Moira, County Down facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moira Irish: Maigh Rath
Part of Main Street, Moira, August 2022
Population	4,591 (Census 2011)
District	Lisburn
County	County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CRAIGAVON
Postcode district	BT67
Dialling code	028
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Lagan Valley
NI Assembly	Lagan Valley
List of places UK Northern Ireland Down 54°28′48″N 6°13′55″W / 54.480°N 6.232°W / 54.480; -6.232

Moira is a village and a civil parish (a type of local area) in County Down, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish Maigh Rath, which means 'plain of the streams' or 'plain of the wheels'. It is located in the northwest of County Down, close to the borders of Antrim and Armagh. Important routes like the M1 motorway and the Belfast–Dublin railway line are nearby. In 2011, about 4,591 people lived in Moira.

History of Moira

Where Moira's Name Comes From

The exact meaning of Moira's name is a bit of a mystery. It probably comes from the Irish words Maigh Rath. This might mean 'plain of the wheels' or 'plain of the ringforts'. Another old Irish name for the area was Mag Rath. The name changed to Moira around the time of the Plantation of Ulster, when many people from England and Scotland moved to Ireland. Today, Moira is the official name and the one everyone uses.

Moira's Early Days: From Ancient Times to 1800

Moira has been a place where people lived for at least 1,500 years. Long ago, it was likely made up of small homes surrounded by ringforts. These were round earthworks used for defense. You can still see parts of three such forts today. The most famous is the "Rough Fort" on Old Kilmore Road. There are also remains of "Pretty Mary's Fort" and another near Claremont.

Interestingly, one of these supposed ringforts is actually a much older structure called a henge. This dates back thousands of years. You can learn more about it in the book "Finding Footprints" by David McFarland.

Because of these early defenses and its good view from Moira hill, the area was important for strategy. Being close to Lough Neagh also made it valuable. So, Moira was often fought over in ancient times. It was even the site of the biggest battle in Irish history: the Battle of Moira. Three tribal kings fought here to decide who would rule Ulster and beyond. The battle's impact is still seen today. Two local areas, Aughnafosker (meaning 'field of slaughter') and Carnalbanagh (meaning 'the Scotsman's grave'), are named after it. After the battle, a bishop named Ronan Finn (who later became a saint) is said to have built a monastery in the area.

The medieval period (Middle Ages) in Moira is not well known. We do know that the O'Lavery Clan, a Roman Catholic family, controlled the town for a long time. Before the Nine Years War, Ulster was very much a Gaelic (Irish) area, with few towns or roads. However, after Elizabeth I's armies took control of Ulster, the power of Gaelic families like the O'Laverys decreased. Their involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 led to their downfall. The English authorities crushed the rebellion and took away huge amounts of land from Irish families, including in Moira. This sped up the Protestant plantations in Ulster, which had started in 1606.

The Rawdon Family Arrives

Moira Castle, County Down in 1799, drawn by Gabriel Beranger.

In 1631, a wealthy man named Major George Rawdon from Yorkshire, England, moved to Moira. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, he and 200 English soldiers helped defeat Sir Phelim O'Neill's army. This helped secure Moira for the English Crown. In 1651, an officer named Major de Burgh bought a small estate and built a brick house in Moira. Rawdon later bought this house, which was the first version of Moira Castle. After helping put down the rebellion, Rawdon bought a lot of land in the area. He likely got this land from Catholic rebels who were defeated or killed. He is said to have developed the area a lot. In 1665, King Charles II made him a baronet (a special title). He was also a Member of Parliament. People called him the 'Great Highwayman' because he built many roads around Moira. His son, Sir Arthur Rawdon, took over his title.

