Coordinates: 54°21′00″N 6°39′17″W / 54.3499°N 6.6546°W / 54.3499; -6.6546

Armagh
Irish: Ard Mhacha
Thomas Street
Armagh  Armagh shown within Northern Ireland
Population	14,590 (2001 Census)
Irish grid reference	H876455
- Belfast	33 miles
District	Armagh
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ARMAGH
Postcode district	BT60, BT61
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Newry & Armagh
NI Assembly	Newry & Armagh
Website	[1]
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland •

Armagh ( /ɑrˈmɑː/ ar-MAH; from Irish: Ard Mhacha meaning "Macha's height" [aɾˠd̪ˠ ˈwaxə]) is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh. In 1995, Armagh city was twinned with Razgrad, Bulgaria.

Although classed as a medium-sized town,^[1] Armagh was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. Its population of 14,590 (2001 Census) makes it the least-populated city in both Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland and the fourth smallest in the United Kingdom.

History[link]

Foundation[link]

Eamhain Mhacha (or Navan Fort) at the city's edge, is believed to have been used as an ancient pagan ritual or ceremonial site. According to Irish mythology it was once the capital of Ulster, until it was abandoned during the 1st century. The site was named after the goddess Macha, and as the settlement grew on the hills nearby, it was also named after the goddess — Ard Mhacha means "Macha's height". This name was later anglicised as Ardmagh,^[2][3] which eventually became Armagh.

When Christianity spread to Ireland during the mid-400s, Armagh became the island's "ecclesiastical capital", as Saint Patrick established his principal church there. Saint Patrick decreed that only those educated in Armagh could spread the gospel. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, in the year 457:

Ard Mhacha was founded by Saint Patrick, it having been granted to him by Daire, son of Finnchadh, son of Eoghan, son of Niallan. Twelve men were appointed by him for building the town. He ordered them, in the first place, to erect an archbishop's city there, and a church for monks, for nuns, and for the other orders in general, for he perceived that it would be the head and chief of the churches of Ireland in general.

Medieval era[link]

In 839 and 869, the monastery in Armagh was raided by Vikings. As with similar raids, their objective was simply to acquire valuables such as silver, which the churches and monasteries often kept.

The Book of Armagh came from the monastery. It is a 9th century Irish manuscript now held by the Library of Trinity College, Dublin (ms 52). It contains some of the oldest surviving specimens of Old Irish.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland)

Brian Boru is believed to be buried in the cemetery of the St. Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral. After having conquered the island during the 990s, he became High King of Ireland in 1002, until his death in 1014.

In 1189, John de Courcy, a Norman knight who had invaded Ulster in 1177, plundered Armagh.^[4]

Modern era[link]

Armagh has been an educational centre since the time of Saint Patrick, and thus it has been referred to as "the city of saints and scholars". The educational tradition continued with the foundation of the Royal School in 1608 and the Armagh Observatory in 1790. This was part of the Archbishop's plan to have a university founded in the city. This ambition was finally fulfilled, albeit briefly, in the 1990s when Queen's University of Belfast opened an outreach centre in the former hospital building.

Three brothers from Armagh died at the Battle of the Somme during World War I. None of the three has a known grave and all are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. A fourth brother was wounded in the same attack.

On 14 January 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) sergeant was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Armagh. He was attacked with a grenade as he walked along Market Street and later died of his wounds.^[5] On 4 September 1921, Michael Collins and Eoin O'Duffy addressed a large meeting in Armagh, which was attended by up to 10,000 people.^[6]

The Troubles[link]

2001 Census[link]

Terraced houses on Cathedral Close

The population of Armagh City on Census day (29 April 2001) was 14,590 people, of whom:

• 25.1% were aged under 16 years;
• 17.5% were aged 60 and over;
• 48.1% were male and 51.9% were female;
• 68.3% were from a Catholic community background;
• 30.2% were from a Protestant or other Christian community background;
• 11.6% were born outside Northern Ireland; and
• 1.0% were from an ethnic group other than white.

