County Armagh (named after its county town, Armagh) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the south shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 1,254 km², with a population of approximately 159,085. It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland, lying within the historical province of Ulster. County Armagh is known as the "Orchard County" because the land is very fertile for apple-growing.

The name "Armagh" derives from the Irish word Ard meaning "height" and Macha, together meaning "height (or high place) and Macha. Macha is mentioned in the Book of the Taking of Ireland, and is also said to have been responsible for the construction of the hill site of Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh City) to serve as the capital of the Ulaid kings (who give their name to Ulster), also thought to be Macha's height.

From its highest point at Slieve Gullion, in the south of the County, Armagh's land falls away from its rugged south with Carrigatuke, Lislea and Camlough mountains, to rolling drumlin country in the middle and west of the county and finally flatlands in the north where rolling flats and small hills reach sea level at Lough Neagh.

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

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, 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.

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, which eventually became Armagh.

Brendan Shine (born 1947) is an Irish folk/country singer, television presenter and accordion player from Athlone, with over 15 irish number 1 singles and best known for his songs about everyday Irish life such as "Do you Want your Old Lobby Washed Down" and "Spuds".

Shine originally started off a barman, he set up a pub in Baylough in Athlone, across from St.Comans Park, 'Shine's Bar', He let his wife run the pub, recently Shine has sold the pub but the name remains 'Shines Bar'. He lives now in Moore, on the main road to Shannonbride in an ordinary old two story farm house, with a large farm attached to it.

Shine has released more than fifty albums and has had over forty-five hit singles. He began by playing in his father's country band while still at school, played in Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band along with schoolfriend Johnny Dawson (who still performs with Shine in the Brendan Shine Super Band), originally making his name as an accordionist before taking up singing and becoming one of Ireland's best-known entertainers. In 1971, he topped the Irish charts with "O'Brien Has No Place to Go", which stayed in the charts for five months.

Bridget "Bridie" Gallagher (7 September 1924 – 9 January 2012) was an Irish singer, affectionately known as "The Girl from Donegal". She was "Ireland's first truly international pop star".

Gallagher shot to fame in 1956 with her recording of "A Mother's Love's A Blessing" and achieved international acclaim with her legendary rendition of "The Boys From County Armagh". During her career, which spans over six decades, she has appeared in many leading venues across the globe. She also made songs such as "The Homes of Donegal" famous.

Gallagher started her singing in the Creeslough Hall with a local Ceili Band started by Bill Gallagher. The Creeslough Hall was owned by Jim Mc Caffrey and Bridie would make many more visits to the Creeslough Hall in her home town throughout her long and successful career. Bridie's talent was soon spotted in the 1950's by Billy Livingstone (no relation to her husband) who was a talent scout for Decca records, and she went to Belfast which was to become her base, therein she married George Livingstone and had two boys, Jim and Peter. One son, Peter died in a motor accident in 1976 and the other later went on to tour with Gallagher.

John Stalker (born 17 April 1939, Manchester) is a former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, now residing in Lymm. He headed the Stalker Inquiry that investigated the shooting of suspected members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1982. He has also had a television and literary career.

Stalker joined the Manchester City Police as a cadet in 1956. He joined the CID in 1961 and was promoted to the ranks of Detective Sergeant (1964), Detective Inspector (1968) and Detective Chief Inspector (1974). At the age of 38 he became the youngest Detective Chief Superintendent in Britain (1978).

Stalker attended the Senior Command Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill in 1979. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police in 1980.

Stalker is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies. During his career he served in the Serious Crime Squad, the Bomb Squad and the Drugs Squad. He travelled around the world studying terrorism and crime from an international perspective.