Aghagallon

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Aghagallon (Irish: Achadh Galláin; meaning "field of the standing stone") is a small village located approximately three miles from the County Armagh town of Lurgan in Ireland. However, it is officially situated in County Antrim. It is unique in that even though it is a part of Craigavon Borough Council, the area the village covers takes in parts of County Armagh, County Down and County Antrim. It had a population of 824 people in the 2001 Census. Residents in Aghagallon rely mainly on Lurgan and Lisburn for shopping, socialising etc.

Aghagallon has mainly developed along Aghalee Road in a linear fashion with development to the southeast along Colane Road. St Patrick’s Church and adjacent primary school provide a central focus for the village.

THE THREE PRONGED REVOLVER

A famous incident that took place in Aghagallon in 1790 is the subject of both a poem and a song. "The Battle of Annaghdroghal Bridge" and "The Annaghdroghal Three Pronged Revolver".

The Three Pronged Revolver of Aghagallon.

In 1790 members of the Orange Order accompanied by flute and drum under the command of Col, Sharp marched from Waringstown at the request of Lord Waring to plough and prepare a field in Aghagallon County Antrim for a friend and fellow English landowner and Orangeman.

Their journey from Waringstown to Aghagallon was a controversial one, with several incidents occurring along the way in the town of Lurgan.

As Col, Sharp and his men reached the Annaghdroghal Bridge just east of Aghagallon they were met by local men who refused them passage. A fight incurred and the Battle of Annaghdroghal began.

Col, Sharp led his men in the first attack and was fatally wounded by "The Darkie McStravick," receiving a chest wound from a three pronged muck fork.

McStravick fled the scene and dumped the fork (The Three Pronged Revolver)down a dry well at Derryclone.

The fork was retrieved around 1890 from the well and remains in the area to the present day.

1 Sport
2 Education
3 2001 Census
4 See also

[edit] Sport

Aghagallon has one GAA club, Naomh Mhuire, a close knit unit which serves the areas of Aghagallon village, Gawley's Gate and Ballinderry after clubs in these areas folded over the years. They currently play in Division II of the Antrim ACL and has a recently constructed playing field located on the Colane Rd. Although a club priding itself on its roots in Antrim, it does have links to Armagh and currently field some teams in the North Armagh leagues. Aghagallon compete in the Antrim Intermediate Championship, an honour they won in 2002. After a few stints in the SFC, the club will again compete in the IFC, and will fancy their chances against opposition such as Moneyglass, Rossa and St. Enda's.

There is also the famous Aghagallon Magners managed by the one and only connor mallon, currently holders of the winter league cup. However, after a disasterous summer league campaign, the pressure is on the Magners to reach the dizzy heights acheived previously.

The Senior Gaelic team is sponsored by Hannon Transport, with the Soccer team being sponsored by the Derryhirk Inn.

[edit] Education

St. Patrick's Primary School

Keith Doulgas from the goudy bridge was also nominated for a noble peace prize for his work with the regeneration of rabbits in the Siberian Outback.

[edit] 2001 Census

Aghagallon is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 824 people living in Aghagallon. Of these:

32.3% were aged under 16 and 11.7% were aged 60 and over
50.2% of the population were male and 49.8% were female
96.6% were from a Catholic background and 3.0% were from a Protestant background;
3.2% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For fuller details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service