Later Rawdon Baronets and Moira Castle

Sir Arthur also became an Irish Member of Parliament. He was a General in King William III's army during the Jacobite War in Ireland. He was trapped in Derry for a time but managed to escape. After the war, with the Protestant Ascendancy (Protestant power) restored, Sir Arthur returned to Moira. He had likely gained a lot from the war. He inherited the brick house his father bought and decided to make it much bigger. It became one of the largest homes in all of Ireland and was called Moira Castle. This "castle" was actually a grand mansion with huge gardens. These gardens became famous worldwide. In 1690, Sir Arthur used his friendship with the botanist Sir Hans Sloane to get seeds from 400 unusual plants. He also got instructions on how to grow them. To do this, Sir Arthur built the first hothouse (a heated greenhouse) in Europe right there in Moira.

The Rawdon family kept up the gardens for many generations, though the hothouse did not last. In 1723, Sir John Rawdon, the 3rd Baronet, helped pay for the building of the Anglican Moira Parish Church, which was named St. John's.

The Lords Rawdon and a Changing Town

A painting of Portrait of Lord Moira by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1790.

In 1750, Sir John Rawdon, 4th Baronet was given a higher title by King George II. He became the Baron Rawdon of Moira. He became interested in Methodism and invited John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, to speak in Moira. This caused a big religious disagreement in the town. Wesley did speak, but he had to do it from the grounds of Moira Castle, not the church that the Rawdons had largely paid for. In 1762, King George III gave him an even higher title: Earl of Moira.

Besides his interest in Methodism, Lord Rawdon also supported Irish self-government. He was against William Pitt's plans to make Ireland and Great Britain closer. When he died in 1793, his funeral was the largest in Irish history at the time. Over 400 carriages were part of the procession. This shows how many important political friends he had. This Lord Rawdon is buried in the family tomb at the church.

After his death, his son Francis Rawdon-Hastings became the Earl of Moira. He was a respected general and politician with a lot of power in London. However, his time as the head of the family was not good for Moira. He ignored the gardens at the Moira estate, and they fell into ruin. He also spent most of his time in England.

Moira from 1800 to Today

In 1816, the 2nd Earl was given an even higher title: Marquess of Hastings. This meant the Moira title became less important.

Lord Hastings was the last Rawdon family member to live in Moira Castle. He had always used it as a second home anyway. In 1805, he sold it to Sir Robert Bateson, 1st Baronet. Sir Robert also did not use it as his main home. Because of this, Moira's importance decreased a lot. However, the Rawdon family's impact stayed. Many streets and housing areas are still named after them centuries later.

The Acts of Union 1800 reduced the power of the Protestant Ascendancy. Moira was now ruled directly by London instead of Dublin. Also, the Great Reform Act made it harder for landowners and lords to control Moira.

Moira continued to grow during this time. A canal was built to the north, which became the border between Counties Antrim and Down. A Market Hall was finished around 1810, paid for by the Bateson family. This was seen as the completion of the village. In 1841, Moira railway station was built. It is now the oldest train station building in Ireland. Moira Castle was left empty by the Batesons and was torn down during the Victorian era. Only a few gate posts, some steps from the famous gardens, and the old cellar remain.

The entrance to Moira Demesne.

During the Second World War, the land of Moira Demesne (as the Castle grounds were known) was used by the British Army as a medical center.

In 2018, a long dry period showed what looked like old foundations under the lawns of the demesne. In May 2019, the local council asked archaeologists from Queen's University Belfast to dig there. For two weeks, with help from local volunteers, they explored several areas. They found interesting items from the 17th and 18th centuries.

1998 Bombing

Moira was mostly peaceful for much of the 20th century. However, it was affected by The Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland. On February 20, 1998, a large car bomb exploded outside the police station. It injured 11 people. The bomb was meant to harm police officers during a shift change. The explosion was so loud it could be heard 20 miles away in Belfast. The bomb caused a lot of damage, and the police station and several nearby buildings had to be rebuilt. This event also threatened the peace process at the time.

Moira in the 21st Century

Today, Moira is mainly a dormitory settlement (a place where people live but travel to work) for those who work in Belfast, Lisburn, and Craigavon.

On January 4, 2019, a local couple from Moira, Frances and Patrick Connolly, won a huge amount of money in the EuroMillions lottery. They won over £114 million, making them some of the UK's biggest lottery winners. They said they wanted the money to help their family and friends and make a big difference in their lives.

