Visit Moira, County Down Places

Welcome to Visit Moira, County Down Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Moira, County Down

  

Moira, County Down Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Moira, County Down

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Moira, County Down history

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Toponymy

The etymology of Moira is somewhat uncertain. It seems to be an anglicisation of the Irish Maigh Rath. Another Irish form of the name is Mag Rath. The change most probably occurred during or before the Plantation of Ulster.

Prehistory to 1800

Moira has been a settlement for at least 1,500 years. For the period it consisted most probably only of small dwellings surrounded by several earthen ringforts. Evidence of three such forts still remain. The best known of these is the so-called “Rough Fort”, situated on the Old Kilmore Road. However, the remains of “Pretty Mary’s Fort” exist behind the Waringfield residential area. Finally evidence of a third ringfort can be found near Claremont. In fact the supposed ring fort in Moira is actually a henge dating back thousands of years. see the book “Finding Footprints” by David McFarland The existence of these primitive defences, coupled with the good-view afforded from the top of Moira hill, made the settlement strategically valuable. Proximity to Lough Neagh enhanced this value. Accordingly, during the repeated power struggles of the first millennium the area was often fought over, and eventually witnessed the largest battle in the history of Ireland when three tribal kings contested the area to determine supremacy in Ulster and beyond. This was the Battle of Moira. Its impact on Moira is still felt; two townlands still bear battle names, Aughnafosker (meaning field of slaughter) and Carnalbanagh (meaning the Scotsman’s grave). After the battle a bishop by the name of Ronan Finn (who was later canonized) was alleged to have created a monastery in the area. The medieval period itself remains shrouded in mystery. It is known that the town and its hinterland were under the control of the O’Lavery Clan for a considerable period. They were Catholic families who held sway in large parts of Armagh. Indeed, prior to the Nine Years War Ulster was the most gaelic part of Ireland. There were few towns, few roads and much of the country was thickly wooded. However the subjugation of Ulster by the victorious armies of Elizabeth I greatly reduced the clout of Gaelic hierarchs, the O’Laverys included. But it was their participation in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 doomed their dominance. The English authorities crushed the rebellion and confiscated vast amounts of native Irish property, in Moira as in the rest of Ireland. As a direct result of this the Protestant plantations of Ulster (which began in 1606) was accelerated. In 1631 Major George Rawdon, a wealthy man from the village of Rawdon in Yorkshire, settled in Moira. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 he and 200 English soldiers helped defeat the army of Sir Phelim O’Neill and re-secure Moira and its environs for the Crown. In 1651 an officer by the name of Major de Burgh purchased a small estate and built a brick house in Moira. This house, the forerunner of Moira Castle, was subsequently purchased by Rawdon. Following his actions in putting down rebellion Rawdon subsequently purchased vast amounts of land in the area (most probably financed by confiscations from the dead or subjugated Catholic rebels), and was said to have developed it greatly. In 1665 he was created a baronet by Charles II. At some point in his life he became a Member of Parliament. He was nicknamed the ‘Great Highwayman’ for his development of roads infrastructure in and around Moira. Sir George Rawdon was succeeded in his title by his son Sir Arthur Rawdon. Sir Arthur (who would also become an Irish MP) became a General in the armies of King William III during the Jacobite War in Ireland. He was quickly besieged in Derry, but managed to escape. After the war, with the Protestant Ascendancy of which he was a part yet again restored, Sir Arthur (who had presumably profited greatly from the war) returned to Moira. Having inherited the brick manor house his father had purchased he decided to expand it greatly, and it became one of the largest residences in the whole island, to be called Moira Castle. The castle, which in fact was a mansion, was also accompanied by vast gardens. These gardens became world-famous. In 1690 Sir Arthur utilised his friendship with fellow Down-born botanist Sir Hans Sloane, and acquired from him the seeds of 400 exotic plants, and instructions in how to grow them. To fit his ends Sir Arthur also constructed in Moira the first hothouse in Europe. The subsequent baronets maintained the gardens (though the hothouse did not survive) for generations. In 1723 Sir John Rawdon, 3rd Baronet helped fund the construction of the Anglican Moira Parish Church, dedicated to St. John. In 1750 Sir John Rawdon, 4th Baronet was raised to the peerage by King George II as the Baron Rawdon of Moira. He subsequently flirted with Methodism, and invited John Wesley to speak at Moira Church. This caused a major religious rift in the town. And though Wesley did speak, he did so from the grounds of Moira Castle, not the church for which the Rawdons had largely paid. He was also granted a higher title in 1762 by King George III, when he was made Earl of Moira. In addition to flirting with Methodism Lord Rawdon also flirted with Irish self-government (albeit under the Ascendancy), opposing the efforts of William Pitt to forge closer links with Great Britain in the first decade of his Ministry. His death in 1793 was significant in Moira history, in that it marked the largest funeral in the history of Ireland (a record now held by the attendance at the funeral of Michael Collins), a testament to his extensive political connections. Over four hundred carriages were in procession. This Lord Rawdon is buried in the family crypt in the church. Upon his death his son Francis Rawdon-Hastings became the Earl of Moira. A respected general and politician with significant influence in London, his time as head of the family was nevertheless negative for the town of Moira, which had risen greatly in prestige as a result of his predecessors. He neglected the gardens in the Moira estate, which subsequently declined into decay. He also spent the vast majority of his time in England.

Moira 1800–present

The 2nd Earl was raised to a yet-higher rank of the peerage in 1816, when he was created Marquess of Hastings, subordinating the Moira title. Lord Hastings was the last member of the Rawdon family to reside in Moira Castle. In 1805 he sold it to Sir Robert Bateson, 1st Baronet, who also did not use it as a primary residence. A few gate stumps remain, as does some stepping for the famous gardens and the dug-out cellar.

1998 bombing

Dissident republicans planted a 500 pounds (230 kg) car bomb outside the police station in Moira, Northern Ireland. The bomb was intended to kill police officers due to do a shift change. The blast was so loud that it could be heard twenty miles away in Belfast.

21st century

The present village is primarily a dormitory settlement for commuters into Belfast, Lisburn, and Craigavon. A local couple, Frances and Patrick Connolly, won £115m in the EuroMillions lottery, the fourth largest such payout in the UK.

You can visit Moira, County Down places with Walkfo Moira, County Down to hear history at Moira, County Down’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Moira, County Down has 4 places to visit in our interactive Moira, County Down map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Moira, County Down, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Moira, County Down places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Moira, County Down & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 4 audio facts unique to Moira, County Down places in an interactive Moira, County Down map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Moira, County Down Places Map
4 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Moira, County Down historic spots	Moira, County Down tourist destinations	Moira, County Down plaques	Moira, County Down geographic features
Walkfo Moira, County Down tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Moira, County Down

  

Best Moira, County Down places to visit

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Moira, County Down has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Moira, County Down’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Moira, County Down’s information audio spots:

A3 road (Northern Ireland) The A3 is a major road in Northern Ireland. It travels through County Antrim, County Down, County Armagh and parts of southern County Fermanagh. It is also the designated road number for the sections of the Irish N54 secondary route.

Maghaberry Maghaberry is 9km west of Lisburn and 4km north of Moira. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 4,716 people. It is one of the biggest villages within the Lisburn/Castreagh City Council area.

Visit Moira, County Down plaques