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.
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.
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.
We don't torture, we're a civilized nation
We're avoiding any confontation
We don't torture, we don't torture
American hostages
in Iran
Heard daily on the news
forget about Vietnam
You can ignore the 32
There are 32 women in Armagh jail
political prisoners here at home
the British state's got nothing to lose
It's a subject better left alone -
We don't torture
we're a civilized nation
We're avoiding
any confontation
We don't torture
Alleged crimes withheld information
She gets no sanitation
dries her shit on her cell wall
feeling cold and sick
She gets a couple of valium
Now she's relaxed for the next interrogation
naked spreadeagled on her back
it's a better position for internal examination
it's a better position for giving information
An armed guard squad she gets a beating
bleeding and wounded she's stopped eating
has a baby gets nothing for pain they came and took