Moira's Population

Moira's population has grown a lot over the years:

On Census day (March 27, 2011), Moira had 4,591 people. Here are some facts about them:

• 23.0% were under 16 years old.
• 13.5% were 60 years old or older.
• The average age was 39.0 years.
• 48.9% were male, and 51.1% were female.
• 19.5% were from a Catholic background.
• 71.6% were from a 'Protestant and Other Christian' background.

In 2011, there were 1,739 homes in Moira.

• The average home had 2.6 people.
• 5.2% were single-parent homes with children.

Getting Around Moira

The M1 motorway near Moira Roundabout.

Moira has good transport links. It has Moira railway station, which is a stop on the train line from Newry to Bangor. The station was first built by the Ulster Railway. Moira is also very close to the M1 motorway, with Moira Roundabout being a major road junction. Because Moira is so close to Belfast and Lisburn, many people who live here travel to those cities for work. Moira is also on the main road to Lurgan, which can cause traffic jams during busy times. The 51 bus service runs regularly from Portadown to Belfast, with several stops in Moira.

Station Road Moira with the Lagan Canal facing towards Lough Neagh.

Moira is about twenty miles from Belfast International Airport.

Other Things to Do and See in Moira

Businesses in Moira

Moira is mostly a commuter town, meaning many people work elsewhere. However, local jobs are often in services like shops and cafes. Moira is also famous for McCartney's of Moira, a family butcher shop that has been open for 140 years. This shop has won many national awards for its food, including the Northern Irish and National Sausage Competition. In 2011, they also won the Great Taste Awards Supreme Champion award.

Moira was also a filming location for the Channel 4 comedy show "Facejacker." The Moira Drive Thru and Internet Cafe was featured in the show, which was watched by over 3 million people.

Education in Moira

Moira Primary School and Rowandale Integrated Primary School provide education for younger children. Moira does not have any secondary schools. Most older children travel to Lurgan, Lisburn, or Belfast to attend schools like Friends', Wallace, RBAI, Hunterhouse, Lurgan Junior High School, St. Michael's Grammar School, Lismore Comprehensive School; St. Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh; St Colman's College, Newry; St. Patrick's Academy, Lisburn and Rathmore Grammar School. Since St. Colman's PS Kilwarlin closed, students now go to other local primary schools, including St. Patrick's PS in Magheralin.

Moira's library has been rebuilt and is now open.

Sports in Moira

Moira has two junior football clubs: Moira FC and Moira Youth FC. Moira FC started in 2009 and has several young teams that play locally. It is connected to The LOGIC Cafe, which is part of St John's Parish Church. Moira Youth FC focuses on being a community club. They were the MUYL U12 Bowl champions and worked with Dollingstown FC to help young players develop. Moira Youth FC stopped playing in 2021.

Moira also has another football team called Moira Albion. This is an amateur club with two teams that play in the Mid Ulster League.

For Gaelic games, the Moira area is represented by the St. Michael's club in Magheralin. St. Michael's plays in the Down County League. Their most famous player from Moira was George Lavery. He won two senior all-Ireland championships with Down in 1960 and 1961. George also played soccer for Moira Young Men's club before being offered a contract by Belfast Celtic.

Places Named After Moira

Because the Rawdon family was important in the British Empire, several places around the world are named after Moira, County Down. This is usually because of the noble title they held. These places include:

• Moira, Leicestershire, a former mining village in England built by the Rawdons.
• Moira, Ontario, an area in Canada.
• The Moira River, and the Moira Lake, also in Ontario, Canada.
• Moira, New York in the United States.

Famous People from Moira

• Thomas Bateson, 1st Baron Deramore, a noble and landowner.
• Dame Mary Uprichard, DBE.
• Mary Galway, an Irish trade union leader and suffragist (someone who fought for women's right to vote).
• Anne Lutton, a preacher and founder of Methodism in Moira, who was also a poet.

See also

In Spanish: Moira (Down) para niños