Dateline of Ireland, Armagh, and Keady History.
Dateline of Ireland, Armagh, and Keady History.
Dateline of Ireland, Armagh, and Keady History.
4000 to 2500 BC
Flint tools and shards of pottery show activity at the site in the Neolithic Evidence of life at Navan Fort
2350 or 1732
Nemed’s wife Macha dies twelve days after they arrived and is buried at Ard Mhacha (Armagh). Two quite different dates are given for the arrival of Muintir Nemid: 2350 BC, according to the Annals of the Four Masters; or 1731 BC in Seathrún Céitinn's chronology.
Four lakes burst from the ground in Nemed's time, including Loch Annind, which flowed up when Annind's grave was being dug. The other three lakes are Loch Cál in Uí Nialláin, Loch Munremair in Luigne, and Loch Dairbrech in Mide.
The Muintir Nemid clear twelve plains: Mag Cera, Mag Eba, Mag Cuile Tolaid and Mag Luirg in Connacht; Mag Seired in Tethbae; Mag Tochair in Tír Eoghain; Mag Selmne in Dál nAraidi; Mag Macha in Airgíalla; Mag Muirthemne in Brega; Mag Bernsa in Leinster; Leccmag and Mag Moda in Munster.
They also build two royal forts: Ráth Chimbaith in Semne and Ráth Chindeich in Uí Nialláin. Ráth Chindeich was dug in one day by Boc, Roboc, Ruibne, and Rotan, the four sons of Matan Munremar. Nemed kills them before dawn the next morning.
Nemed wins four battles against the mysterious Fomorians (Fomoire). Modern scholars believe the Fomorians were a group of deities who represent the harmful or destructive powers of nature: personifications of chaos, darkness, death, blight, and drought.
3100 BC to 1000 BC
In the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a medieval Irish Christian pseudo-history, the Milesians or sons of Míl are the final race to settle in Ireland. They represent the Irish people. The Milesians are Gaels who sail to Ireland from Iberia (Hispania) after spending hundreds of years travelling the earth. When they land in Ireland they contend with the Tuatha Dé Danann, who represent the Irish pantheon of gods. The two groups agree to divide Ireland between them: the Milesians take the world above, while the Tuath Dé take the world below (i.e. the Otherworld).
1542 BC.
According to Irish Mythology, the Callan was one of the three "black rivers of Ireland" which burst forth in prehistoric times, said to be A.M. 3565, anno mundi; or 3.565 years after the Creation (about 1542 BC) The other two rivers mentioned are the Oona in Tyrone and the Forann in Armagh (see JSTOR and also record M3656.2 at LINK).
1st century BC to 3rd century.
2nd century BC.
The Black Pig’s Dyke is built.
2nd century BC.
The Dorsey is built.
331AD.
The Three Collas destroy Navan Fort after The Battle of Achaidh Leithdeircc, it is never used again.
445AD.
Patrick builds his church on the High Hill of Armagh.
7th century.
Armagh had become the site of the most important church, monastery and monastic school in the north of Ireland.
9th century.
The Book of Armagh was produced in the monastery in the early 9th century and contains some of the oldest surviving specimens of Old Irish.
846AD.
Niall of the Callan was buried at Armagh in 846 after drowning in the River Callan Armagh was at the heart of the kingdom of the Airthir, a part of the Airgíalla federation. The church at Armagh looked to both the Airthir and neighbouring Uí Néill for patronage. The Uí Néill High King, Niall Caille (Niall of the Callan), was buried at Armagh in 846 after drowning in the River Callan. His son, High King Áed Findliath, had a house at Armagh.
832.
The first Viking raids on Armagh were recorded in 832, with three in one month, and it suffered at least ten Viking raids over the following century. A hoard seemingly lost by Vikings in the River Blackwater shows the high quality of metalwork being made in Armagh at this time.
1004.
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, visited Armagh in 1004, acknowledging it as the head church of Ireland and bestowing it a large sum of gold.
1014.
Brian Boru was buried at Armagh cathedral after his death at the Battle of Clontarf. His funeral procession is said to have passed through Keady.
1111.
Armagh's claim to being the head church of Ireland was formally acknowledged at the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111. All English slaves in the island freed by the Council of Armagh.
1185 to 1189.
Following the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, Armagh was attacked by Anglo-Normans led by Philip de Worcester in 1185 and by John de Courcy in 1189.
1196 and 1199.
Raided by Ruaidrí mac Duinn Sléibe of Ulaid in 1196 and 1199.
