Armagh
Orchard County
Founded by Saint Patrick the hillside city of Armagh is a
beautiful Georgian city where two great cathedrals continue his
crusade as the centre of Irish Christianity and where Ireland’s
greatest High King lies buried. A city of elegant architecture,
packed with wonderful attractions, cultural activities and enticing
shops. The Orchard County is a tapestry of rolling green fields
where apple orchards blossom and the game of bowls are still played
along country roads; it is easy to leave the world behind in its
majestic forest parks where the rivers and lakes teem with fish. In
Armagh music is part of family life and is passed through the
generations. Frequently the traveller is assailed unexpectedly by
wonderful traditional music pouring out of houses and country pubs
never to be forgotten for its simple beauty and complex airs;
hikers can climb the wooded slopes of magical Slieve Gullion, where
the mythical warrior Cuchulainn lies beneath the earth, and where,
from its summit, you can witness the extraordinary beauty of the
Ring of Gullion.
Memories are made of these
Memories are easily created but lasting
memories are forged; yours might be a night of sublime Irish music,
played for the sheer joy of it in pub or club, or an evening of
laughter and fun at an old coaching inn with friends you’ve just
met, relaxing after an invigorating day golfing or angling by the
side of a Lough. Your memory might be the taste of exquisite
Irish seafood in romantic waterside restaurant or just the warmth
of the smiles that greet you, time after time. In Armagh the craic
is everywhere; in all kinds of festivals; in evenings of drama or
music, whether it’s enjoying opera in the beautiful gardens of a
stately home or friendly banter over a lingering breakfast in a
B&B, just unwind, chill out and enjoy life the way it should be
lived.
So much to explore
Children will be spellbound by powerful
mythical stories at the nearby Navan Centre and Fort, enthralled by
the restored Georgian palace, stables and courthouse, and moved by
the heroic story of the Somme. In Armagh there are so many ways to
enjoy our history. Begin your exploration at Lough Neagh Discovery
Centre on beautiful Oxford Island, where you’ll find meadows of
exquisite rare butterflies and tranquil waterside bird watching
hides. Cruise over the wide waters of the Lough or enjoy a
fantastic variety of water sports, from jet-skiing and windsurfing
to sailing, canoeing, and power boating. Cycle on the National
Cycle Network down leafy country lanes or along tranquil canal
towpaths.
Here you can trace human habitation back
10,000 years in islands redolent with history and enjoy some of the
finest course angling in Ireland in great rivers and tiny streams
alike. Slalom down the slopes at Northern Ireland’s only artificial
ski centre or tee off at world-class golf courses, pump up the
adrenalin on motor bikes or karts or enjoy a multitude of other
activities. This is Armagh; welcome!