From its legacy as a linen town, Lurgan evolved as a great manufacturing town with great facilities such as Lurgan Park. Despite the bad times, its people are some of the most charitable in the world, neighbourly and kindly. The town has been blessed with beautiful churches and great schools. Lurgan is home to some of the best of musical talent from traditional Irish music to rock and roll. There is also Lurgan Champagne and who remembers the old toilets in the centre of town. Many of our old buildings where memories are made have now gone such as the old Lyric Cinema in Union Street but many remain. Grateful to Old Lurgan Photos for their help on this project.
13. Lurgan Mechanics Institute - or The Big Blue Church in the town centre
Lurgan Mechanics Institute - or The Big Blue Church in the town centre - is a popular venue for many locals. Originally set up as a learning institution often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more knowledgeable and skilled employees, the Institute now is a thriving social club with bar and restaurant. Originally this two storey building with basement, was opened in 1858 at a cost of £1,400. The building originally had a good library, reading rooms and rooms for evening classes. The clock tower provides a vertical accent in the heart of the town. The large rectangular Victorian post box at the front was probably originally built into a wall. Photo: Google
14. Lurgan is full of talented musicians and singers with many bands and artists emanating from the town
Lurgan is full of many talented musicians and singers. Here is a photo of Black Gold made up of Jim Greene, Gerdy Halfpenny, Gerard O'Neill and Hugh Blaney which have been going since the 1980s. Others from the town include talented traditional Irish musicians such as Patsy Crossey and Barry Kerr as well as session musicians who play across the town and beyond regularly. Rockers such as Harry Hamilton of Flash Harry fame and The Bonnevilles also come from Lurgan as well as many in the showband era such as Harry ‘Trixie’ Hamilton, The Troubadors and Shaendoah as well as Dennis Doran. There are far too many talented artists to mention - a testament to how much arts, culture and music means to the local people. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos