Salvation Data 0800 075 0720

Craigavon

Craigavon (Irish: Creag Abhann) is an urban area in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan largely failed. Among locals today, "Craigavon" refers to the residential area between the two towns, which is bounded to the northwest by a railway line.

Craigavon Urban Area includes Craigavon Centre, Brownlow, Lurgan, Portadown, Waringstown and Bleary; making it the third largest urban area in Northern Ireland.

History

a

Original plans

Originally, Craigavon was planned as a 'new city' on a par with the new towns that were being built in England in the 1960s. The plan was to build a large city between neighbouring towns of Lurgan and Portadown and thus create a large urban/suburban conurbation. It was hoped that this would encourage people to move out of the crowded streets of Belfast which was attracting the large majority of development in the region. Craigavon was intended to ensure a more even distribution of development across Northern Ireland. Residents in Belfast were offered cash incentives to move to Craigavon. Critics argue that Derry in the northwest would have been a more appropriate choice, but was excluded by the Stormont-based government. Some believe this was to ensure that the new town was predominantly Protestant.^{[citation needed]} For example, the terms of reference given to the author of the Matthews Report in 1963 stated that any development plan for Northern Ireland must concentrate development east of the River Bann (where there was a Protestant majority) so as "not to upset denominational ratios."^{[citation needed]}

Some of the most striking features of the development include the separation of motor vehicles from pedestrians and cyclists who have their own dedicated path network, use of roundabouts instead of traffic lights at junctions, situation of self-contained shopping centres in each housing area on an evenly-distributed and planned basis, and the total separation of industrial land-use from all other uses. All estates were built with security concerns in mind, with one entry/exit point.

Craigavon was designed as a very child-friendly environment, with numerous children's parks dotted throughout, a lot of green space in the housing estates, and safe paths to cycle on. The new town was also provided with many local amenities, with a leisure centre, shopping centre, civic centre, artificial lakes, playing fields, and even a petting zoo and gardens at Tannaghmore.

Difficulties

Problems began to come to light when it emerged that some large-scale housing areas had been built with materials and techniques that had not been fully tested, with the result that insulation, sound-proofing and durability were not adequate. The area's main employer, Goodyear, had a large fan-belt factory in the Silverwood industrial estate, and at the time it was Europe's largest factory. The plant failed to make money on a consistent basis, and had to close. It also emerged that the population projections for Northern Ireland upon which the project was based were wildly inaccurate, with the result that the planned development was redundant.^{[citation needed]} This was compounded by the outbreak of the 'Troubles' in the late 1960s, with the result that investment into Northern Ireland dried up and emigration increased.

Consequently around 50% of what was planned was never built, and of what was built, some of that had to be demolished after becoming empty and derelict. It was not uncommon to drive through Craigavon in the early 1980s and see entire housing estates and acres of housing abandoned. The area designated as Craigavon 'city centre', roughly mid-point between Lurgan and Portadown, for much of this time contained the municipal authority, the court buildings, a shopping mall Surrounded by the Parkmore estate and greenfield land it became a source of much derision, although in recent years housing developments have been built up around the shopping centre whilst the area to the East lies the "balancing lakes". A beautiful area of public parkland.

Critics of single use zoning would find much to criticise in Craigavon where this type of urban planning has been used extensively. Only in the older towns is traditional town planning more prevalent.

The identity of a new city never really caught on. The name 'Craigavon' is today used by locals to refer to the rump of the housing between Lurgan and Portadown, but the names of the old towns stubbornly live on and so do their identities. Many citizens of Lurgan and a few citizens of Portadown resent being identified with the new city of Craigavon.^{[citation needed]} Lurgan has been adversely effected commercially by the Craigavon development although Portadown has prospered greatly as a result of its association with Craigavon.^{[citation needed]}

However after many years of development, and increasing house prices closer to Belfast, Craigavon is now taking off. Many of the older housing estates have been demolished, improving the general tone of the area. The introduction of new estates have brought many new people into the area, and the expansion of the Craigavon Shopping Centre (now renamed the Rushmere Shopping Centre) has made it a major shopping destination.

The Troubles

The Craigavon urban area, especially Lurgan and Portadown, was one of the most violent places in The Troubles, even though there was very little violence in central Craigavon. The plan to build a city there was abandoned. For more information, see The Troubles in Craigavon, which includes a list of incidents in Craigavon during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.

Townlands

Ballyhannon

Balteagh

Bocombra

Clanrolla

Corcreeny

Crossmacahilly

Drumgask

Drumgor

Drumnagoon

Edenderry

Kernan

Killycomain

Knockmenagh

Legaghory

Lisnamintry

Lisnisky

Lylo

Monbrief

Moyraverty

Tamnafiglassan

Tannaghmore

Tullygally

Demographics

24.5% were aged under 16 years and 17.4% were aged 60 and over.

48.8% of the population were male and 51.2% were female.

44.7% were from a Catholic background and 52.9% were from a Protestant background.

4.0% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

Education

Brownlow Integrated College was one of the first integrated high schools in Northern Ireland

Drumgor Primary School, controlled primary school

Lismore Comprehensive School largest school in Northern Ireland, maintained by the Roman Catholic Church

Moyallon Primary School

St. Anthony's Primary School, maintained by the Roman Catholic Church

St. Brendan's Primary School, maintained by the Roman Catholic Church

St. Patrick's Primary School

Tullygally Primary School, controlled primary school

Sport

Craigavon United F.C. - won the Milk Cup in 1986.

Craigavon City F.C. - Founded in 2007. In their first season they finished 4th in the Mid Ulster fourth division and won the John Magee Memorial Cup after a 2-1 victory over Armagh Rovers.

Craigavon Cowboys American Football - The only American Football Team in Armagh. Currently competing in the DV8s league.

References

a

External links

Culture Northern Ireland