Markethill is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is beside Gosford Forest Park. It had a population of 1,647 people in the 2011 census. A livestock market is held here three times a week and each summer the world's largest Lambeg drumming contest takes place in the village. It is home to Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band, who host the largest band parade in Europe on the first Friday of each June. It is by the A28 road around 10 km south-east of Armagh city, and 18 km north-west of Newry.

History

The village sprang up within the townland of Coolmallish or Coolmillish, on the road between Armagh and Newry. It began to grow during the Plantation of Ulster as a town for Scottish and English migrants.

The Troubles

During the Troubles, there were a number of incidents in Markethill, including a number which resulted in fatalities.

Places of interest

Nearby Gosford Castle is within Gosford Forest Park. The Ministry of Agriculture bought the estate in 1958, establishing Gosford Forest Park. Gosford Castle is the largest Grade A listed building in Northern Ireland, in 2006 after public consultation the Boyd Partnership was selected to restore the castle and convert it into 24 self-contained luxury apartments. The first residents moved in December 2008, restoration is still in progress as of May 2010. Markethill Courthouse, situated at the top of Main Street, at the north entrance to Markethill adjacent to Gosford Forest Park. Markethill Courthouse was built in 1842 to the designs of Thomas Duff, and is one of the few surviving large regional free standing Courthouses built in the middle century. The building is constructed of random Blackstone with Armagh limestone quoins and dressings. The building was last used as a courthouse in 1952, was purchased by Markethill District Enterprises Ltd in June 1997, after lying vacant for 25 years. The building was restored for use as a community centre.

Sport

Markethill Swifts F.C., an association football club, play in the Mid-Ulster Football League. The nearest Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club is at Mullaghbrack.

Transport

Markethill railway station opened on 25 August 1864, closed for passenger traffic on 1 February 1933 and finally closed altogether on 2 May 1955. It was located on the Armagh to Goraghwood section of line run by the Great Northern Railway of Ireland.

Demography

Markethill is classified as a village by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,499 people). On census day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Markethill Settlement was 1,647, accounting for 0.09% of the NI total. Of these:

Education

Schools in the area include Markethill Primary School and Markethill High School.

Economy

The first significant industrial capacity in the town was established in 1888 by DH Sinton who established a linen mill, close to the town's railway station. The mill was purchased by Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd in 1909 and remained operational until 1991 when it was badly damaged by an IRA bomb. Production at this point moved to a sister factory in nearby Portadown. Today the area is largely focused on agriculture and is centred on the large agricultural mart situated on the Cladymilltown Road on the outskirts of the town. Markethill Livestock Sales has been established for more than 45 years. The previous mart premises subsequently became a derelict site. A small business park has been constructed on a section of the former Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd Linen Mill which contains a number of small business' and start-up enterprises. The business park is administered by Markethill Business Centre on Fairgreen Road. There are several independent businesses located in the town. These include Alexander's of Markethill and Alexanders Furnishings Ltd., established in 1954 and operating from the old Market House, Keady Street with the furniture shop on Fairgreen Road nearby. Dalzell's of Markethill, an electrical appliances company, was established in 1956.

People