More about Lurgan

Earlier names of Lurgan include "Lorgain Chlann Bhreasail" (Lurgan of Clanbrassil), "Lorgain Bhaile Mhic Cana" (Long low ridge of McCann's townland — Lurgan Bally McCann) and Lurgivallivacket (the long hill of the McCann's place). The McCann sept (clan) were Lords of Clanbrassil, prior to the Plantation of Ulster period in the early 17th century. The McCanns were septs of the O'Neills.

In around 1610, during the Plantation period, the lands of Lurgan were given to the English lord William Brownlow and his family. In 1641 William Brownlow, his wife and family were taken prisoner and brought to Armagh and then to Dungannon, in County Tyrone. The land was then passed to the McCanns, and also the O'Hanlons. In 1642 Brownlow and his family were released by the forces of Lord Conway, who was operating in the Dungannon area. The family built up the linen industry and it is said that the greatest manufacture of linen was carried on in the town in the late 17th century.

Lurgan has two 18-hole golf courses, an artificial ski slope and an equestrian centre for show jumping. Arguably the most famous sporting character from Lurgan is Master McGrath, a greyhound who was bought in Lurgan by the Brownlow family and won the Waterloo Cup three times in 1868, 1870 and 1871. He is remembered all over the town, including in its Coat of Arms. A statue of him was unveiled at Craigavon Civic Centre in 1993, over 120 years after his last glory in 1871. A festival is also held yearly in his honour. A well known pub was also named after Master McGrath, although it has been renamed in recent years.

The demesne was bought by the Lurgan Real Property Company in the 1840s, which cut down most of the timber from the great Avenue planted during the Jacobean war, and gave it to the residents of Lurgan. The demesne was later sold to Lurgan Borough Council in 1893 for the princely sum of £2,000 and it was opened as a Public Park in July 1909 by Lord Aberdeen.

Lurgan Park is the second largest public park in Ireland, the biggest being Phoenix Park in Dublin, and is enjoyed by as many as 2000 people every day. The beautifully landscaped parkland contains a number of well maintained paths which provide excellent walking and running ground. There is an active Friends of the Park group, who all take a great interest in what’s going on in the park. They meet on the last Wednesday of every month in the Gate Lodge and always welcome new members.

Lurgan Lake is a 59-acres man-made lake, which was dug during the Famine as a means of creating jobs for the local people. At the time of its construction the lake was one of the largest hand dug lakes in Ireland. The artificial lake was one of the chief improvements to Lord Brownlow’s demesne, and it was during its construction that the term “Lurgan Spade” came into use. According to residents of the town, the workmen who were digging the lake worked for 1 1/2d to 3d a day, less than ordinary rate of wages. The workers were known as the Spades and due to the unpleasant nature of the work and their meagre rewards they were repudiated to be particularly sombre. As a result anyone who looks downtrodden or forlorn is to this day described as “having a face like a Lurgan spade”.

Brownlow House was built in 1836 to the design by Scottish architect William Henry Playfair, replacing the earlier house which had been built in the early 1600s. The new house was built in the Elizabethan style and stood in an estate of some 259 acres, including a 59-acre man made lake. It is reputed to have 365 rooms and was built for Charles Brownlow.

The house and estate were well-known: a description of 1797 states: “the demesne, though very beautiful, corresponds with the antiquity of the castle. It is highly ornamented with a fine sheet of water which is covered with swans, Cape Geese, wild duck and a beautiful variety of wildfowl. Around the lake is a pleasant and neat gravel walk decorated with elegant plantations. The park is well stocked with deer and numerous hares sport through every part of the demesne.”

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