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About
Armagh Armagh is located in the geographical heartland of Northern Ireland. A compact little city, it lays claim to being one of Ireland's oldest settlements. The hill that is now home to the Church of Ireland cathedral was once believed to have been the seat of power of Queen Macha, who gave the name 'Ard Macha' to the city, meaning Macha's height. It was also at the base of this hill that Saint Patrick set up his first Christian church. Colleges, schools and other churches grew around this church and by the eighth century the ancient settlement had been transformed into a major centre of learning. Ireland's status throughout Europe as the 'Isle of saints and scholars' was at this point well established. However, such fame came with a price and soon the land starved Vikings were arriving on Armagh's doorstep. Between 831 and 1013, the settlement was raided at least ten times with many clergy, teachers and scholars being either killed or taken into slavery. The power of the Vikings diminished around the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, yet despite this the feuds in Armagh continued. This time the Irish themselves fought for control of the city. Armagh's architecture is mostly Georgian and exists largely due to the vision of Richard Robinson, a Church of Ireland Primate. Archbishop Robinson, set out to make Armagh a more worthy Christian capital and employed some of the finest possible architects to achieve this. At around the same time, slightly more peaceful conditions had encouraged an economic revival and flourishing linen industry in Armagh. At the turn of the century circumstances changed and Armagh's former prosperity waned somewhat. Today, a much brighter outlook abounds in Armagh. The city is a major educational and administrative centre, with a number of light industries to its name. The county also boasts an abundance of vibrant visitor attractions which explore the region's intriguing past and offer endless possibilities. Some
of the attractions to look out for in Armagh include: The Armagh
Observatory and Planetarium Armagh Public Library Armagh County Museum Palace Stables HeritageCentre Siant Patrick's Trian Gosford
Forest Park
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