30 years, becoming an expert horseman.

In 1871 Henry returned to Lurgan to plan his wedding, but unfortunately for some reason the engagement was broken off and the wedding was cancelled. Henry was heartbroken and fell into a state of deep sadness and depression.

On the morning of 18th September 1872 Henry took himself to the railway line, a few yards from Silverwood railway bridge. As the 11am mail train from Dublin approached, he lay down on the railway lines, grabbed the rails and put his neck on the track. Despite the driver's efforts, the train traveling at 40 miles per hour couldn't be stopped and he was decapitated.

30

Ever since then, the ghost of Henry Cuppage, with his head under his arm can be seen wandering the railway lines from the Silverwood bridge to Shankill graveyard.

As a child I used to sing the following rhyme with my friends: “Poor Cuppage is dead, Poor Cuppage is dead, and when he awakes he will catch one of us”

Image courtesy of Paul King.

31

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Oxford Island.

I picked it because I have lots of memories from my childhood.

Oxford Island can sometimes be a marshy swamp but most of the time it is a beautiful place with green grass and blue sky during the summertime.

A couple of good and bad memories are the times my mum broke her leg or another time me and my brother Adam climbed to the top of a tall tree and were too afraid to climb down. Ten minutes later we mustered the courage to climb down. There were a couple times I built a stick fort with my uncle.

Oxford Island isn’t perfect so here’s some ways I think to improve it.

Bigger paths so it is easier to get pass each other. Another thing is to fix the bridges this would make a walkway better.

By Fraser

32

Aerial view of Oxford Island. Photograph by John Clarke Photography.

33

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Cafollas.

I picked this place because of the memories I had in my childhood.

Cafolos is a brilliant place to go for food, but my favourite is fish & chips it’s so nice!!!

But the sad thing is I haven’t been there since my granny passed away. Every Thursday, we used to go get food; me, my mum and granny. We usually walked back to my granny’s house but if it was raining, we got a taxi or a bus. After Cafolos we went to my granny’s house, and she always had my favourite crisps on her table ready for me to eat.

I haven’t been to Cafolos since my granny died but I will never forget those memories.

By Harry

34

35

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

I picked Tannaghmore Gardens because there is a variable selection of things to do such as: football, play park, ice-cream, animals and taking pictures on the tractor.

It is very natural looking and is a nice place to go in the summer.

Tannaghmore Gardens is a fun place to go to with friends and family.

It always has a very beautiful smell from the flowers and trees.

Tannaghmore is normally very clean (not a lot of litter) The wood-art is very majestic to look at. The play park is up to standard, but Tannaghmore Gardens from a drone view is quite scenic.

I have loads of memories at Tannaghmore Gardens. When I saw all the animals and going on the tractor when I was little or my mum running away from the chickens, getting ice-cream and playing around the place having a splendid time. Meeting my pen-pal which was fun. Then my favourite thing at Tannaghmore was my dad doing an overhead kick that I thought was unbelievably amazing!!! On the same day Ronaldo scored a bicycle kick in the Champion’s League against Juventus.

I think I can improve Tannaghmore by making another pitch and picking up dog foul on the pitch. To add a café/hot food bar would be nice. Maybe let us pet the animals like a petting area. A taller or longer slide and finally a bigger parking lot.

By Jack

36

37

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Out of all the amazing places in Lurgan my favourite must be Lurgan Park, the trees, bright colours, swans, it feels almost magical being there on walks.

It’s a good place to be and a reason to go outside more. Some of my favourite memories are the colour runs held every year-or-so. The last colour run, after the main event, I saw two ladies sitting on the bench attracting quite an impressive crowd of pigeons (and some doves); I asked them about it, and they taught me how to let the pigeons come up to my hand and eat out of it, a dove even came up! I also have memories of a pear tree I would always climb up; they tasted so fresh! Sadly, it had to be cut, but on the topic of fruit trees…

Hopes for the future: there isn’t much I think could be improved; the place is practically perfect! But there are a few things I would change. I mentioned about a pear tree in the last paragraph and it was a nice addition to the park, I think Lurgan Park could definitely benefit from having more fruit trees, maybe to be able to pay for the trees it could cost-lets say around £1.50ish for a piece of fruit, it would make the park more money, and the people visiting the park would have delicious fruits, it’s a match made in heaven, or should I say a “pear” made in heaven, sorry.

38

But I do have one more idea, a few other parks have a walking tour of the park, if Lurgan Park ever did this they could put a twist in the idea by having the different tab thingies that tell you about the parks history and wildlife could have stamps to prove you finished the walk.

By Joshua

39

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

I picked my house as my special place because I’m quite anti-social and my house makes me feel safe and relaxed when I’m in my house.

My house is a 3-storey house with 2 balconies and it’s a reddish colour with a pink door with some decorations outside, it has 4 bedrooms and warm inside.

Memories of my house is all mostly from my childhood. Here’s some of my memories of my house. When I was 5 my dad always put me on his shoulders, and we chased my mum and sister around the front garden. When I was 7 my dad poured water all over my sister and I got it on video on my dad’s phone and we always had awesome memories that I’ll tell in another paragraph!

