Lurgan: Difference between revisions

}}</ref> The land was then passed to the McCanns and the O'Hanlons. In 1642,

Brownlow and his family were released by the forces of [[Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway|Lord Conway]], and as the rebellion ended they returned to their estate in Lurgan. William Brownlow died in 1660, but the family went on to contribute to the development of the [[linen]] industry which peaked in the town in the late 17th century.<ref>{{cite web

 

===An Gorta Mór/The Great Hunger===

 

A key component of the Craigavon development was a [[central business district]] halfway between Lurgan and Portadown that would serve as the city centre for the whole of the new city. What was built was an office building, a court house, a civic building, and a small shopping centre alongside several acres of parkland that were developed around the newly created [[balancing lake]]s that also serve as part of the area's drainage system. In the 1990s, the shopping centre was significantly expanded to form what is now Rushmere Retail Park, containing many major retail stores. This has had a detrimental effect on the retail trade in Lurgan in the same way that out-of-town shopping developments in other parts of Northern Ireland have damaged other traditional town centres.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref> The town's Chamber of Commerce is not functioning and has remained dormant despite numerous attempts to revive it.<ref>{{cite web

| title=Town meeting

| url = http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Lurgan-Park-Lurgan-Craigavon-P11100

| accessdate = 4 March 2009}}</ref> and the second-largest in Ireland after Phoenix Park, Dublin. It used to be part of the estate of Brownlow House, a 19th-century Elizabethan-style manor house.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref> In 1893, the land was purchased by Lurgan Borough Council and opened as a public park in 1909 by Earl Aberdeen, [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref> It includes a sizeable artificial lake and an original [[Coalbrookdale]] fountain. Today the park is home to annual summer events such as the Lurgan Agricultural Show, and the Lurgan Park Rally, noted as the largest annual motor sport event in Northern Ireland and a stage in the [[Circuit of Ireland]] rally.

Mount Zion House in Edward St, formerly the St Joseph's [[Convent]], is now a cross-community centre run by the Shankill Lurgan Community Association/Community Projects. It is funded by the [[Department for Social Development]], the EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, and the Physical and Social Environment Programme.<ref>{{cite web

| accessdate=29 March 2010

}}</ref> and is today owned by the Mechanics' Institute and is available for conferences and community functions.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref>

 

 

St Mary's Intermediate School was built on Kitchen Hill after land was acquired from the [[Sisters of Mercy]] in 1955 and was opened in 1959 as an all-girls school. The nearby all-boys St Paul's Intermediate School was opened in 1962, and both of these schools are now known as junior high schools.<ref name="stPaulsHistory">{{cite web

}}</ref> Pupils attend these schools from age 11 to 13, at which time they have the option of transferring to St Michael's if they qualify. Those who do not qualify may stay on at St Paul's and St Mary's until minimum school leaving age at 16 and where the option of taking GCSE exams is available.

 

===Special needs education===

Ceara School provides education for pupils aged 3 through 19 who have severe learning difficulties.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref>

 

===Facilities===

Lurgan has a municipal swimming pool and leisure complex called Waves. This includes a swimming pool, squash courts, a gym, and offers such activities as pilates, circuit training, and spinning classes.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref> Following a vote taken by Craigavon Borough Council on 7 April 2010, Waves is to be closed as will the Cascades Centre in Portadown, and both facilities are to be replaced by a large central swimming facility that will be built near the Craigavon balancing lakes.<ref>{{cite web

| title=Super-centre is on way as councillors vote for the closure of Cascades

*[[Neil Lennon]], manager of [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], former manager of [[Celtic F.C.|Glasgow Celtic]] and former captain of the [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] [[football (soccer)|football]] team and Glasgow Celtic.

*[[Stella McCusker]] (born 1942, Aghagallon) won the Best Actress award at the 2010 Irish Theatre Awards.<ref>{{cite web

}}</ref>

*[[Gayle Williamson]], [[Miss Northern Ireland]] 2002; and [[Miss United Kingdom]] 2002