Editing Magheralin

{{short description|Village in County Down, Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Magheralin
| irish_name = Machaire Lainne<ref>[https://www.logainm.ie/en/1411583 Placenames Database of Ireland]</ref>
| static_image_name = Magheralin Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 75389.jpg
| static_image_caption = Magheralin Parish Church
| coordinates = {{coord|54|28|N|6|16|W|region:GB_type:city|display=ti}}
| population = 2,041
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council|Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Down]]
| country = Northern Ireland
| historic_county = 
| post_town = CRAIGAVON
| postcode_area = BT
| postcode_district = BT67
}}
[[Image:MagheralinChurch.jpg|thumb|Magheralin Parish Church, The Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity]][[Image:MagheralinVillageLights.jpg|thumb|Magheralin at night]]
[[Image:St. Patrick's & St. Ronan's, Parish of Magheralin, Co. Down.jpg|thumb|Parish of Magheralin, St. Patrick's & St. Ronan's]]'''Magheralin''' ({{Irish derived place name|Machaire Lainne|plain of the church}})<ref name="PNI">[http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=11056 Place Names NI]</ref> is a [[village]] and [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] in [[County Down]], [[Northern Ireland]]. It is on the main [[A3 road (Northern Ireland)|A3 road]] between [[Moira, County Down|Moira]] and [[Lurgan]], beside the [[River Lagan]]. It had a population of 2,041 people in the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]]. The civil parish of Magheralin covers an area of County Down.<ref>{{cite web| title=Parishes of Northern Ireland| work=Public Record Office of NI| url=http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/| access-date=1 January 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013132314/http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/| archive-date=13 October 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Its original name was ''Lann Rónáin Fhinn'', "church of Ronan Finn", a saint from the medieval Irish tale ''[[Buile Shuibhne]]'' (''The Madness of Sweeney'').<ref name="PNI"/>

==Culture==

=== Religion ===
Magheralin has two churches: one Protestant  and one Catholic. The Protestant parish has a second church building in [[Dollingstown]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Magheralin Parish |url=https://magheralin.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524174818/https://magheralin.org/ |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Magheralin Parish |language=en}}</ref> Magheralin's Catholic parish also has two churches: St. Patrick's & St. Ronan's  and St. Colman's in Kilwarlin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parish of Magheralin |url=http://magheralinparish.com/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://magheralinparish.com/index.html |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=magheralinparish.com}}</ref>

=== The Ducks of Magheralin ===
There is an old song called "The Ducks of Magheralin". The Ducks of Magheralin is an Irish [[Polka]], with its namesake representing the 'ducks of Magheralin', who were the weavers of the town because they used duck grease to lubricate their looms.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2019 |title=How this couple transformed a Georgian-era property in Co Down - steeped in six generations of family history - into five-star country retreat that's won a string of awards |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/how-this-couple-transformed-a-georgian-era-property-in-co-down-steeped-in-six-generations-of-family-history-into-five-star-country-retreat-thats-won-a-string-of-awards/37913824.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524183421/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/how-this-couple-transformed-a-georgian-era-property-in-co-down-steeped-in-six-generations-of-family-history-into-five-star-country-retreat-thats-won-a-string-of-awards/37913824.html |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=May 4, 2024 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |quote=during the early linen years when local weavers, known as the Ducks of Magheralin due to their practice of using duck grease to lubricate their brooms.}}</ref> In the preface to a well-known version by the [[Glenfolk Four]], the singers insist that the intent of the song is to address the "myth" that the capital of [[Ireland]] is [[Dublin]]. The first verse is as follows:

: It is just about a year ago that I went to see the King/Queen,
: And on my voyage in Ulster my troubles they were twin;
: He/She decorated me with medals, and they were made of tin,
: "Go home," says he/she, "you skitter ye. You're the Mayor of Magheralin."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=Ducks of Magheralin |url=https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Ducks_of_Magheralin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524190149/https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Ducks_of_Magheralin |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Traditional Tune Archive |language=en}}</ref>

===Education===
Magheralin has two [[primary school]]s: Maralin Village Primary School<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Maralin Village PS [Craigavon] |url=https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/maralin-village-ps-craigavon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526222222/https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/maralin-village-ps-craigavon |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Education Authority |language=en-US}}</ref> and St. Patrick's Primary School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Patrick's PS [Magheralin] |url=https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/st-patricks-ps-magheralin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526222501/https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/types-of-school/school-type/primary/st-patricks-ps-magheralin |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=St Patrick's Primary School Magheralin |language=en}}</ref>

==The Troubles==
During the period of [[The Troubles]] (1960s–1998), a number of incidents occurred in the area. On 18 October 1989, Robert Metcalfe, a 40-year-old Protestant [[civilian]], was shot and killed by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] while at his home in Drumnabreeze Road, Magheralin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutton |first=Malcolm |title=CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths |url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1989.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505001247/https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1989.html |archive-date=5 May 2024 |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=CAIN Archive}}</ref> And, in January 1991, Jervis Lynch, a 26-year-old Catholic civilian, was shot and killed by the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] (UVF) while at his home in Acres Road, Magheralin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutton |first=Malcolm |title=CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths |url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1991.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505001836/https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1991.html |archive-date=5 May 2024 |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=CAIN Archive}}</ref>

