Coordinates: 54°04′41″N 6°36′32″W / 54.078°N 6.609°W
| Crossmaglen | |
| Irish: Crois Mhic Lionnáin | |
| Cross/The Cross | |
 Road leading into the town |
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Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen shown within Northern
Ireland |
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| Population | 1,459 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| Irish grid reference | |
| - Belfast | 52 mi (84 km) |
| District | Newry & Mourne |
| County | County Armagh |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWRY |
| Postcode district | BT35 |
| Dialling code | 028, 048, +44 28 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | Newry and Armagh |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Armagh | |
Crossmaglen (from the Irish: Crois Mhic Lionnáin meaning "macLennon's crossing") is a village in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is known as The Cross or simply Cross by locals. It had a population of 1,459 people in the 2001 Census and is the largest village in South Armagh. The village centre is the site of a large Police Service of Northern Ireland base and formerly of an observation tower (known locally as the "look-out post").
The town's name means 'Lennon's Cross', a reference to the two roads which intersect at the town square, linking Dundalk with Keady and Carrickmacross with Newry. Lennon is believed to be Owen Lennon, a local resident in the 18th century, who was famed as the owner of a shebeen, an illegal ale house.
The square's name commemorates Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, a local man who became Primate of All Ireland (head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland), and who died in 1990. Locals claim the square is the largest in Western Europe, after Saint Peter's Square in Rome. Crossmaglen has been described by Belfast journalist Malachi O'Doherty as "a southern town that had the border laid down on the wrong side of it."
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St. Brigid's Primary School is a primary school located in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the Southern Education and Library Board area.[1]
On 21 October 1998, President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, visited the school and met with pupils.[3]
Encompassing Scoil Phádraig Naofa, an Irish-medium education unit.
> address: carran road, crossmaglen
The British army had a major presence in the area during the Troubles despite being unwanted by most of the local population as Crossmaglen is situated in South Armagh, and the region has been a stronghold of support for the IRA, earning it the nickname "Bandit Country"..[4][5] Labour Party MP Clare Short said in 1983 "It is ridiculous that British troops are here in Crossmaglen. The claim is that they're in Ireland keeping the peace between the two communities. But there is only one community in South Armagh, so what the heck are they doing here?"[6] During the Troubles, at least 58 police officers and 124 soldiers were killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in South Armagh, many in Crossmaglen itself. See Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade for further information.
For more information see The Troubles in Crossmaglen, which includes a list of incidents in Crossmaglen during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Crossmaglen in recent years has become known for its Gaelic football team, Crossmaglen Rangers, who won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2007, the latter after a replay. The manager and several players of Rangers went on to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with the Armagh GAA in 2002 and got to the final in 2003 but lost 0-12 0-9 to neighbours Tyrone. One of Crossmaglen's most notable player is Oísin McConville who is also Ulster's Top scoring player ever. The county team were also in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final in 1953, local players Gene Morgan and Frank Kernan were on the team but they were defeated by Kerry. Armagh also made it to the 1977 All-Ireland final, but were soundly beaten by Dublin.
There is also an ongoing argument between Crossmaglen Rangers G.A.C, the Morgan Family of Crossmaglen and the British Army over the positioning of the army base which was placed on the Rangers pitch and on the back garden of the Morgan Family home on Cardinal Ó Fiaich Square.
In March 2007, they defeated Dr. Crokes to win the All-Ireland club championship. Crossmaglen Rangers hold the national record of 13 County Titles in a row. They also hold the record of 6 Ulster club titles.
Crossmaglen is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,459 people living in Crossmaglen. Of these:
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
   | NI Neighbourhood Information Service - NINIS | Neighbourhood Statistics for NI |
| | NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) - NISRA - Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency |
| | NI Conflict Archive on the Internet - CAIN: Northern Ireland Conflict, Politics, & Society. Information on 'the troubles' |
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