Editing County Armagh (section)

==History==
{{Historical populations
|state=collapsed
|1653|5904
|1659|6748
|1821|197427
|1831|220134
|1841|232393
|1851|196084
|1861|190086
|1871|179260
|1881|163177
|1891|143289
|1901|125392
|1911|120291
|1926|110070
|1937|108815
|1951|114154
|1961|117594
|1966|125164
|1971|133969
|1981|133230
|1991|141585
|2001|162957
|2011|174792
|2021|footnote=<ref>For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865.</ref><ref>[http://www.cso.ie/census Census for post 1821 figures.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/ |date=9 March 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org  |title=Histpop – The Online Historical Population Reports Website |date= |website=www.histpop.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census NISRA – Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (c) 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |date=17 February 2012 }}. Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk (27 September 2010). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Lee
|first=JJ
|editor-last=Goldstrom
|editor-first=J. M.
|editor2-last=Clarkson
|editor2-first=L. A.
|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
|year=1981
|publisher=Clarendon Press
|location=Oxford, England
|chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last1 = Mokyr
  | first1 = Joel
  | author-link = Joel Mokyr
  | last2 = O Grada
  | first2 = Cormac
  | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850
  | journal = The Economic History Review
  | volume =  37
  | issue =  4
  | pages = 473–488
  |date=November 1984
  | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 2012-12-04
  | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
  | hdl = 10197/1406
  | hdl-access = free
  }}</ref>
|194394}}

Ancient Armagh was the territory of the [[Ulaid]] (also known as Voluntii, Ultonians, Ulidians, Ulstermen) before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the [[Red Branch]], whose capital was [[Emain Macha]] (or Navan Fort) near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the [[goddess]] [[Macha]]. The Red Branch play an important role in the [[Ulster Cycle]], as well as the [[Táin Bó Cúailnge|Cattle Raid of Cooley]]. However, they were eventually driven out of the area by the Three Collas, who invaded in the 4th century and held power until the 12th. The Clan Colla ruled the area known as Airghialla or Oriel for these 800 years.

The chief [[Irish clan]]s of the county were descendants of the Collas, the O'Hanlons and [[Mac Cana]], and the [[Uí Néill]], the O'Neills of Fews. Armagh was divided into several baronies: Armagh was held by the O'Rogans, Lower Fews was held by O'Neill of the Fews, and Upper Fews were under governance of the O'Larkins, who were later displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland East was the territory of the O'Garveys, who were also displaced by the MacCanns. Oneilland West, like Oneilland East, was once O'Neill territory, until it was then held by the MacCanns, who were Lords of Clanbrassil. Upper and Lower Orior were O'Hanlon territory. Tiranny was ruled by Ronaghan. Miscellaneous tracts of land were ruled by O'Kelaghan. The area around the base of [[Slieve Gullion]] near Newry also became home to a large number of the Clan McGuinness as they were dispossessed of hereditary lands held in the [[County Down]].

[[St. Patrick]] is considered the first bishop of the Diocese of Armagh. The 9th-century Irish [[illuminated manuscript]] [[Book of Armagh]] (also known as the ''Cannon of Patrick'') contains accounts of Patricks' life, his Confessio and a complete New Testament.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=48 |isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}}</ref> The book is now held at the library of [[Trinity College Dublin]].

During the 17th and 18th centuries, County Armagh was a major center of [[guerrilla warfare]], [[cattle raiding]], and [[brigandage]] by local [[Rapparee]]s; including Count [[Redmond O'Hanlon (outlaw)|Redmond O'Hanlon]], Cormacke Raver O'Murphy, and [[Seamus McMurphy|Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh]].<ref>Tony Nugent (2013), ''Were You at the Rock? The History of Mass Rocks in Ireland'', Liffey Press, Dublin. Pages 32–39.</ref>

County Armagh is presently one of four [[Counties of Ireland|counties]] of Northern Ireland to have a majority of the population from a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] background, according to the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]].

===The Troubles===
{{Main|The Troubles in Armagh}}
The southern part of the county has been a stronghold of support for the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]], earning it the nickname "Bandit Country".<ref>{{cite news | title = Myth of Bandit Country | url = http://www.cuchulainntours.com/recent-history | publisher = Iarchimi Ard Mhacha Theas | date = 16 May 2014 | access-date = 16 May 2014 | location = Armagh | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152636/http://www.cuchulainntours.com/recent-history | archive-date = 17 May 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> South Armagh is predominantly [[Irish nationalist|nationalist]], with much of the population being opposed to any form of British presence, especially that of a [[British army|military]] nature. The most prominent opposition to British rule was the [[Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Pirates, Terrorists, and Warlords: The History, Influence, and Future of Armed Groups Around the World|editor1-first=Jeffrey|editor1-last=Norwitz|page=107|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-1-626-36987-0}}</ref>

On 10 March 2009, the [[Continuity Irish Republican Army]] (CIRA), a republican paramilitary group that emerged from a split in the Provisional IRA, claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of a [[Police Service of Northern Ireland|PSNI]] officer in [[Craigavon (planned town)|Craigavon]], County Armagh—the first police fatality in Northern Ireland since 1998. The officer was fatally shot by a sniper as he and a colleague investigated "suspicious activity" at a house nearby when a window was smashed by youths causing the occupant to phone the police. The PSNI officers responded to the emergency call, giving a CIRA sniper the chance to shoot and kill officer Stephen Carroll.<ref>{{cite news | title = Continuity IRA shot dead officer | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7934426.stm | work = BBC News | date = 10 March 2009 | access-date = 10 March 2009 | location = London | archive-date = 13 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210413171633/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7934426.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Continuity IRA claims PSNI murder |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html |publisher=[[RTÉ News and Current Affairs]] |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311135830/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/craigavon.html |archive-date=11 March 2009 }}</ref>