Derrytrasna
Encyclopedia
Derrytrasna is a small village
and townland
in County Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. The village is on a plateau
surrounded mainly by bog
land in the north of the county. It lies between Lough Neagh
, Lough Gullion and the River Bann
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 249 people. Derrytrasna is within the Craigavon Borough Council
area.
to Charlestown
. The main industries at this time were fishing
and agriculture
and the area being noted for its eel
, pollan
and trout
.
One of the most notable events in the history of the village was the erection of St.Mary's Roman Catholic Church, when on the night of January 6 1839 the nearly completed church building was destroyed in what was known as the "Night of the Big Wind
". At the time the Newry Reporter
stated:
We regret to learn that the new Chapel of the Parish of Seagoe, which had been erected at great expense and with extreme exertion on the part of the Parish Priest, the Rev. Morgan, was levelled to the ground by the late fearful hurricane. It had just been roofed and would soon have been ready for consecration
. This is a lamentable occurrence. The people of Seagoe were rejoicing in the hope of having a temple for the worship of the Most High, and just when it seemed secure to them they have lost the fruit of their long and pious labours. We are sure that the case will strongly excite the sympathies of the Christian
public and that any appeal which may be made by the Rev. Mr. Morgan to repair the injury which has been done in this parish will meet with a ready and generous response.
"A ready and generous response" was indeed made to Dr. Morgan's appeal and the church was rebuilt during the years, 1839-41.
In the 1950s Loughview Terrace was developed on Derrytrasna Lane, but the growth of Derrytrasna only really started in the 1980s with the development of Derrytrasna Close and Derrytrasna Lane estates. Lisnagade Mews and Loughview Manor were subsequently added and lately the two new estates of Bann Close and Derryloiste Meadows have been developed.
club is Highmoss Sarsfields GFC
.
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 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...
. The village is on a plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
surrounded mainly by bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
land in the north of the county. It lies between Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
, Lough Gullion and the River Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
. 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 249 people. Derrytrasna is within the Craigavon Borough Council
Craigavon Borough Council
Craigavon Borough Council is a local council in counties Armagh, Down and Antrim, in Northern Ireland. The headquarters of the council is in Craigavon, on the shores of Lough Neagh, a new town built between Lurgan and Portadown. The council area includes the large towns of Lurgan and Portadown, as...
area.
History
At the turm of the 19th century Derrytransa was no more than a small collection of properties at a crossroads on the main road from PortadownPortadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
to Charlestown
Charlestown
-Australia:*Charlestown, New South Wales** Electoral district of Charlestown, an electoral district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly including the area-United Kingdom:*Charlestown, Black Isle, in the Highland council area*Charlestown, Cornwall...
. The main industries at this time were fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and 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...
and the area being noted for its eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
, pollan
Pollan
Pollan may refer to:*Pollan , or Irish pollan*Carolyn Pollan, an American politician*Michael Pollan, an American author*Tracy Pollan, an American actress...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
.
One of the most notable events in the history of the village was the erection of St.Mary's Roman Catholic Church, when on the night of January 6 1839 the nearly completed church building was destroyed in what was known as the "Night of the Big Wind
Night of the Big Wind
The Night of the Big Wind was a severe European windstorm which swept without warning across Ireland on the night of January 6 - January 7, 1839, causing severe damage to property and several hundred deaths; 20% to 25% of houses in north Dublin were damaged or destroyed, and 42 ships were wrecked...
". At the time the Newry Reporter
Newry Reporter
-History of the paper:Established in 1867 by James Burns the Newry Reporter is the oldest newspaper serving the Newry and Mourne region of Northern Ireland. After the death of James in 1902 the paper was sold to Joseph Wright who operated a printing works in Hill Street. The paper would be in...
stated:
We regret to learn that the new Chapel of the Parish of Seagoe, which had been erected at great expense and with extreme exertion on the part of the Parish Priest, the Rev. Morgan, was levelled to the ground by the late fearful hurricane. It had just been roofed and would soon have been ready for consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
. This is a lamentable occurrence. The people of Seagoe were rejoicing in the hope of having a temple for the worship of the Most High, and just when it seemed secure to them they have lost the fruit of their long and pious labours. We are sure that the case will strongly excite the sympathies of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
public and that any appeal which may be made by the Rev. Mr. Morgan to repair the injury which has been done in this parish will meet with a ready and generous response.
"A ready and generous response" was indeed made to Dr. Morgan's appeal and the church was rebuilt during the years, 1839-41.
In the 1950s Loughview Terrace was developed on Derrytrasna Lane, but the growth of Derrytrasna only really started in the 1980s with the development of Derrytrasna Close and Derrytrasna Lane estates. Lisnagade Mews and Loughview Manor were subsequently added and lately the two new estates of Bann Close and Derryloiste Meadows have been developed.
Today
The village comprises mainly residential development, most of which are modern bungalows, and acts as a small service centre to the surrounding rural community, with a church, a primary school and a post office facility. Most local people work in larger settlements like Lurgan, Portadown or Belfast, but there is limited employment within Derrytrasna and the surrounding area. Levels of employment in agriculture have fallen in the past few decades.Sport
Derrytrasna's local Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club is Highmoss Sarsfields GFC
Sarsfields GAA (Armagh)
High Moss Sarsfields G.F.C. is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Derrytrasna, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In addition to having numerous teams it is also a centre for other sports and activities. Sarsfields currently play in the Armagh ACL Division I under the management of TBA...
.