The average age was 35.2 years (NI average age 35.8 years). For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Climate[link]

Armagh has, like most of Ireland, a temperate maritime climate (Cfb) according to the Koppen climate classification system. The nearest Met Office standard weather station, at Armagh Observatory, provides long term weather data back to 1844. During that time, the highest temperature to be recorded was 30.3 °C (86.5 °F) on the 10th July 1934.^[7] The lowest temperature was −15.1 °C (4.8 °F) on the 7th February 1895.^[8]

Typically, the warmest day of the year will reach 26.1 °C (79.0 °F)^[9], and 3.7 days a year should attain a maximum temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above.^[10]

Typically the coldest night of the year should fall to −6.8 °C (19.8 °F)^[11] and 40.4 nights should register an air frost.^[12] All averages refer to the 1971-2000 observation period.

Notable buildings[link]

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Roman Catholic)

Armagh is the site of two cathedrals, both on hills and both named after Saint Patrick. The Church of Ireland cathedral dates back to around 445. The present-day, post-Reformation, Roman Catholic cathedral was constructed during the latter half of the 1800s and features twin 64m spires, making it the tallest such structure in the county. Armagh is the only city in the world which is home to two cathedrals of the same name.

Armagh has a Georgian area of heritage importance. Perhaps one of the more well known of the buildings is the former women's prison.^[14] The construction of Armagh Gaol began in 1780 and was extended in the 1840s and 1850s; the front facade of the prison being built in the Georgian style, while the later development, based on the design of Pentonville (HM Prison), is Victorian.^[14] For most of its working life it was a women's prison although not exclusively so. Armagh Gaol was the primary women's prison in the north of Ireland. In 1986 the prison closed and its prisoners were transferred to the new prison at Maghaberry (HM Prison).^[14]

The city is home to the Armagh Observatory, founded in 1790, and to the Armagh Planetarium, established in 1968 to complement the research work of the Observatory. The palace of the Archbishop of Armagh is now the local council offices and, along with the archbishop's private chapel, is open to the public. The Palace Stables heritage centre is a reconstructed stable block dating from the 1700s, which was once part of the Archbishop's estate.

Among the city's chief glories is the public library on Abbey Street. Founded in 1771 by Archbishop Richard Robinson (later Lord Rokeby), using his own library as its nucleus, it is especially rich in 17th and 18th century English books, including Dean Jonathan Swift's own copy of the first edition of his Gulliver's Travels with his manuscript corrections.

Armagh Market House was built in 1815 as a two-storey five-bay building, and is currently used as a library.

City centre regeneration[link]

The Mall, looking eastwards

To combat the problem of a diminishing city centre and to address the concerns of local people, Armagh City and District Council decided to upgrade the surfaces and general appearance of the main shopping areas.

The scheme aims to deal with the many issues raised by the public and businesses over recent years. It will regenerate the centre of Armagh, transforming it into a high-quality pedestrian-friendly environment. The ineffective pedestrian area in Market Street will be opened officially to vehicles. The scheme will provide wider footpaths, pedestrian crossings and disabled parking throughout the city centre to improve safety and accessibility.

As well as these new street layouts the appearance of the city centre will be enhanced by new lighting, paving, seating, bins and greenery. The use of quality stone materials, public art projects and feature lighting will contribute to the overall effect and present the city’s famous architecture at its best. A shop frontage scheme will be launched toward the end of the street development project.

The scheme includes eleven streets: Market Street, Thomas Street, Ogle Street, Scotch Street, Dobbin Street, Dobbin Street Lane, Barrack Street, McCrum's Court, Upper English Street, Russell Street, Ogle Street and Linenhall Street.

The £5m Armagh City Centre Regeneration Scheme is funded by Armagh City and District Council, the Department for Social Development, the Roads Service and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Administration[link]

Former offices of the North/South Ministerial Council, Abbey Street

The city is run by Armagh City and District Council, headquartered in Armagh, which covers a larger area than just the city, but not the entire county. Together with part of the district of Newry and Mourne, it forms the Newry & Armagh constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. The Member of Parliament is Conor Murphy of Sinn Féin, who is a former Provisional Irish Republican Army prisoner and a member of the Sinn Féin negotiations team. He won the seat in the United Kingdom general election, 2005, after the retirement of long-serving SDLP MP Seamus Mallon.

