Belleek, County Armagh
Encyclopedia
Belleeks is a small village
and townland
in south County Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 150 people. It lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council
area and in the Barony of Upper Fews.
and Newtownhamilton
, abreast the A25 between the Newtownhamilton and Newry
. The nearest large town is Newry, approximately 7 miles to the east and Whitecross
is the nearest settlement approximately 2 miles to the north. Belleeks lies in the townland
of Belleeks Lower.
26.0% were under 16 years old and 12.6% were aged 60 and above;
The average age of a resident of the village was 30.8 years old;
46.3% of the population were male and 53.7% were female;
95.5% were from a Catholic Community Background;
4.5% were from a Protestant or 'Other Christian' community background;
13.7% had degree level or higher qualifications;
56.5% were economically active, 43.5% were economically inactive;
6.7% were unemployed, of these 42.9% were long-term unemployed;
68.3 stated reported their health was 'good';
3.22 was the average family size;
81.8% of households reported they had access to a private motor vehicle
;
75.9% of homes were owner occupied and 25.5% of all homes were owed outright.
sits in a prominent location above the village whilst a Church of Ireland
Church and Orange Hall lie between Belleeks and Whitecross. The village has two public house
s, a small store, a part-time factory and a public common in the village centre. The village has developed from a linear settlement along the A25 as late as the 1960s with the addition of five private and local authority housing developments since the 1970s.
Most residents work away from the village with the largest scale local industry remaining agriculture
. Belleeks is served by the number 44 Ulsterbus
service from Newry to Newtownhamilton a number of times daily as well as the number 40 service between Newry and Whitecross.
, or else in Newtownhamilton or Newry.
which competes in underage and senior mens
and ladies football
as well Scor
and other competitions. The clubhouse is located in Shaughan in the townland of Belleeks Upper.
, prior to the Rising of that year.
s in the village on the 3rd days of February, May, August and November every year, all bar which the February fair survived up until 1852.
Census returns for the period between 1841 and 1851, during which the Famine occurred show a decrease in population of the village and surrounding area greater than one quarter of population in the ten year period due to death and emigration.
, see The Troubles in Belleeks (Armagh), which includes a list of incidents in Belleeks during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in south County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 150 people. It lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. It includes much of the south of County Armagh and the south of County Down and has a population of approximately 93,400. Council headquarters are in Newry, the largest settlement and only city in the area; it has a...
area and in the Barony of Upper Fews.
Location
Belleeks lies between the villages of CamloughCamlough
Camlough or Camloch is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is near Bessbrook and the slopes of the Ring of Gullion. It had a population of 910 people in the 2001 Census.- 1920s :...
and Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Tullyvallan and the barony of Upper Fews. It is part of the Newry and Mourne District Council area...
, abreast the A25 between the Newtownhamilton and Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
. The nearest large town is Newry, approximately 7 miles to the east and Whitecross
Whitecross
Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1985 in Waukegan, IL releasing their first recording in the year 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. In 1994, bandleader, primary songwriter and producer Rex Carroll split...
is the nearest settlement approximately 2 miles to the north. Belleeks lies in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Belleeks Lower.
Demographics
At the time of the 2001 census, returns for the Belleeks-Blackrock-Tullyah electoral area, reported that:26.0% were under 16 years old and 12.6% were aged 60 and above;
The average age of a resident of the village was 30.8 years old;
46.3% of the population were male and 53.7% were female;
95.5% were from a Catholic Community Background;
4.5% were from a Protestant or 'Other Christian' community background;
13.7% had degree level or higher qualifications;
56.5% were economically active, 43.5% were economically inactive;
6.7% were unemployed, of these 42.9% were long-term unemployed;
68.3 stated reported their health was 'good';
3.22 was the average family size;
81.8% of households reported they had access to a private motor vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
;
75.9% of homes were owner occupied and 25.5% of all homes were owed outright.
Features & Economy
Saint Lawrence O'Toole's Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
sits in a prominent location above the village whilst a Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Church and Orange Hall lie between Belleeks and Whitecross. The village has two public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s, a small store, a part-time factory and a public common in the village centre. The village has developed from a linear settlement along the A25 as late as the 1960s with the addition of five private and local authority housing developments since the 1970s.
Most residents work away from the village with the largest scale local industry remaining agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Belleeks is served by the number 44 Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink , which also includes Northern Ireland Railways, Metro Belfast and Flexibus.-Services:Ulsterbus is responsible for most of the province-wide bus...
service from Newry to Newtownhamilton a number of times daily as well as the number 40 service between Newry and Whitecross.
Education
There are two primary schools in or near the village; St. Brigid's Primary School and St. Laurence O'Toole's Primary School. Further schooling of residents takes place primarily at St. Paul's High School in BessbrookBessbrook
Bessbrook is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles northwest of Newry and close to the main Dublin–Belfast road and rail line...
, or else in Newtownhamilton or Newry.
Sport
Belleeks has a Gaelic Athletic ClubGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
which competes in underage and senior mens
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and ladies football
Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football is a team sport for women, very similar to Gaelic football, and co-ordinated by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association...
as well Scor
Scór
Scór is a division of the Gaelic Athletic Association charged with promotion of cultural activities, and the name of a series of annual competitions in such activities.Rule 4 of the GAA's official guide reads:...
and other competitions. The clubhouse is located in Shaughan in the townland of Belleeks Upper.
Early History
The area in which Belleeks is situated has been populated for many thousands of years but contains less in terms of easily discernible pre-historic remains than is widely evident in other parts of south County Armagh. What was to become the village of Belleeks was held in the estates of Hugh Boy O'Hanlon in 1641, one of the few Catholic gentry retaining substantial landholdings in County Armagh following the Plantation of UlsterPlantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
, prior to the Rising of that year.
Pre-20th Century
By the early 19th century, a hamlet had developed at Belleeks along the Newtownhamilton-Newry road which branches off to Whitecross at Belleeks, Indeed in February 1767 Sir Archibald Acheson was granted a patent to hold fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s in the village on the 3rd days of February, May, August and November every year, all bar which the February fair survived up until 1852.
Census returns for the period between 1841 and 1851, during which the Famine occurred show a decrease in population of the village and surrounding area greater than one quarter of population in the ten year period due to death and emigration.
The Troubles 1969-1998
For more information on The TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, see The Troubles in Belleeks (Armagh), which includes a list of incidents in Belleeks during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.