Killean, County Armagh

Killean is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, about 6 km south of Newry. It was well known as a border and customs post with the Republic of Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 75 people. It lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area.Killean is one of the three main areas that make up Killeavy parish, the others being Meigh and Cloughogue. There are also several smaller areas in the boundaries of Killeavy but the areas of Meigh, Killean and Cloughogue would be recognised by locals to take into account the smaller areas.

The area of Killeen is known to locals by the spelling 'Killean'. This was the original spelling before the widespread anglicisation of Irish settlement names.

Máire Drumm, an early Vice President of Sinn Féin, originally came from Killean. Máire died when loyalists entered Belfast's Mater Hospital, where she was a recovering in-patient, and murdered her in her bed .

History

The Troubles

As one of the main road links, as well as a border and customs post, at the border to the Republic of Ireland, Killean was the site of a number of serious incidents during the Troubles.For more information see The Troubles in Killeen, which includes a list of incidents in Killean during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

References

* [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information System]

See also

*List of villages in Northern Ireland
*List of towns in Northern Ireland