Moira, County Down

Coordinates: 54°28′48″N 6°13′55″W / 54.480°N 6.232°W / 54.480; -6.232

Moira
Irish: Maigh Rath
The main street in Moira
Moira shown within Northern Ireland
Population	4,221 (2008 estimate)
District	Lisburn
County	County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CRAIGAVON
Postcode district	BT 67
Dialling code	028
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Lagan Valley
NI Assembly	Lagan Valley
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • Down

Moira (from Irish: Maigh Rath)^[1] is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is in the northwest of the county, near the borders with counties Antrim and Armagh. The M1 motorway and Dublin–Belfast railway line are nearby. The settlement has existed since time immemorial. In a 2008 estimate the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency approximated the population of Moira to be 4,221.^[2]

History

Toponymy

The etymology of Moira is somewhat uncertain. It seems to be an anglicisation of the Irish Maigh Rath, which may mean either 'plain of the wheels'^[3] or 'plain of the ringforts'.^[4] Another Irish form of the name is Mag Rath.^[5] The change most probably occurred during or before the Plantation of Ulster. Regardless Moira has now evolved to become both the official name and the one in everyday use.

Prehistory to Early Modern Period

Main articles: Prehistoric Ireland, Early Medieval Ireland 800–1166, Early Christian Ireland, and Ireland 1536–1691

Moira has been a settlement for at least 1,500 years. For the period it consisted most probably only of small dwellings surrounded by several earthen ringforts. Evidence of three such forts still remain. The best known of these is the so called "Rough Fort", situated on the Old Kilmore Road. However the remains of "Pretty Mary's Fort" exist behind the Waringfield residential area. Finally evidence of a third ringfort can be found near Claremont.^[6]

The existence of these primitive defences, coupled with the good-view afforded from the top of Moira hill, made the settlement strategically valuable. Proximity to Lough Neagh enhanced this value. Accordingly during the repeated power struggles of the first millennium the area was often fought over, and eventually witnessed the largest battle in the history of Ireland when three tribal kings contested the area to determine supremacy in Ulster and beyond. This was the Battle of Moira. Its impact on Moira is still felt; two townlands still bear battle names, Aughnafosker (meaning field of slaughter) and Carnalbanagh (meaning the Scotsman's grave).^[7] After the battle a Bishop by the name of Ronan Finn (who was later canonized) was alleged to have created a monastery in the area.^[8]

The medieval period itself remains shrouded in mystery. It is known that the town and its hinterland were under the control of the O'Lavery Clan for a considerable period. They were Catholic families who held sway in large parts of Armagh. Indeed prior to the Nine Years War Ulster was the most gaelic part of Ireland.^[9] There were few towns, few roads and much of the country was thickly wooded.^[10] However the subjugation of Ulster by the victorious armies of Elizabeth I greatly reduced the clout of gaelic hierarchs, the O'Laverys included. But it was their participation in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 doomed their dominance. The English authorities crushed the rebellion and confiscated vast amounts of rebel property, in Moira as in the rest of Ireland.^[11] As a direct result of this the Protestant plantations of Ulster (which began in 1606) were accelerated, and helped transform Moira into a primarily Protestant settlement, a situation which has never been reversed.

The Arrival of the Rawdon Family

In 1631 Major George Rawdon, a wealthy man from the village of Rawdon in Yorkshire, settled in Moira. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 he and 200 English soldiers helped destroy the army of Sir Phelim O'Neill (which had earlier massacred thousands of Protestant settlers), and re-secure Moira and its environs for the Crown. In 1651 an officer by the name of Major de Burgh purchased a small estate and built a brick house in Moira. This house, the forerunner of Moira Castle, was subsequently purchased by Rawdon. Following his actions in putting down rebellion Rawdon subsequently purchased vast amounts of land in the area (most probably financed by confiscations from the dead or subjugated Catholic rebels), and was said to have developed it greatly.^[12] In 1665 he was created a baronet by Charles II. At some point in his life he became a Member of Parliament. Somewhat unfortunately he was nicknamed the 'Great Highwayman' for his development of roads infrastructure in and around Moira. Sir George Rawdon died in 1983, and was succeeded in his title by his son Sir Arthur Rawdon.

Later Rawdon Baronets

Sir Arthur (who would also become an Irish MP) became a General in the armies of King William III during the Jacobite War in Ireland. He was quickly besieged in Derry, but managed to escape. After the war, with the Protestant Ascendancy of which he was a part yet again restored, Sir Arthur (who had presumably profited greatly from the war) returned to Moira. Having inherited the brick mahor house his father had purchased he decided to expand it greatly, and it became one of the largest residences in the whole island, to be called Moira Castle.^[13] The castle, which in fact was a mansion, was also accompanied by vast gardens. These gardens became world famous. In 1690 Sir Arthur utilised his friendship with fellow Downshire-born botanist Sir Hans Sloane, and acquired from him the seeds of 400 exotic plants, and instructions in how to grow them. To fit his ends Sir Arthur also constructed in Moira the first hothouse in Europe.

