Maghery

Maghery (from Irish an Machaire, meaning 'the plain')[1] is a small village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

In retaliation, the Orangemen 'completely wrecked' (burned to the ground) the Catholic village of Maghery[2] in the passive presence of Colonel Verner (a magistrate) and some of the constabulary police.

The following account of three of their submissions is taken from Two Hundred Years in the Citadel; a research paper by Dr Peter Mulholland, an anthropologist from the nearby town of [Portadown].

Yesterday, a serious party row took place at Maghery, a village situated on the shores of Lough Neagh, and distant about six miles (10 km) from Portadown.

A man named Thomas Irwin died a couple of days previously at his residence in the townland of Cranfield, and his remains were yesterday removed for interment in Milltown graveyard.

A regular riot ensued, and in the fight which followed it is alleged that some of the Orange Party who were attacked in this disgraceful manner described fired revolver shots at their assailants.

The peace officers subsequently found a loaded gun and powder cask convenient to the place where the shots were fired.

Eye-witnesses of the occurrence state that the attack on the funeral procession was thoroughly organised, and that the Nationalist mob fought fiercely and with determination.

The affair has naturally aroused considerable indignation and party feeling in the district surrounding Maghery, and the occurrence formed the sole subject of conversation in the neighbourhood yesterday and today.

Captain Slacke, Divisional Commissioner, and Mr. Warburton, county inspector, visited the scene of the occurrence today and made inquiries respecting the affray.

Maghery bridge was built to restore a link which was lost when the car ferry over the mouth of the River Blackwater at the south-west corner of Lough Neagh was withdrawn in the 1970s.

The River Blackwater is famed throughout Ireland for its big catches; boasting salmon, brown trout, pike, perch, roach, breem and eels.