Tandragee

Tandragee Irish: Tóin re Gaoith
Town
The Square, Tandragee (2009)
Location within Northern Ireland
Population	3,545 (2021 Census)
Irish grid reference	J030462
• Belfast	25 mi (40 km)
District	Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon
County	County Armagh
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CRAIGAVON
Postcode district	BT62
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Newry & Armagh
NI Assembly	Newry & Armagh

Tandragee (from Irish Tóin re Gaoith, meaning 'backside to the wind') is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is built on a hillside overlooking the Cusher River, in the civil parish of Ballymore and the historic barony of Orior Lower.

Earlier spellings of the name include Tanderagee and Tonregee. It had a population of 3,545 people in the 2021 Census.

History

Overlooking the town is Tandragee Castle. Originally the seat of the Chief of the Name of the O'Hanlon Irish clan and Lord of Orior, the Castle and surrounding countryside were confiscated and granted to Oliver St John and his heirs during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and the Plantation of Ulster.

According to D. J. O'Donoghue's account of his 1825 Irish tour, Sir Walter Scott was fascinated by the life and career of Redmond O'Hanlon, a local Rapparee leader. Hoping to make him the protagonist of an adventure novel, Scott corresponded with Lady Olivia Sparrow, an Anglo-Irish landowner whose estates included Tandragee. Although Scott asked Lady Olivia to obtain as much information as possible about O'Hanlon, he was forced to give up on the project after finding documentation too scanty.

Tandragee Castle was rebuilt in about 1837, after having previously been destroyed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, for The 6th Duke of Manchester. Its grounds have since been home to the Tayto potato-crisp factory since 1956, after being bought by businessman Thomas Hutchinson.

In 2000, Tandragee was scene of the Murders of Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, two teenaged local Protestants who were unaffiliated with any paramilitary organization, by three members of the UVF Mid-Ulster Brigade and as part of an ongoing Loyalist feud between the UVF and LVF.

Ballymore Parish Church

Ballymore Parish Church

Ballymore Parish Church was referenced in ecclesiastical records over 650 years and maintained a strong association with the Dukes of Manchester until the mid-1950s. The Dukes, who owned the adjacent Tandragee Castle, were significant benefactors to the church throughout the years.

In 1343, Roger Sampford held possession of a Prebendary of Armagh for the Parish Church of Tamlackikieth (Tandragee) with its churches. In February 1812, it was recorded that the Church located on the site was demolished to make way for a larger structure, as the previous building had become inadequate for the congregation's needs. During the construction, remnants of the old walls were uncovered, revealing a thickness of over four feet and constructed from brick. Additionally, the loopholes and embrasures exhibited signs of a fire that historical records indicate occurred in the 1641 Irish Rebellion.

In 1846, the transepts and chancel were constructed, followed by interior renovations in 1884, during which a new organ, donated by the 7th Duke of Manchester, was installed adjacent to the chancel. In 1889, the peal of tubular bells was installed in the tower. The structure features a cruciform design and initially included traditional boxed seating along with a gallery at the western end. Additionally, there were two prominent enclosed pews located in each transept: the Rectory pew on the north side and the Duke’s pew on the south. A fireplace was positioned next to the Duke’s pew, a luxury that was not extended to the Rectory family.

Several renovation enhancements to the Church were carried out in the early 20th century, which included the donation of some of the current valuable stained glass windows from the “Manchester’s” as well as contributions from parishioners in memory of their loved ones. Throughout the 1900s, external renovations and structural repairs were consistently undertaken, such as the removal of pebble dash from the exterior walls in 1926, followed by repointing of the stones.

The wooden panelling found in the sanctuary, on the organ loft, and on the wall adjacent to the font at the rear was acquired from Tandragee Castle in 1955. The identification of dry rot in 1962 led to significant repairs, including the complete replacement of the roof, during which the gallery was also dismantled. By the end of the 20th century, the external walls underwent repointing, and the damaged sandstone mullions surrounding several stained glass windows were replaced.

Orange Halls

Tandragee is home the two closest 2 closest Orange Halls in the whole of Northern Ireland, Tandragee District Hall and Cargans Memorial Orange Hall.

Tandragee District Hall and Cargans Memorial Hall (2012)

Tandragee District Hall

Tandragee District Hall was constructed in 1912 and is at the heart of the Tandragee District No.4. Initially established as a Protestant Temperance Hall, the building later functioned as a picture house during the 1940s, until it eventually transitioned to function as Tandragee District Hall.

Tandragee District Hall (2009)

Education

• Tandragee Primary School
• Tandragee Junior High School
• Tandragee Nursery
• Button Moon Play Group

Sport

Motorcycling

The largest event to occur in the town is when it plays host to the Tandragee 100 Motorcycle Races. First held in 1958 as a 100 mile handicap race, the Tandragee 100 has played host to a wide-range of road racers notably: Guy Martin, Joey Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar and Michael Dunlop. The race did not take place during 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19, was cancelled in 2023 due to insurance costs and again in 2024 due to lack of course resurfacing.

Association Football

Tandragee Rovers play in the Mid-Ulster Football League. There is a golf course within the grounds of Tandragee Castle, within walking distance of the main street. It is 5,589 metres, par 71, and a hilly parkland course.

Notable People

Shay McDonnell - International Rugby Union Player - Gibraltar Rugby Football Union

Industry and transport

Tandragee Castle and gate lodge

Thomas Sinton opened a mill in town in the 1880s, an expansion of his firm from its original premises at nearby Laurelvale – a model village which he built. Sintons' Mill, at the banks of the Cusher River, remained in production until the 1990s. The potato-crisp company Tayto has a factory and offices beside Tandragee Castle. It offers guided tours.

St Mark's Church overlooking part of Tandragee

Tandragee Railway Station opened on 6 January 1852 and was shut on 4 January 1965.

Northern Ireland Electricity has an interconnector to County Louth in the Republic of Ireland from the outskirts of the town.

Demography

2021 Census

Tandragee had a population of 3,545 people in the 2021 Census. Of these:

• 76.92% were from a Protestant background and 10.75% were from a Roman Catholic background

2011 Census

Tandragee had a population of 3,486 people (1,382 households) in the 2011 Census. Of these:

• 23.26% were under 16 years old and 12.62% were aged 65 and above.
• 50.06% of the population were male and 49.94% were female.
• 81.84% were from a Protestant background and 11.70% were from a Roman Catholic background

2001 Census

Tandragee is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,050 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,050 people living in Tandragee. Of these:

• 24.9% were aged under 16 years and 14.3% were aged 60 and over
• 48.0% of the population were male and 50.0% were female
• 86.9% were from a Protestant background and 10.5% were from a Roman Catholic background
• 2.0% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

See also

• The Tandragee Idol