Magheralin
Magheralin (from Irish: Machaire Lainne, meaning 'plain of the church')[2] is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A3 road between Moira and Lurgan, beside the River Lagan. It had a population of 1,337 people in the 2011 Census. The civil parish of Magheralin covers areas of counties Armagh and Down.[3]
| Magheralin | |
|---|---|
![]() Magheralin Parish Church | |
![]() Magheralin Location within County Down | |
| Population | 1,337 |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CRAIGAVON |
| Postcode district | BT67 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |


Its original name was Lann Rónáin Fhinn, "church of Ronan Finn", a saint from the famous tale Buile Shuibhne (The Madness of Sweeney).[2]
Culture
"Ducks of Magheralin". tunearch.org.
There is an old song called "The Ducks of Magheralin". In preface to a well known version by the Glenfolk Four, a singer insists that the intent of the song is to address the myth that the capital of Ireland is Dublin. The first verse is as follows:
- It is just about a year ago that I went to see the King,
- And on my voyage in Ulster my troubles they were twin;
- He decorated me with medals, and they were made of tin,
- "Go home," says he, "you skitter ye. You're the Mayor of Magheralin."
The Troubles
1989
- 18 October 1989 - Robert Metcalfe (40), a Protestant civilian was shot and killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) while at his home in Drumnabreeze Road, Magheralin.
1991
- 5 January 1991 - Jervis Lynch (26), a Catholic civilian, was shot and killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) while at his home in Acres Road, Magheralin.
People
- Lt Col Peter Brush
- Robert William Radclyffe Dolling, "Father Dolling" (1851–1902), was born at Magheralin.[4]
- John Macoun (1831–1920) was a Canadian naturalist born in Magheralin to James Macoun and Anne Jane Nevin, who emigrated to Canada in 1850.
Education
- Maralin Village Primary School
- St. Patrick's Primary School,
Sports
- St. Michaels GAC
- Magheralin Village Football Club
2011 Census
Magheralin is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (27 March 2021) there were 1,337 people living in Magheralin. Of these:
- 24.0% (322 people) were aged 0-17 years old, 62.6% (841 people) were aged 18-64 years old, and 14.4% (180 people) were aged 65 and over
- 47.6% of the population (639 people) were male and 52.4% (704 people) were female
- 31.4% (404 people) were from a Catholic background, 58.8% (755 people) were from a Protestant background, 9.2% (118 people) followed no religion, and 0.6% (8 people), followed another unlisted religion
- 98.1% (1,260 people) speak English Language as a Main Language (A3+), 0.5% (7 people) speak Polish Language as a Main Language, and 1.4% (18 people) speak another unlisted language
- 69.8% (946 people) have a United Kingdom Passport, 12.1% (164 people) have a Republic of Ireland Passport, 2.3% (31 people) have an EU (other) Passport, 0.5% (7 people) had another unlisted Passport, and 15.3% (208 people) have no Passport
- 89.7% (1,204 people) were born in Northern Ireland, 4.9% (66 people) were born in Great Britain, 1.3% (17 people) were born in Republic of Ireland, 2.2% (30 people) were born in EU (other), and 1.9% (26 people) were born in another unlisted country
- 98.7% (1,326 people) are White, 0.5% (7 people) are Asian, 0.1% (2 people) are Mixed/Multiple, 0.07% (1 person) is Black, and 0.5% (7 people) are another unlisted ethnic group
Other Census Statistics
- 1.7% Annual Population Change [2001-2011]
- 2,076/km² Population Density [2011]
- 0.6441 km² Area
References
- Placenames Database of Ireland
- Place Names NI
- "Parishes of Northern Ireland". Public Record Office of NI. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- "The Life of Father Dolling" Osborne, C.E p 335: London, Edward Arnold, 1903