The Southern Education and Library Board and the Southern Health and Social Services Board have their headquarters in the city, which has a long reputation as an administrative centre.

The secretariat of the North/South Ministerial Council is based in Armagh, and consists jointly of members of the civil services of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Armagh is the seat of both the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, both of whom hold the position of Primate of All Ireland for their respective denominations.

Education[link]

St Patrick's Cathedral showing St Patrick's Grammar School on its right

Terraced houses on Vicar's Hill

Primary[link]

• Armstrong Primary School
• Christian Brothers Primary School Armagh
• The Drelincourt Primary School
• Dromintee Primary School
• Drumhillery Primary School
• Mount St Catherine's Primary School
• The Royal School Preparatory School
• Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School
• St. Malachy's Primary School
• St. Patrick's Primary School

Post-primary[link]

• City of Armagh High School
• The Royal School, Armagh
• St. Brigid's High School
• St. Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
• St. Catherine's College, Armagh
• Southern Regional College^[15]

Transport[link]

The Ulster Railway linked Armagh with Belfast in 1848 and Monaghan in 1858.^[16] The Newry and Armagh Railway (N&A) opened in 1864 and the Castleblayney, Keady and Armagh Railway (CK&A) was completed in 1910.^[16] In 1876 the Ulster Railway became part of the new Great Northern Railway (GNR), which took over the N&A in 1879 and the CKA in 1911.^[17]

The Armagh rail disaster, which killed 80 people, occurred on 12 June 1889 on the N&A line near Armagh.^[18]

The partition of Ireland in 1922 hastened the railways' decline, and the GNR closed the Keady – Castleblayney section of the CKA in 1923.^[19] The GNR withdrew passenger trains from the Armagh – Keady section of the CKA in 1922 and closed the Armagh – Markethill section of the N&A in 1933.^[19] The Government of Northern Ireland forced the GNR Board close all remaining lines serving Armagh railway station on 1 October 1957: the goods branch from Armagh to Keady and the main line through Armagh from Portadown as far as the border at Glaslough on the way to Monaghan.^[19][20]

Northern Ireland Railways train services run from Portadown to Belfast Great Victoria Street and the Enterprise runs via Newry to Dublin Connolly. Poyntzpass also has a limited service.

There is a future possible railway reopening from Armagh to Portadown.

Sport[link]

Armagh City Football Club is the local association football club, and the City of Armagh Rugby Club is the local rugby club. Gaelic football is represented by Armagh Harps and Pearse Ógs. The local GAA handball club is Eugene Quinn's, named after a player from the Armagh area who died on an attempted swim from Tory Island to the coast of Donegal. The local hurling club is Armagh Cúchulainns.

In 2004 the Royal School, Armagh became only the second team in history to win both the schools' rugby and hockey cups in the same year.

The Mall in Armagh has a long association with cricket, and is the location of the Armagh Cricket Club clubhouse.

Armagh Athletics Club was founded in 1969. The club organises the Armagh International 5k Road Race annually. The race was first organised in 1980 and takes place every February with athletes coming from England, Scotland, Wales, USA and various European continental countries.

Townlands[link]

Armagh is within the civil parish of Armagh. Like the rest of Ireland, this parish has long been divided into townlands, whose names mostly come from the Irish language. Over time, more townlands have been built upon and they have lent their names to many streets, roads and housing estates.

In 1830, most of Armagh's urban townlands were amalgamated (for administration) and became known as Corporation Lands or simply Corporation.^[21] However, the surrounding townlands remained as separate units and they were eventually built upon too. They are listed below alongside their likely etymologies.^[2][22]

