Newtownhamilton

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Newtownhamilton
Irish: An Baile Úr
County Armagh
Location
Grid reference: H930278
Location: 54°11’26"N, 6°34’35"W
Data
Population: 2,836  (2011)
Postcode: BT35
Dialling code: 028
Local Government
Parliamentary
constituency:
Newry & Armagh

Newtownhamilton, sometimes referred to as Newtown, is a small village and parish in County Armagh. It lies in Tullyvallan townland. The parish is within the barony of Fews Upper.[1] In the 2011 Census it had 2,836 inhabitants.

The village is built around two narrow main streets (Armagh Street and Dundalk Street) and a town square (The Square). Other places include Newry Street, Castleblaney Street (known locally as 'Blaney Hill'), Shambles Lane (known locally as the 'back street') and The Commons. Residential areas are Dungormley Estate, Meadowvale and the Nine Mile Road.

Name

Before the Plantation of Ulster the area of Newtownhamilton was known as Tullyvallan. This is derived from the Irish language, either Tulaigh Mhalainn or Tulach Uí Mhealláin.

The modern Irish name of Newtownhamilton is An Baile Úr, literally translating as "the new town"; a rarely used alternative is Baile Úr Uí Urmoltaigh ("the new town of Hamilton"). The local authority, has erected bilingual welcome signs (reading Fáilte go dtí An Baile Úr / Welcome to Newtownhamilton) at the town end points on Newry Road and Dundalk Road, both in the perceived nationalist areas of Newtownhamilton, while a sign in English only was erected on Armagh Road, a perceived unionist area of the village. It is not known if this reflects official council policy.

History

The village takes its name from Alexander Hamilton, a descendant of the John Hamilton from Scotland who founded Hamiltonsbawn in 1619. The parish was created in 1773 out of the neighbouring parish of Creggan.

Parish of Newtownhamilton

The parish contains the village of Newtownhamilton.[1]

Townlands

The parish contains the following townlands:[1]

References

Sources