1268.
Archbishop Máel Patraic Ua Scannail rebuilt Armagh cathedral in 1268 and founded a Franciscan friary, whose remains can still be seen.
16th century.
There was also a small Culdee community in Armagh until the 16th century.
16th century.
1545.
The foundations of the town were possibly laid with the coming of Owen MacHugh O’Neill in 1545.
"At this time the Tyronne O’Neills entered the Fews through Middletown and Madden and left distinctive inheritance in Keady – two sons, Cairbre and Aobh.
The townland southwest of the village, Rathcarbery is translated as the “Fort of Cairbre”. Keady’s main street, Kinelowen means the “seed of owen” and the most popular local surname Hughes is a derivative of Aobh the anglicised name being Hugh."
1598,
The Battle of the Yellow Ford. Also, see O’Neill Country.
1607.
1610 to 1641.
1641.
"The earliest reference to Keady … is in a letter from "Symon Richardson" of Keady Co. Armagh" to Provost Steele of Trinity College Dublin and dated April 18th 1674.
1649 – 1653.
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland or Cromwellian war in Ireland (1649–1653) was the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell
1674.
"The earliest reference to Keady … is in a letter from "Symon Richardson" of Keady Co. Armagh" to Provost Steele of Trinity College Dublin and dated April 18th 1674.
1690.
1750.
Some enterprising Englishmen, who formed a large bleaching establishment here about the year 1750, and laid the foundation of the linen trade, previously to which the whole of the surrounding country was little better than an uncultivated heath.
"Keady Mill was built in the 1750s as a "Baronial cornmill" i.e. all the tenant farmers of the barony were obliged to take their corn to this mill. A 20ft head of water from Clay River powered 2 breast shot water wheels, one of 16ft diameter by 3ft 6 inches wide and one of 15ft diameter and 3 ft wide giving a total output of 5 horsepower.
1776.
"By 1804 the town consisted of Church Street, Main Street and Madden Row with a lane, (Drury Lane) now Davis Street leading up to the original Presbyterian church which was built in 1776."
1795.
The Battle of The Diamond and the formation of the Orange Order.
1820s.
Darkley Mill is built.
1826.
In 1826, the Messrs. Sadler, of Leeds, erected a very extensive establishment at Dundrum, and were the first who attempted to make linen from mill-spun yarn, and who introduced the manufacture of fine linen into this neighbourhood. Since that period, the increase of the trade has been very rapid. There are some very large mills for spinning flax at New Holland and Darkley, in which 780 persons (principally young females) are constantly employed; an extensive manufactory for fine linen has been established at Ballier, affording employment to 2500 persons; another for sheeting at Dundrum, and bleach-greens at Annvale, Greenmount, Dundrum, Ballier, Millview, Darkley, and Linenvale, where about 235,000 pieces of linen are annually finished, principally for the English market.
1836.
In 1836 ownership was under Councillor Kidd of Keady. By 1862 the mill had been converted to flax spinning under the direction of James McKean Jr and the water wheels had been replaced by one wheel measuring 28ft in diameter and 6ft wide, with the addition of a 15 horsepower steam engine and a 90ft high chimney serving the boiler house. The wheel and engine powered 1808 spindles; 2 hacking frames; 4 rowing frames; 6 drawing frames and 2 carding machines in the mill."
1837.
William Kirk bought over the Annvale factory.
1845.
William Kirk inherits Darkley Mill after his brother in law’s death.
1845 - 1852.
The Great Famine or Great Hunger.
1879.
The mill ceased operation as a spinning mill and remained closed for 12 years.
1891.
The mill reopened as a weaving factory under the auspices of Keady Linen Company.
1909.
The railway from Armagh reaches Keady.
1910.
Railway extended to Castleblayney.
1914 – 1918.
1916.
1922.
1927.
The mill closed operations as a weaving factory.
1939 – 1945.
1950s.
Bought over by Harry Clarke. The lower floors were used to make egg packing boxes and the upper levels used as chicken houses for egg production.
1957.
Keady Railway Closes.
1959.
Darkley Mill closes.
1970s.
Keady Mill is Closed.
1970s.
Annvale Mill is Closed.
1992.
Restoration work began by Keady & District Community Initiative to restore the mill to its former glory and open it as an interpretive centre, community offices, shop and restaurant.
2009.
The mill wheel was restored, and Vincey O'Connor posted a video of the mill wheel in action in 2009, you can watch it at YouTube.
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