Some very special memories that I think deserved their own paragraph. When I was at my cousin’s, my mum told my dad to come home with us, so we did and when we got there, I sat on the sofa, playing on my iPad, not noticing what my mum had in her lap; I looked up tho’ and seen a puppy! I was so happy when I see the puppy because the puppy was meant to come in 2 months, so I was happy he came then. His name is now Toby, and he is 3 this week!

Anyways here’s some more memories that are special to me.

40

On Christmas Eve I found out my cousin was born! I was so happy and it’s my other cousin’s nephew and he is now a couple months old, and his name is Theo-James, but we call him TJ or Theo, I love Theo a lot. I get to take care of him sometimes and I love it! I’m glad he’s born. Sadly, that’s all I’ve remembered!

I like my house as it’s filled with lots of childhood memories and I love my room and how long I’ve lived there for, all my friends live close too and there’s a shop close by to my street and I go often either by myself or with my friends and cousins! I really do enjoy how special my street.

To improve my house, I don’t really need anything improved, I love my house, but I wish I wouldn’t share a room with my sister anymore.

By Katie 41

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Model Primary School.

I picked Lurgan Model because I love it I have so many childhood memories in Lurgan Model. It is a very fun place! On the outside of it has a lot of nice stones like basalt and sandstone. There is some lovely trees and bushes as well and inside there is plenty of colours like orange, green, brown and much more.

Here are some memories. Well in nursery I remember my granny would always wait outside the playground at home time then we would always get ice cream together. Or when I sneaked sweets in my pocket.

The staff and teachers are kind and helpful, but Mr O’Hagan is helpful and explains things better than the others. But the other people are just okay at explaining things.

The one thing I love most about Lurgan Model is the big pitch were everyone plays football or Gaelic on it, just the best place to play.

That’s why I think Lurgan Model is so special to me.

By Kaitlin

42

Self-portrait of George ‘AE’ Russell who attended Lurgan Model Primary School between 1872 to 1878. He left for Dublin when he was 11 years old and became a world-famous artist and writer. Beside is an example of one of his paintings which is part of the collection of National Gallery of Ireland.

43

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park because I like to fish in the lake with my friends and play tag or do laps around the lake. My favourite thing to do is go in the sand pit and trampoline and feed the birds.

The slides are long and dark, and I like to smell the flowers. You can play hide and seek or go and play tennis.

I like to play football with my dad, and I scored a bicycle kick. It would be better if they make the park bigger and put in a football pitch and a basket court.

It should have more people and more ducks but no more fights or drunk people. They should have an ice cream truck and maybe a skate club.

By Kevin

44

45

A few facts we learned about Shankill Parish Church •

Shankill means ‘old church’ from Irish (Donnacha, Dylan, Jamie, Liam)

•

The old Shankill Church used to be in Shankill graveyard (Ciara, Flavius, Kevin, Kaitlin)

•

The church moved to the bottom of the town 300 years ago (Lucas)

•

Shankill Church is mainly made of black basalt with some sandstone on the edges (Colm, Fraser, Joshua, Kevin, Rozalia)

•

Basalt and granite are two of strongest, hardest stones, so it’s not falling down (Rose, Ryan)

•

Basalt is made when lava from volcanoes hardens. There is lots of basalt under Lurgan (Rizwan)

•

Before there was a bell, lambeg drums were used to signal people to come to church (Jack, Luna)

•

Shankill Church was the tallest building in Lurgan until St. Peters Parish Church was built (Connie, Luke)

46

Shankill Parish Church, known to many as ‘the big church’, has stood at the foot of Lurgan since 1725. However much of the current building dates to the 1860s when the church was reordered and enlarged to accommodate a larger congregation making it one of the biggest parish churches in Ireland. Stones from the old church in Shankill Graveyard were used for the steeple.

The photograph is reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.

47

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park because I have fun memories there, and it just looks amazing.

It has a massive playground, that has been rebuilt twice. I love how there is so much to do and see, like the cricket club and the path with hundreds of trees. I love the water fountain which was originally in the town where the memorial is now.

I remember when I hated going to the park because when I was younger, I was terrified of dogs. Everyone was bringing their dogs to the park and that scared me. I remember my mum bringing me and my cousin to teach us how to ride our bikes, and I kept on falling off.

My mum tried to feed the swans once with an ice-cream cone and she nearly got bit!!! My dad was laughing at her, and she was not happy.

But I feel like they could add skatepark or a special bike path to improve things. Maybe they could make a sports club like football, Gaelic or a hurling club.

By Liam

48

49

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

The South Lakes Leisure Centre.

I picked it because it is fun, a very good place to go swimming and the pool is enormous. The pool has a very strong smell of chlorine.

South Lakes has a very good futsal court to play on and you can also play handball on it too.

One of my best memories being there is getting moved up to the big pool and jumping into it. When I got in it wasn’t scary at all. Another memory is winning the European Handball Tournament against Carrick Primary School. If I could improve South Lakes is if it could stay open longer.

By Luke

50

Photographs of the South Lake Leisure Centre, courtesy of McAdam Design.

51

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

My nanny Noo’s house in Rectory Park.

