Retracing Our Steps

CACD have hosted a number of Walking tours of towns and villages in Co Armagh. –

Beginning with Edenderry, Portadown on 14th June Adrain Branyon presented the history of this industrial area covering Portadown Foundry, The Gas Works, Wade Pottery . He also talked about the importance of the Railway which gave Portadown its title The Hub of the North and touched on the history of the churches – Presbyterian and Methodist.

On 28th June a number of people attended a guided tour of the village of Loughgall. Tour guides for the evening were Nigel Lutton and Barry McQueen. It began at the former RUC Station, proceeding up into the village the next stop was the Church of Ireland were the history of this current building was explained. Continuing on they passed Loughgall County Park which offers a wide range of activities such as golf, walking, fishing and tennis. The group then stopped at Loughgall District Hall which is owned by the Orange Order.
Next they heard the origins of The Cope Estate which is now used by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. The grandure of the entrance to the estate is an image that is synonymous with Loughgall. They then visited the historic graveyard containing the ruins of the Parish Church where Protestants were burned alive in the 1641 Rebellion. In the graveyard they also viewed the burial tomb of Colonel Verner a revered Orangeman.

At Sloan’s House and Heritage Centre participants heard about future plans for development of the museum and viewed artefacts currently on display. They also heard about the formation of the Orange Order. The evening ended with a delightful supper.

Several members of our groups attended a walking tour of Killylea- Venue for the 12th July celebrations on 5th July. Tour guide for the evening was local historian Isaac Beattie who gave a comprenhensive history of the village and surrounding area. The evening ended with supper served by members of the Ellis Association.

The next tour was Markethill on 26th July where Barbara Ferguson gave the history of this market town assisted by some of the particiapnts, one of whom was born at 42 Main Street, which was formerly the Rectory for the Parishes of Mullabrack and Kilcluney. The evening was rounded off with supper served by Mullabrack Community Partnership.

Several members of our groups attended a walking tour of Bessbrook on 23rd August. The tour was conducted by local historian Trevor Kinnin. They began at Bessbrook Town Hall and continuing around the village Trevor explained how it was founded by members of the Quaker tradition and was a hive of activity with many employed in the linen industry in Bessbrook Mill. In latter years the Mill became a heavily fortified base for the Army but this has now been vacated. They visited a restored Mill house before returning for a tour of the Town Hall and supper served by the Model Village Community Association.