The subsequent baronets maintained the gardens (though the hothouse did not survive) for generations. In 1723 Sir John Rawdon, 3rd Baronet helped fund the construction of the Anglican Moira Parish Church, dedicated to St. John.

The Lords Rawdon

In 1750 Sir John Rawdon, 4th Baronet was raised to the peerage by King George II as the Baron Rawdon of Moira. He subsequently flirted with Methodism, and invited John Wesley to speak at Moira Church. This caused a major religious rift in the town.^[14] And though Wesley did speak, he did so from the grounds of Moira Castle, not the church for which the Rawdons had largely paid. He was also granted a higher title in 1762 by King George III, when he was made Earl of Moira.

In addition to flirting with Methodism Lord Rawdon also flirted with Irish self government (albeit under the Ascendancy), opposing the efforts of William Pitt to forge closer links with Great Britain in the first decade of his Ministry. His death in 1793 was significant in Moira history, in that it marked the largest funeral in the history of Ireland, a testament to his extensive political connections. Over four hundred carriages were in procession. This Lord Rawdon is buried in the family crypt in the church.^[15]

Lord Hastings, by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Upon his death his son Francis Rawdon-Hastings became the Earl of Moira. A respected general and politician with significant clout in London, his time as head of the family was nevertheless negative for the town of Moira, which had risen greatly in prestige as a result of his predecessors. He neglected the once world-famous gardens in the Moira estate, which subsequently declined into decay. He also spent the vast majority of his time in England.

Moira 1800-Present

The 2nd Earl was raised to a yet-higher rank of the peerage in 1816, when he was created Marquess of Hastings, subordinating the Moira title.

Lord Hastings would be the last member of the Rawdon family to reside in Moira Castle (which he had always used as a secondary residence in any case). In 1805 he sold it to Sir Robert Bateson, 1st Baronet, who also did not use it as a primary residence. The status of Moira thus declined considerably. The Rawdons' legacy would linger, however, with several streets and housing developments bearing their name centuries later.

Fortunately for the denizens of Moira the Acts of Union had reduced the power of the Ascendency, and Moira was now directly governed by London instead of Dublin. In addition the Great Reform Act had reduced the ability of landowners in general and lords in particular to control Moira.

Moira itself continued to develop during this period. A canal was built to the north (which became the boundary between Counties Antrim and Down), and a Market Hall completed at the expense of the Bateson family in about 1810.^[16] It was considered to have market the completion of the village. In 1841 Moira railway station was completed, and is now the oldest such structure on the island of Ireland. Moira Castle itself was vacated by the Batesons, and was demolished during the Victorian Era. A few gate stumps remain, as does some stepping for the famous gardens, and the dug-out cellar.

During the Second World War the grounds of Moira Demesne (as the Castle had become known) were used by the army as a medical centre.

1998 Bombing

Moira remained relatively uneventful for most of the 20th century, but did not escape The Troubles. On February 20, 1998 a 500 lb car bomb exploded outside the police station, injuring 11 people. The bomb was intended to kill police officers due to do a shift change. It is believed the bombing was the work of a dissident republican organisation, the Real IRA.^[17] The blast was so loud that it could be heard fully twenty miles away in Belfast.^[18] The bomb caused extensive damage, resulting in the police station and several nearby buildings having to be rebuilt. The bombing also threatened to derail the peace process at the time.^[19]

Government and Politics

Moira is at the very edge of the boundaries of the City of Lisburn, and is therefore subject to the local government authority of Lisburn City Council. Both the overall council and the electoral area (Killultagh) for Moira are dominated by unionist parties. During the 2011 council elections the members elected for Killultagh were, in order of preference, as follows:^[20]

• Thomas Beckett - Democratic Unionist Party
• Jim Tinsley - Democratic Unionist Party
• Pat Catney - Social Democratic and Labour Party
• Jim Dillon - Ulster Unionist Party
• John Palmer - Democratic Unionist Party

At a national level Moira is part of the Lagan Valley constituency, represented by DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson. At a provincial level the identically named and districted Lagan Valley includes Moira. This multi-member constituency is also dominated by unionists.

Demography of Moira

Moira is classified as an intermediate settlement by NISRA (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).

