To download a street map of Armagh City, please click here (1.1MB).

• Armagh City and District is located in the geographical heartland of Northern Ireland, a beautiful rural, historic area served by the main motorway network in Northern Ireland, with major road links to the business capitals of Belfast and Dublin.

• Belfast International Airport - 45 minutes away from the City; Dublin Airport - 70 minutes; Port of Larne - 75 minutes; Port of Belfast - 50 minutes.

"The City of Armagh ..... is the capital of the county of Armagh, in the province of Ulster, and the ecclesiastical metropolis of Ireland ... The surrounding country is highly cultivated, agreeably diversified with hill and dale and rich with rural scenery, pleasing, picturesque and varied." These words in Stuarts famous work "Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh" captures the charm and nature of this ancient, whilst progressive City and District.

For almost 4,000 years, Armagh has held a pre-eminent position. It is famed in legend and folklore as the seat of kings and the chosen site for St Patrick to become the centre of the Christian religion in his era. For almost 1,000 years, Armagh was the City of Saints and Scholars, producing some of the finest scholars in Britain and Ireland with such works as the Book of Armagh influenced the spread of Christianity throughout Northern Europe.

The architecture which this generation has inherited has conferred upon the City a unique character. Armagh has many graceful buildings.

The city was the birthplace of the distinguished 18th century architect Francis Johnston who ensured Georgian Dublin's fame. Encouraged by Archbishop Robinson and other wealthy patrons Johnston endowed Armagh with its Georgian Mall, it classical Courthouse, Archbishop's Palace and Chapel, its Observatory and Royal School.

Armagh is the centre of a district so fertile that it is called the Orchard of Ireland. In May and June signposts guide the motorists through the orchards. Fishing in the lakes and rivers provide tremendous sport in areas of scenic beauty Armagh is a district of diversity.

It's primatial city, towns and villages reflect in their names, their buildings and their economic structure, their own historical past.

Here are 4 architecturally significant buildings of Armagh City: -

I . The Obelisk - erected in 1783 it commemorates Archbishop Robinson's patron , the Duke of Northumberland. On 2 sides of the pedestal are the Royal Arms and the Arms of Northumberland. On the other 2 sides are inscriptions. The main body carries the Arms of the Sea and those of Richard Robinson, Lord Rokeby. It's symbol forms the main part of the Club's emblem.

II. The Palace - commissioned in 1770 by Archbishop Robinson as his new Primate's Palace. The architect for the imposing building was Thomas Cooley, with later additions in 1825, by Francis Johnston. The building was too large and in much need of restoration when the Church decided to sell to the local Council in the mid 1970s. The Council set about restoring the building to its former glory but at the same time, making it a working building. It now houses the District Council Offices. The public are now able to make use of the beautiful grounds, which were part of the Palace boundary and can tour the other buildings situated in the demesne.

III. The Church of Ireland Cathedral - a focus of the City for over 700 years. Saint Patrick (445A.D.) was believed to have founded a Christian Church on this site. The main architect of the Church was Archbishop O Scannail who re-built the Church between 1268-1270 but the outward appearance today was the legacy of Archbishop J G Beresford and architect Louis Nockalls Cottingham who refurbished it in 1834. A striking building and a sight to behold when the early evening sunset disappears behind it. In the ancient graveyard a slab commemorates the burial site of High King Brian Boru.

IV. The Roman Catholic Cathedral - commissioned in 1840 by the architect Thomas J Duff. chose English Gothic for as his style for this fine building built from locally quarried stone. Duff died in 1848 and Joseph J McCarthy, who decided to remodel the building on the continental Gothic design, then completed the building. It was dedicated for use in 1873. The grounds house the Synod Hall and Sacristy and the local Catholic Grammar School, Saint Patrick's College.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral re-opened in June 2003 after extensive re-furbishment and restoration. The following is an article which appeared in ArmaghOnline at the time:

Cathedral dedication red letter day for Armagh By The Ulster Gazette May 30, 2003, 14:21