Editing Armagh (section)

===Foundation===
[[Navan Fort|''Eamhain Mhacha'']] (or Navan Fort), at the western edge of Armagh, was an ancient [[Celtic polytheism|pagan]] ritual or ceremonial site. According to [[Irish mythology]] it was one of the great [[Royal sites of Ireland|royal sites]] of [[Gaelic Ireland]] and the capital of [[Ulster]]. It appears to have been largely abandoned after the 1st century. In the 3rd century, a [[Henge|ditch and bank]] was dug around the top of Cathedral Hill, the heart of what is now Armagh. Its circular shape matches the modern street layout. Evidence suggests that it was a pagan sanctuary and the successor to Navan.<ref>Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, 2006. p.80</ref> Like Navan, it too was named after the [[goddess]] [[Macha]]: ''Ard Mhacha'', meaning "Macha's height". This name was later [[anglicised]] as ''Ardmagh'',<ref name="PDI">[http://www.logainm.ie/2742.aspx Placenames Database of Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523182225/http://www.logainm.ie/2742.aspx |date=23 May 2012 }} (see archival records)</ref><ref>Hill, George. ''The Fall of Irish Chiefs and Clans: The Conquest of Ireland''. Irish Roots Cafe, 2004. p.114. {{ISBN|978-0940134423}}</ref> which eventually became ''Armagh''. Navan and Armagh were linked by an ancient road which passes over Mullacreevie hill.<ref>Lynn, Chris. ''Navan Fort: Archaeology and Myth''. Wordwell, 2003. p.88</ref>

After [[Christianity]] [[Christianity in Ireland|spread to Ireland]], the pagan sanctuary was converted into a Christian one, and Armagh became the site of an important church and [[monastery]]. According to tradition, [[Saint Patrick]] founded his main church there in the year 445, and it eventually became the head church of Ireland. [[Muirchú moccu Machtheni|Muirchú]] writes that a pagan chieftain named [[Dáire]] would not let Patrick build a church on the hill of Ard Mhacha, but instead gave him lower ground to the east. One day, Dáire's horses died after grazing on the church land. He told his men to kill Patrick, but was himself struck down with illness. They begged Patrick to heal him, and Patrick's holy water revived both Dáire and his horses. Dáire rewarded Patrick with a great bronze cauldron and gave him the hill of Ard Mhacha to build a church. Dáire has similarities with the Irish god [[the Dagda]].<ref>Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. pp.357-358</ref>