Coordinates: 54°28′48″N 6°13′55″W / 54.480°N 6.232°W
| Moira | |
| Irish: Maigh Rath | |
 The main street in Moira |
|
  Moira
Moira shown within Northern Ireland |
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| Population | 3,682 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| District | Lisburn |
| County | County Down |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | BT |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| NI Assembly | Lagan Valley |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Down | |
Moira (from the Irish: Maigh Rath meaning "plain of ringforts") is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland, between Lisburn and Lurgan. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,682 people.
Contents |
Town
Moira has a town hall, built about 1800, a wide main street and 18th-century blackstone houses divided by carriage archways. It was largely built by Sir Arthur Rawdon, whose famous formal gardens have vanished; however, several street and estate names bear his surname. Some of the castle foundations can still be seen in the public park, formerly part of the grounds of Moira demesne, home of the Earls of Moira. On the north side, a long grassy avenue terminates in St John's parish church, a building of 1725 where John Wesley preached in 1760 and where William Butler Yeats, grandfather to the poet WB Yeats, was curate in 1835. Berwick Hall is a thatched yeoman's house of 1700. The market house was built in 1810 and is supposed to have marked the completion of the village.
Present day
Nowadays Moira is a thriving small town with an ever-growing population. In the mid-nineties Moira won numerous awards for "Best Kept Small Town" and attracted people from miles around to see its flower displays in the Demesne and the Main Street. However, in recent years this has not been the case.
Community
Moira has a close-knit community. The heart of the town revolves around the two bars, 'The Four Trees' and 'Pretty Mary's' (formerly 'Norman's'). Moira also has a strong sense of religion, mainly Protestant, with no fewer than 5 established churches being located in and around the town.
History
Moira was the scene of a victory in AD637 by the King of Tara over Comgall, King of Ulster.
2001 Census
Moira is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,682 people living in Moira. Of these:
- 24.3% were aged under 16 years and 13.8% were aged 60 and over
- 48.8% of the population were male and 51.2% were female
- 13.0% were from a Catholic background and 82.6% were from a Protestant background
- 1.5% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
1998 Bombing
On February 20 1998 a 500lb car bomb exploded outside the police station, injuring 11 people. The bomb was intended to ill police officers due to do a shift change. It is still not known to this day who carried out the attack but many think it was the work either the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) or a 'Dissident Republican' group.[1]
Transport
- Moira railway station was opened on 18 November 1841.[2] The station is the oldest building on the Northern Ireland Railways network today.
References
- ^ Bomb is intended to spread fear Belfast Telegraph
- ^ "Moira station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
See also
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- Market Houses in Northern Ireland
External links
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