Historical figures^[21]

Year	Population	% Change
1971	853	-
1981	1,453	40.7%
1991	2,772	47.6%
2001	3,669	24.4%
2008	4,221	13.1%

The population of Moira on Census day (29 April 2001) was 3682 people. The demographic characteristics of the people living in Moira were as follows^[22]:

• 24.3% were aged under 16 years;
• 13.8% were aged 60 and over;
• the average age was 34.8 years (NI average age 35.8 years);
• 48.8% of the population were male and 51.2% were female;
• 13.0% were from a Catholic Community Background;

The entrance to Moira Demesne, Winter 2010.

• 82.6% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' Community Background;
• 9.4% were born outside Northern Ireland; and
• 0.9% were from an ethnic group other than white.

On Census Day 2001 there were 1372 households in Moira. Statistics relating to Moira households include:

• average household size was 2.63 persons per household (NI level 2.65 persons per household);
• 73.7% of households were one family households;
• 4.6% were lone-parent households with dependent children.

Transport

The M1 heading south at Moira Roundabout

Moira is well located in terms of infrastructure. It is served by Moira railway station, which is a stop along the Newry to Bangor line. It is also located conveniently close to the M1 motorway, with Moira Roundabout serving as a major junction. The proximity of Moira to both Belfast and Lisburn has meant that it has become something of a dormitory town in recent decades. Unfortunately Moira is also situation directly along the main road to Lurgan, which creates considerable traffic jams, particularly during rush hour. The 51 bus service runs from Portadown to Belfast regularly, with several stops in the town.

Moira is located approximately twenty miles from Belfast International Airport.

Other Services and Activities

Commerce

The village primarily exists as a commuter town, however, such jobs as there are tend to be in the services sector, with much replication. Moira is also famed for McCartney's of Moira, a 140 year old family butchers. The firm has repeatedly won national awards for food, including the Northern Irish and National Sausage Competition.^[23] In 2011 they also became Great Taste Awards 2011 Supreme Champion, among other accolades.^[24]

Education

Moira Primary School, reopened by The Princess Royal, serves as the main point of education for the first two key stages. Moira has no secondary education, with most children commuting into Lurgan, Lisburn or Belfast to attend schools such as Friends', Wallace, RBAI, Hunterhouse or Lurgan Junior High School. The town also has a small library positioned behind the school.

Sport

Moira plays host to Moira Albion, an amateur football club who host two teams, and play in the Mid Ulster League, Division Two.

Namesakes

Due to the prevalence of the Rawdon family in British Imperial affairs, several places in the world are named after Moira, County Down, usually via the noble title. These include;

• Moira, Leicestershire, a former mining village largely built by the Rawdons.
• Moira, Ontario, an area in Canada.
• The Moira River, and by extension the Moira Lake, also in Ontario, Canada.

List of Persons from Moira

• Sir Robert Bateson
• Thomas Bateson, 1st Baron Deramore
• Sir Arthur Rawdon
• Sir George Rawdon
• Sir John Rawdon
• John Rawdon, 1st Earl of Moira
• Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings
• William Butler Yeats, grandfather to the poet WB Yeats

References

1. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
2. ^ http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/PopChangesFacts/Moira.pdf
3. ^ http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/PDF%20Files/Antrim_%28Crumlin_ward%29_%28C._Dunbar%29.pdf
4. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
5. ^ http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/folklore-of-ireland/carlow-folklore/the-story-of-mad-sweeney/the-battle-of-mag-rath/
6. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
7. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
8. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
9. ^ R. R. Madden, The United Irishmen, Their Lives and Times Vol 1, J.Madden & Co (London 1845), Pg. 2-5.
10. ^ Cyril Falls: The Birth of Ulster.London, Constable and Company Ltd. 1996. Pages 11-12. P. Robinson The Plantation of Ulster. Belfast, Ulster Historical Foundation. 2000. Page 28. Dr. I. Adamson: The Identity of Ulster. Bangor, Pretani Press. Third Impression, 1995. Page 11.
11. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
12. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
13. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
14. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
15. ^ http://www.lisburn.com/books/moira/moira1.html
16. ^ http://2hearts.co.uk/Moira_history_2011.pdf
17. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/22/world/ira-is-eyed-as-bombing-in-ulster-casts-pall-on-talks.html
18. ^ RTE News, February 1998
19. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/58958.stm
20. ^ http://www.lisburncity.gov.uk/filestore/documents/Killultagh_Results.pdf
21. ^ "NINIS 1971-2008". NISRA. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/PopulationChanges.asp. Retrieved 2011. 
22. ^ http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/report.asp?SettlementName=Moira&bandName=Intermediate%20Settlement
23. ^ http://www.mccartneysofmoira.com/awards/sausage-awards/
24. ^ http://www.mccartneysofmoira.com/

• County Down.com
• Culture Northern Ireland

See also

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland
• Market Houses in Northern Ireland