Editing Crossmaglen

{{short description|Village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland}}
{{About|the village and townland|the Gaelic football team|Crossmaglen Rangers GAC}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Crossmaglen
| irish_name = Crois Mhic Lionnáin
| scots_name = 
| local_name = ''Cross/The Cross''
| label_position = none
| static_image_name = Crossmaglen.jpg
| static_image_caption = Road leading into the village
| country = Northern Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|54.0773|-6.6088|display=inline,title}}
| belfast_distance_mi = 52
| population = 1,610
| population_ref = <small>(2011 Census)</small>
| irish_grid_reference = H910152
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Newry, Mourne and Down District Council|Newry, Mourne and Down]]
|historic_county=
|post_town = NEWRY
| postcode_area = BT
| postcode_district = BT35
| dial_code = 028
| constituency_westminster = [[Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)|Newry & Armagh]]
| constituency_ni_assembly = [[Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)|Newry & Armagh]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Armagh]]
| website = 
| hide_services = yes
}}

'''Crossmaglen''' ({{Irish derived place name|Crois Mhic Lionnáin|Mac Lionnáin's cross}}, {{IPA|ga|ˈkɾˠɔʃˈvʲɪcˈlʲɪn̪ˠaːnʲ|IPA}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=14221 |title=Placenames NI |publisher=Placenames NI |date=2010-01-20 |access-date=2012-06-08 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220235629/http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=14221 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logainm.ie/56336.aspx |title=Placenames Database of Ireland |publisher=Logainm.ie |date=2010-12-13 |access-date=2012-06-08 |archive-date=8 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908152915/http://www.logainm.ie/56336.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> is a [[village]] and [[townland]] in [[County Armagh]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It had a population of 1,610 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]]<ref name=Census2011/> and is the largest village in [[County Armagh|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").

[[File:Cardinal O'Fiach Square, Crossmaglen - geograph.org.uk - 1447342.jpg|250px|thumb|Cardinal Ó Fiach Square, Crossmaglen]]

The square's name commemorates Cardinal [[Tomás Ó Fiaich]], a local man who became [[Primate of All Ireland]] (head of the [[Catholic Church]] in [[Ireland]]), and who died in 1990. However, the Cardinal originated from Crossmaglen's close neighbour, [[Cullyhanna]]. Crossmaglen has its own [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA team]], [[Crossmaglen Rangers GAC]].

Travelling by road, Crossmaglen is {{convert|61.6|mi|km}} to the north of [[Dublin]], {{convert|15.8|mi|km}} to the west of [[Newry]], and {{convert|51.6 |mi|km}} to the south of [[Belfast]].

==History==
[[File:Irish freedom monument - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Republican Memorial, Crossmaglen]]]]
On 13 January 1921, during the [[Irish War of Independence]], the [[Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) shot dead an [[Ulster Special Constabulary]] (USC) constable in Crossmaglen. He was the first member of the USC to be killed whilst on duty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/january_1921.htm |title=January 1921 |publisher=Dcu.ie |access-date=2012-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609122959/http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/january_1921.htm |archive-date=2012-06-09 }}</ref>

Crossmaglen, along with the rest of South Armagh, would have been transferred to the [[Irish Free State]] had the recommendations of the [[Irish Boundary Commission]] been enacted in 1925.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C386829|title=Irish Boundary Commission Report|publisher=National Archives|date=1925|page=130|access-date=10 August 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126043646/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C386829|url-status=live}}</ref>

===The Troubles===
{{details|The Troubles in Crossmaglen}}

The [[British Army]] had a major presence in the area during [[the Troubles]]. Crossmaglen and the wider South Armagh/South Down area was a [[Irish republicanism|republican]] stronghold and republican paramilitaries were very active, earning the area the nickname "Bandit Country."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-irish-army/army-stands-down-in-n-ireland-but-scars-run-deep-idUSL3152154320070731 |title=Army stands down in Northern Ireland but scars deep |date=1 August 2007 |agency=[[Reuters]] |newspaper=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=26 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.irishnews.com/pageacc.asp?tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=523060 On the brink: rural post offices battle death by a thousand cuts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713220921/http://www.irishnews.com/pageacc.asp?tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=523060 |date=2015-07-13 }}</ref> [[Labour Party (UK)|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?"<ref>{{cite book | last = Harnden | first = Toby | author-link = Toby Harnden | title = Bandit Country | publisher = [[Hodder & Stoughton]] | year = 1999 | pages = 56 | isbn = 034071736X}}</ref> 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.

