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Moira is a small town in the north-west of County Down, near its border with counties Antrim and Armagh.

It is situated along the River Lagan and close to Lough Neagh, with good transportation links via the M1 motorway and the Belfast-Dublin rail line. Moira is about 13 miles south-west of Belfast and roughly midway between Belfast and Armagh. Its elevated position on Moira Hill offers views of the surrounding countryside, a factor that has influenced its strategic importance since ancient times.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Moira has been inhabited for thousands of years. Crannog at Drumbane, a man-made island dwelling in a bog, dates back to prehistoric times. Several ringforts (raths) survive, including the Rough Fort on Old Kilmore Road, and Pretty Mary's Fort behind Glebe Gardens. Even older than the ringforts, the Neolithic Henge at Claremont dates to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. The earthwork was likely used for ritual gatherings. Additionally, a Roman coin from the reign of Vespasian (AD 70-79) was unearthed at Moira before World War I, and now housed in the Ulster Museum.

Moira's name is derived from Maigh Rath, meaning either "plain of the ringforts" or "plain of the wheels."

Not a lot is known of the medieval period in Moira. The town and surrounding region were under the control of the O'Lavery Clan for an extended period. They were Catholic families who held power in large parts of Armagh. There were few towns, few roads, and much of the region was heavily wooded.

However, the subjugation of Ulster by the armies of Elizabeth I significantly reduced the power of the Gaelic hierarchs, the O'Laverys included. But it was their participation in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 that doomed their dominance. English authorities crushed the rebellion, and vast amounts of native Irish property was confiscated. As a direct result, the Protestant plantations of Ulster, which had begun in 1606, were accelerated. Today, Catholics account for less than 20% of Moira's population.

Major George Rawdon, a wealthy man from Rawdon, Yorkshire, settled in Moira in 1631. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, he and two hundred English soldiers helped re-secure Moira and the surrounding area for England.

In 1651, Major de Burgh purchased a small estate and built a brick home in Moira. This property was subsequently acquired by Rawdon, along with large amounts of land in the area. In 1665, he was created a baronet by Charles II, and later became a Member of Parliament.

Sir Arthur Rawdon, the son of George Rawdon, inherited the brick manor house his father had purchased and expanded it, creating Moira Castle, which was actually a mansion with extensive gardens. Later baronets from the Rawdon family maintained the gardens for generations. A later relative, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, became the Earl of Moira. Busy with affairs in London, he neglected the gardens in the Moira estate, allowing them to decline into decay.

The 2nd Earl was raised to a higher rank in 1816, when he was created Marquess of Hastings, subordinating the Moira title. Lord Hastings was the last member of the Rawdon family to reside in Moira Castle, which he had always used as a secondary residence anyhow. In 1805, he sold it to Sir Robert Bateson, who also did not use it as a primary residence. As a result, Moira's status declined considerably.

Development in Moira continued, however. A canal was built to the north, and a Market Hall was completed in 1810. In 1841, a railway station was constructed, which is now the oldest such structure on the island of Ireland. Moira Castle was demolished during the Victorian Era, and only a few gate stumps remain.

Moira was relatively uneventful for most of the 20th century, although it did not escape the period of conflict known as The Troubles. On 20 February 1998, dissident republicans detonated a car bomb outside the police station, injuring eleven people and causing extensive damage.

Moira was once a linen manufacturing hub, with weaving, bleaching, and selling taking place locally. The industry thrived under the patronage of Sir John Rawdon and the 1st Earl of Moira. Limestone quarrying was also an essential part of the town's economy.

The linen trade has long declined. Today, Moira is largely a commuter town for Belfast and Lisburn, with a growing service sector, hospitality venues, and small-scale manufacturing. Its location on major transport routes has made it attractive for residential development and local commerce.

Moira Demesne, once the seat of the Earls of Moira, is now a wooded parkland with rare trees planted in the 18th century. Other historic attractions include Rough Fort, Pretty Mary's Fort, Claremont Henge, and Waringfield House. Main Street is a well-kept street with Georgian and Victorian architecture dating to the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

 

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