I picked this place because it has so many memories and it’s a beautiful place with lovely smells.

I love it because whenever I’m there I feel safe. The front garden has flowers and plants of all colours. There’s a tiny pond but it doesn’t have any fish. The back garden has a two- seated summer swing, a fairy garden. There’s a few flower bushes and some statues. Inside the house there’s a nice smell to it. A special room for painting because my nanny used to be a painter professionally and she still paints a bit. The living room is where every Christmas we all go in and sit down while nanny Noo gives out presents for everyone.

My memories of my nanny Noo’s house are mostly of Christmas but there are others like once I had a bad day at school and I went to nanny Noo’s and she made me feel better and I got a biscuit. My nanny always has biscuits even though she has diabetes, but they are not for her there for her family. Another one of my memories of this place is playing with Holly the Chihuahua.

By Luna

52

53

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park because all my memories of being there.

Lurgan Park can be full of children wanting to go into play. It’s a big area in Lurgan which is one of the many reasons I picked this place, it’s lovely to go for a walk or a run. Sit back and relax it’s very peaceful. I can remember going and having fun because when I was little, I was “picky” on where I want to go to. So, the park was amazing, and the smells are amazing, the flowers’ the fresh grass everything’s amazing!!

I think that Lurgan Park can improve by adding a separate park for the teenagers so that there’s separate ages like 5-year-olds should not be seen with a 15-year olds. They can also add a skateboard park on some of the grass and two football and Gaelic nets as well.

Maybe a little area for the bicycles and a bridge from the lake to Brownlow House.

By Rizwan

54

55

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Lurgan Park. I like the park because of its lovely smells of flowers and the wildlife. There are lots of things to do, such as playing on the swings and slides or going for a nature walk.

By Rozalia

56

Painting of Lurgan Park by Aodhan.

57

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Called Craigavon city football club. I picked it because I love sports and meeting new people. Three other people from my class go there and it’s enjoyable, for people that like sports.

The coaches try to make it as fun-filled as possible. If anything happens, they will try to help as much as they can.

It gives you something to do. Training is Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. And the coaches are super nice. My coaches are called Gavin, Chris and Connor. They help us improve in skills. I love when we do 4/defenders vs 3/attackers. The attackers try to score. I like being midfield. We have matches every Saturday at 8am. You need shin pads and football boots.

By Ryan

58

The home of Craigavon City Football Club, Drumgor Road.

Photograph by Aro Graphics.

59

My favourite place in Lurgan is…

Clann Éireann Youth Club/Park.

Why I picked that place; I've been there for at least 2 years with the Youth Club and I’ve played for Clann Éireann GAC for almost nearly a year. It's a very fun and safe place for me and a few others.

In the summer I would go to the Mace with our friends. It's one of my safe places. I go every Monday. Clann Éireann’s pitch is a place I can go to and train and have fun. There’s a summer camp. We go on trips to lots of fun and good places.

The thing I’d change about Clann Éireann is in the Youth Club there's not enough spaces, it's normally crowded and packed. Overall, it's a very fun place.

By Toni

60

Photograph of Clann Éireann Youth Club courtesy of www.designid.co.uk.

61

A few facts we learned about Brownlow House...

•

The Brownlow family who made Lurgan town, lived in Brownlow House (Amy, Donnacha, Katie, Luke, Toni)

•

The Brownlow family are actually English and I think that’s why we speak English and not Irish (Connie)

•

In Lurgan the Brownlow family were like Kings and Queens and Brownlow House was their palace (Rozalia)

•

Before Brownlow House was built the Brownlows lived in a castle (Ryan, Fraser)

•

The old castle used to have a big wall around it for the Brownlows to be safe (Donnacha, Rizwan)

•

The old castle and wall was made of black basalt stone. But the castle was still attacked in 1641 and the Brownlows got kidnapped by the angry Irish people who lost their land to them (Jamie)

•

The Brownlows were held hostage for 10 years and released (Ryan)

•

Charles Brownlow called himself Lord Lurgan and he rebuilt the castle as Brownlow House (Luna)

62

•

Most of Brownlow House is made out of sandstone, but you can still see part of the old castle built of basalt. The House has lots of rooms, at least more than two (Joshua)

•

Brownlow House has more than 40 rooms (way more than 40 rooms actually) (Dylan)

•

It is actually said to have 365 rooms, one for every day of the year (Connie, Harry, Lucas, Luna)

1751 plan by Patrick Dougan with drawing of the Brownlow’s old castle. What is now Lurgan Park formed part of the grounds of the Castle. Image reproduced by kind permission of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

63

The 1st Lord Lurgan, Charles Brownlow (1795-1847) ordered the construction of new home for his family, which largely replaced the older castle. Brownlow House was built between 1836 and 1842 and is mostly made from Scottish sandstone.

A part of the earlier castle, made from local black basalt stone, was however retained and remodelled as a courtyard with servants’ quarters and kitchen surrounding it.

Note in the background of the photograph the spires of Shankill Parish Church of Ireland and St. Peter’s Parish Catholic Church, the tallest buildings in Lurgan.

Image courtesy of ABC Council.

64

Thanks to National Lottery players