• Aghamoat (from Irish: Achadh Mochta meaning "Mochta's field")
• Ballynahone Beg (from Baile [Beag] na hAbhann meaning "[small] townland of the river") - part of Lisnadill parish
• Ballynahone More (from Baile [Mór] na hAbhann meaning "[large] townland of the river")
• Cargagh (from Cairgeach meaning "rocky land")
• Cavanacaw (from Cabhán na Cáithe meaning "hollow of the chaff")
• Drumadd (from Druim-fhad meaning "long ridge")
• Drumarg (from Druim Arg meaning "ridge of the chests" or Druim Fhairig meaning "ridge of the feasting/hospitality")
• Drumman More (from an Drumainn meaning "the ridge")
• Killuney (from Cill Lughna meaning "Lughna's church")
• Legarhill or Mullaghcreevie (from Mullach Craoibhe meaning "hilltop of the branch")
• Lurgyvallen (from Lorg Uí Mhealláin meaning "Ó Mhealláin's track")
• Mullynure (from Mullach an Iubhair meaning "hilltop of the yew") - part of Grange parish
• Parkmore (from Páirc Mhór meaning "great field")
• Tullyelmer (from Tulaigh Giolla Mura meaning "Giolla Mura’s mound")
• Umgola (origin uncertain but probably includes the element -gabhla meaning "forks")

See also[link]

• Book of Armagh
• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• Market houses in Northern Ireland

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Armagh

• Visit Armagh
• Armagh, City of at the Open Directory Project
• Online Guide to Armagh

Thomas John "Tommy" Bowe (Irish: Tomás Ó Buaigh, born 22 February 1984) is an Irish rugby union footballer from County Monaghan, Ireland. He plays on the wing for the Ospreys, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. In March 2012, Bowe confirmed that he would be returning to his native province, Ulster, for the 2012/13 season.

Career[link]

Early rugby and Gaelic careers[link]

Tommy is an extremely proud Monaghan man and a former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Northern Ireland, he was a schoolboy provincial full-back, only converting to wing whilst playing for Ireland U-21s. Bowe played Gaelic football from U10 level with Emyvale, his local GAA club and he also ran for the Glaslough Harries and represented his local parish Donagh in the All-Ireland community games. He represented Monaghan at U16 and Minor level. As well as playing Gaelic football, he also played rugby with Monagahan RFC at underage levels as well as representing his primary school team. He attended the University of Ulster, Jordanstown and played for the Queens University Belfast rugby team, earning a selection to the Ireland U20 Team before transferring to Belfast Harlequins. He subsequently was capped at U21 level and was named as the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) ’Young Player of the Year’ in 2003.^[1]

Club/provincial career[link]

Bowe received a call-up to the Ulster squad at the end of the 2003–04 season, scoring on his debut against Connacht and soon made his name as an Ulster regular. He won the Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award at the Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner in May 2005.^[2] On 25 January 2008 he confirmed that he would leave Ulster at the end of the 2008 Celtic League season, to join the Ospreys on a two year deal. In his first season with the Welsh club, he scored a club-record four European Cup tries in a match against Treviso,^[3] as well as becoming the leading Magners League try-scorer, having scored the most tries in the league's history.^[4] In 2008, he won both the Ulster and Ireland Player of the Year awards.^[5] In December 2009 it was announced that Bowe had signed a 3 year extension with the Ospreys, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2012/13 season.^[6]

International career[link]

Bowe made his senior international debut against the USA during the 2004 Autumn Internationals becoming the first player from County Monaghan to win an Ireland cap since the 1920s, marking his introduction to test rugby with a second half try. Bowe won further caps during Ireland's tour to Japan and their Autumn Internationals in 2005. With that experience and an impressive run of form for Ulster in the Celtic League, he made the 22-man panel for Ireland's 2006 Six Nations opener against Italy, and went on to score a try in that game. After Ireland's poor first half against France in the following Championship match, Bowe was axed from the squad — prompting allegations of him being made a scapegoat by Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan.^[7]

An injury-plagued latter part of 2006 precipitated a downturn in form, though a rejuvenated Bowe came back with 5 tries in 6 matches to earn his place in Ireland's 2007 Six Nations squad. He failed to make the Irish squad for the disappointing 2007 Rugby World Cup. Bowe earned himself a place in Ireland's original 2008 Six Nations squad after a very good season with Ulster. He was overlooked for the Ireland matchday squad to play Italy in the tournament's opening game, however, despite his form. He was again excluded from the squad the following week when Ireland were narrowly defeated by France in Paris, however on 19 February 2008 Bowe was named in the starting team at for the visit of Scotland to Croke Park, a match in which he scored two tries. He then played in the losses to Wales and England.