==Sports==
St. Michael's GAC is a [[Gaelic football]] club with its playing field in Magheralin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLUBS : St-michaels |url=http://www.downgaa.net/clubs/st-michaels |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524193919/http://www.downgaa.net/clubs/st-michaels |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=DOWN GAA}}</ref> 

Magheralin also has a football club, Magheralin Village F.C., they play in the [[Mid-Ulster Football League|Mid Ulster Football League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid Ulster Football League |url=https://www.midulsterfootballleague.co.uk/Teams/magheralinvillage |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.midulsterfootballleague.co.uk}}</ref> 

[[Daniel Wiffen]], an Irish professional swimmer from Magheralin, broke the 800m freestyle short-course world record on 10th December 2023 in Romania, becoming the first Irish swimmer to break a swimming world record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Eoin |date=11 December 2023 |title=Wiffen smashes world record to win third European gold |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/swimming/2023/1210/1421220-wiffen-smashes-world-record-to-win-third-european-gold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216233539/https://www.rte.ie/sport/swimming/2023/1210/1421220-wiffen-smashes-world-record-to-win-third-european-gold/ |archive-date=16 December 2023 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref> Representing [[Ireland at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Ireland]], he won the gold medal in the 800m Freestyle final in the [[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris Olympics]] on 30 July 2024, setting a new Olympic record.<ref name=Telegraph>{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Brett |date=2024-07-30 |title=Co Down swimmer becomes first individual NI athlete to win Olympic gold in 52 years |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/co-down-swimmer-becomes-first-individual-ni-athlete-to-win-olympic-gold-in-52-years/a1857416893.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730194319/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/co-down-swimmer-becomes-first-individual-ni-athlete-to-win-olympic-gold-in-52-years/a1857416893.html |archive-date=2024-07-30 |access-date=2024-07-30 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>

==2021 census==
Magheralin is classified as a village by the [[Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency]] (NISRA) (i.e with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On census day (21 March 2021) there were 2,041 people living in Magheralin. Of these:

* 24% were aged 0-14, 36% were aged 15-39, 28% were aged 40-64, and 12% were aged 65 and above
* 49% were male and 51% were female
* 98% spoke [[English language|English]] as a main language, 5% had some knowledge of [[Irish language|Irish]] and 7% had some ability in [[Ulster Scots dialect|Ulster Scots]]
* 27% were Catholic, 11% were [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], 25% were [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] ([[Church of Ireland]]), 2% were [[Methodism|Methodist]], 11% adhered to other Christian denominations, <1% followed other religions and 23% followed no religion or did not state their religion
* 98% were white and 2% were of another ethnic group
* 38% identified as British only, 15% identified as Irish only, 25% identified as Northern Irish only, <1% identified as British and Irish only, 13% identified as British and Northern Irish only, 2% identified as Irish and Northern Irish only, 2% identified as British, Irish and Northern Irish only and 5% identified with another nationality
* 58% held a UK passport only, 17% held an Ireland passport only, 8% held both UK and Ireland passports, 2% held other passport(s) and 16% held no passport
* 90% were born in Northern Ireland, 5% were born in England, <1% were born in Scotland, <1% were born in Wales, 2% were born in the Republic of Ireland and 3% were born in other countries<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2021 |title=Lurgan_H Census Data |url=https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021/N21000114/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504234948/https://explore.nisra.gov.uk/area-explorer-2021/N21000114/ |archive-date=May 4, 2024 |access-date=May 4, 2024 |website=NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistics and Regional Agency {{!}} Gníomhaireacht Thuaisceart Éireann um Staitisticí agus Taighde)}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Peter Brush]] (1901–1984), a soldier, Northern Irish unionist politician and paramilitary leader, lived in the area.
* [[Robert Dolling|Robert William Radclyffe Dolling]], "Father Dolling" (1851–1902), was born in Magheralin.<ref>"The Life of Father Dolling" Osborne, C.E p 335: London, [[Edward Arnold (publisher)|Edward Arnold]], 1903</ref>
* [[John Macoun]] (1831–1920), a Canadian [[Natural history|naturalist]] born, to James Macoun and Anne Jane Nevin and who emigrated to [[Canada]] in 1850, was born in Magheralin.
* [[Daniel Wiffen]] (born 2001), an Irish Olympic gold medal swimmer, is from Magheralin.<ref name=Telegraph/>

==See also==
*[[Magheralin (civil parish)]]
*[[List of villages in Northern Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.maralinvillageps.co.uk/welcome-to-the-maralin-village-primary-school-website/ Maralin Village Primary School] 
*[https://www.stpatricksmagheralin.co.uk/ St. Patrick's Primary School]
*[https://stmichaelsmagheralin.com/ St. Michael's GAC]

{{County Down}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in County Down]]
[[Category:Civil parish of Magheralin]]