==Education==
*Anamar Primary School (burnt down)
*Clonalig Primary School
*St Brigid's Primary School
*St Patrick's Primary School
*Gael Scoil Phadraig Naofa
*[[St. Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen|St Joseph's High School]]

==Governance==
Crossmaglen forms the [[Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)|Newry & Armagh constituency]] for elections to the [[Westminster Parliament]]. The [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] is [[Dáire Hughes]] of [[Sinn Féin]]. He won the seat at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/newry-and-armagh-mickey-brady-retains-seat-for-sinn-féin-but-majority-slips-1.4112260/|title=Newry and Armagh: Mickey Brady retains seat for Sinn Féin, but majority slips|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213180141/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/newry-and-armagh-mickey-brady-retains-seat-for-sinn-f%C3%A9in-but-majority-slips-1.4112260|url-status=live}}</ref>

For [[Local government in Northern Ireland|Local Government]] purposes it belongs [[Newry, Mourne and Down]] (which was created on 1 April 2015 by merging [[Newry and Mourne|Newry and Mourne District]] and [[Down (district)|Down District]]). The local authority is [[Newry, Mourne and Down District Council]].

==Transport==
Crossmaglen is served by [[Ulsterbus]], route no. 42.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bustimes.org/services/42-newry-buscentre-cullaville|title=42 Newry bus|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622220844/https://bustimes.org/services/42-newry-buscentre-cullaville|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-Crossmaglen-Northern_Ireland-site_13606038-3748|title=transportation Crossmaglen Northern Ireland|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622220959/https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-Crossmaglen-Northern_Ireland-site_13606038-3748|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Gaelic games==
{{more citations needed|date=August 2020}}
Crossmaglen in recent years has become known for its [[Gaelic football]] team, [[Crossmaglen Rangers GAC|Crossmaglen Rangers]], who won the [[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship]] in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011 and again in 2012. The manager and several players of Rangers went on to win the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] with [[Armagh GAA|their county team]] in [[2002 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2002]] and reached the final again in [[2003 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2003]], only to lose to neighbours [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]. One of Crossmaglen's most notable players is [[Oisín McConville]], who is also [[Ulster GAA|Ulster]]'s top scoring player. The county team were also in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final in [[1953 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|1953]]; local players Gene Morgan and Frank Kernan were on the team but they were defeated by [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]. Armagh also made it to the [[1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final]], but were beaten by [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]].

There was an ongoing dispute for years between Crossmaglen Rangers, 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. This was remedied, beginning in April 1999.

Crossmaglen Rangers hold the national record of 39 county titles, including 13 in a row. They also hold the record of nine Ulster club titles.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==People==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
{{See also|Category:People from Crossmaglen}}

*[[Charles Armstrong (missing person)|Charles Armstrong]] - [[Disappeared (Northern Ireland)|Forced disappearance]] victim
*[[Francie Bellew]] - [[Gaelic football]]er
*[[Gerard Evans]] - [[Disappeared (Northern Ireland)|Forced disappearance]] victim
*[[Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet]] - The third Chief Manager of [[The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation|The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)]]
*[[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Tomás Ó Fiaich]] - [[Primate of All Ireland]] (head of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in [[Ireland]])
*[[Aaron Kernan]] - [[Gaelic football]]er
*[[Joe Kernan (Gaelic footballer)|Joe Kernan]] - [[Gaelic football]]er and Manager
*[[Jim McAllister (Irish republican)|Jim McAllister]] - [[Politician]], [[Sinn Féin]]
*[[Oisín McConville]] - [[Gaelic football]]er
*[[John McEntee (Gaelic footballer)|John McEntee]] - [[Gaelic football]]er
*[[Edward George Richardson]] - [[Member of Parliament]] for [[South Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|South Armagh]], [[Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)|Nationalist Party]] and [[Independent Nationalist]]

==Demographics==
===2001 Census===
Crossmaglen is classified as a village by the [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)] (i.e. 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:
*27.0% were aged under 16 and 14.8% were aged 60 and over
*48.6% of the population were male and 51.4% were female
*97.0% were from a [[Catholic]] background and 0.8% were from a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] background
*6.5% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

===2011 Census===
On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Crossmaglen Settlement was 1,610 accounting for 0.09% of the NI total.<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web |title=Census 2011 Population Statistics for Crossmaglen Settlement |url=https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Crossmaglen@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Crossmaglen@23? |website=NINIS |access-date=21 December 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923155218/https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Crossmaglen%40Exact+match+of+location+name%3A+%40Exact+Match+Of+Location+Name%3A++Crossmaglen%4023%3F |url-status=live }} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628175632/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ |date=28 June 2017 }}. © Crown copyright.</ref>
	
On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Crossmaglen Settlement, considering the resident population:
 
* 99.88% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group;
* 96.27% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 3.17% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' religion; and
* 4.66% indicated that they had a British national identity, 73.04% had an Irish national identity and 21.43% had a Northern Irish national identity.
Respondents could indicate more than one national identity
 
On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Crossmaglen Settlement, considering the population aged 3 years old and over:
 
* 22.38% had some knowledge of Irish;
* 1.42% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots; and
* 3.56% did not have English as their first language.

==See also==
* [[Annaghmare Court Tomb]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070305150357/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=3&to=46&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1 Culture Northern Ireland]
*[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GAA:+Army+begin+retreat+from+Crossmaglen.(Sport)-a060388002 The Free Library]{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{commons category}}
{{County Armagh}}
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[[Category:Crossmaglen| ]]
[[Category:Villages in County Armagh]]