With his good form for the Ospreys continuing in 2008 Bowe retained his right-wing position for Ireland during the Autumn internationals, scoring the team's only try against Argentina. Bowe was then selected on the wing for the 2009 Six Nations opener against France in Dublin. Bowe impressed as Ireland claimed their first win over France in six years with 30–21 triumph. Their next game was against Italy. Despite a performance that was below par, Bowe scored a try as Ireland romped to a 38–9 win. After wins against England and Scotland, Ireland took on Wales with a grand slam at stake. With Ireland trailing 6–0 at halftime they came out firing as Brian O'Driscoll scored to put them 7–6 up. Then, from a Ronan O'Gara chip, Bowe gathered and outpaced Ospreys teammate, Shane Williams to score under the posts for a try. Wales came back from 6–14 to go up 15–14 with six minutes remaining, but O'Gara slotted a last gasp drop goal to give Ireland the lead again. Wales had one more chance to snatch the game from Ireland with Jones having a penalty on halfway with the final kick of the ball. But Jones missed by a matter of inches and Ireland claimed a dramatic win and their first grand slam in 61 years.^[8]

In February 2010 against England in the 2010 Six Nations Championship, he scored two tries including the clinching try with five minutes remaining in a 20–16 win at Twickenham.^[9] In March 2010, Bowe was voted 2010 Six Nations Player of the Championship, gaining over 50% of the vote.^[10]

Bowe continued to represent Ireland throughout 2010. He was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Six Nations Championship, and scored the opening try of Ireland's demolition of a Grand-Slam chasing England on March 19. He went to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, his first such tournament, and scored a try against the USA in Ireland's opening Pool C game. He was selected in the squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship, during which he rediscovered his try-scoring ability. scoring 5 tries in Ireland's first three games, including braces against Italy and France.

British and Irish Lions[link]

On 21 April 2009, Bowe was named as a member of the British and Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa.^[11] He started in the first match on the tour, versus a Royal XV and, in this game, became the first try scorer of the 2009 tour. He then scored two tries against the Golden Lions which contributed to his selection for the test side. He wasn't included for the next two games before coming back for the match against Western Province where he scored his fourth try of the tour and set up another for Ugo Monye.

His form on the Tour was outstanding, winning him praise from the sporting media.^[12] On 18 June 2009, Ian McGeechan named Bowe in his test side to face South Africa in Durban on 20 June where The Lions lost 26–21 . Bowe, although holding his own in defence, wasn't given any opportunities to run. He was again selected on the wing for the second test. The Lions lost 28–25 due to a last minute penalty by Morne Steyn to clinch the series for the Springboks. Bowe in this game had more opportunities to run and was dangerous in attack. Due to injuries to Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, Bowe was selected at outside centre in a partnership with Riki Flutey. He came second behind Jamie Roberts for the Player of the Series award.

International Tries[link]

Tommy Bowe's International Tries[13]
Try	Opposing Team	City/Country	Venue	Competition	Year
[1]	United States	Dublin, Ireland	Lansdowne Road	Test Match	2004
[2]	Japan	Osaka, Japan	Nagai Stadium	Test Match	2005
[3]	Italy	Dublin, Ireland	Lansdowne Road	Six Nations	2006
[4–5]	Scotland	Dublin, Ireland	Croke Park	Six Nations	2008
[6–7]	Canada	Limerick, Ireland	Thomond Park	Test Match	2008
[8]	Argentina	Dublin, Ireland	Croke Park	Test Match	2008
[9]	Italy	Rome, Italy	Stadio Flaminio	Six Nations	2009
[10]	Wales	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	Six Nations	2009
[11]	Australia	Dublin, Ireland	Croke Park	Test Match	2009
[12–13]	England	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	2010
[14]	Scotland	Dublin, Ireland	Croke Park	Six Nations	2010
[15]	New Zealand	New Plymouth, New Zealand	Yarrow Stadium	Test Match	2010
[16]	South Africa	Dublin, Ireland	Aviva Stadium	Test Match	2010
[17]	England	Dublin. Ireland	Aviva Stadium	Six Nations	2011
[18-19]	United States	New Plymouth. New Zealand	Yarrow Stadium	2011 Rugby World Cup	2011
[20]	Wales	Dublin, Ireland	Aviva Stadium	Six Nations	2012
[21-22]	Italy	Dublin, Ireland	Aviva Stadium	Six Nations	2012
[23-24]	France	Saint Denis, France	Stade de France	Six Nations	2012

Honours[link]

• IRUPA Young Player of the Year 2004 ^[14]
• Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award 2005
• IRUPA Players' Player of the Year 2008
• RBS Player of the Championship for the 2010 RBS 6 Nations
• IRUPA Players' Player of the Year 2010 ^[15]
• Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year 2010 ^[16]

TV work[link]

Bowe was guest chef in programme two of series seven of The Restaurant in 2010.^[17]

He appeared on RTÉ's The Late Late Show on 21 May 2010 where he was quizzed on his version of the song "The Black Velvet Band" which he sang during Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations.^[18]

Family[link]

His father, Paul, won a Leinster Schools' Cup medal with Newbridge College on the 1970 team, captained by Mick Quinn and went on to win a cap for Leinster Schools. Ann, his mother, is a well respected physio in Co. Monaghan and she runs her own practice as well. His sister, Hannah, is an Ireland hockey international and she is also a member of the Monaghan ladies Gaelic football team. His grandfather won a Military Cross in the Normandy Landings. David, the youngest in the family is studying and playing rugby for his college in England.^[19] His girlfriend is former Miss Wales Lucy Whitehouse.^[20]

Tommy Bowe Challenge[link]

Challenge 12 Men began training in September 2011 for this arduous task. To Kayak from Killaloe to Monaghan in 6 Days, 300 Km distance in April 2012. Using double Sea Kayaks this has never been attempted before! All monies raised will go directly to Glaslough Harriers. Every member of the team are using their own resources to fund their place on the trip. This is a pure fundraising event. Over a route of some 300 Kilometers over six days, twelve men will paddle in two man kayaks starting from Killaloe in County Clare, carrying all their kit, and head north up the river Shannon to Portumna via Lough Dearg and the first camp at Munster Harbour.

Day two will see us on our way to Clonmacnoise or Athlone for the second camp.

Day three we set off for Lough Ree and on to Lanesborough and the third camp.

Day four from Lanesborough, and on to Carrick-On-Shannon or Leitrim and camp four.

Camp five will be in Ballinamore after navigating through some nine locks.

Day six should see the end of a magnificent paddle by significantly stronger men, around the Clones area… the finishing point is yet to be determined, we would like to pick our way as close to Monaghan as possible.

Who is taking part?

A team of twelve men from the surrounding area of Glaslough in Co Monaghan, who started kayak training in the middle of September last year as complete novices.

The team spent the early part of their training, learning all the necessary safety skills including, lifesaving, capsize, deep sea rescues, basic and advanced paddle skills, emergency procedures, first aid training, towing, and kayak surfing in double kayaks.

The men have been committed to training every Sunday in all weathers, and as the daylight draws out, have been out twice a week, circuit training and including surf in the Downings area of Donegal. All members are fully paid up members of the Irish Canoe Union, and keen to carry on in their new sport after the event and involve family members in outdoor activities.

Why are we doing it?

To help raise a substantial amount of funds for the Glaslough Harriers, who have been active and effective for fifty years, to go towards the procurement of suitable land, and the building of a sports and athletics arena, to serve our young (and older) athletes in the Monaghan area, which would also be an excellent facility and venue for visiting teams.

When will the Challenge begin?

The team and support crews will be travelling to Killalou on Saturday 28th April, and camping overnight with an early start on Sunday morning at 9.30am on the button.

Download the route and schedule

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ulster Profile
• Ospreys Profile
• Ireland Profile
• Lions Profile
• espnscrum.com Profile