A look at Market Street in the early 1980s. The Northern Bank or Danske as it’s now known stands at the corner of Carnegie Street with Fa Joe’s Pub opposite. Further along Abbey National, VG Foods store and Carigins Children’s clothes shop. To the right we can see Wellworth's, one of the busiest store in the town, with McMurray’s newsagents at the corner of Castle Lane. Back over to the left-hand side and who remembers the Manhattan Restaurant owned and ran by Frank Fusco? When it opened it was the ‘bees-knees’ with surroundings, menu and service that was way ahead of it’s time. Last but not least the old toilet block in the centre that have long gone and replaced by modern art!placeholder image
A look at Market Street in the early 1980s. The Northern Bank or Danske as it’s now known stands at the corner of Carnegie Street with Fa Joe’s Pub opposite. Further along Abbey National, VG Foods store and Carigins Children’s clothes shop. To the right we can see Wellworth's, one of the busiest store in the town, with McMurray’s newsagents at the corner of Castle Lane. Back over to the left-hand side and who remembers the Manhattan Restaurant owned and ran by Frank Fusco? When it opened it was the ‘bees-knees’ with surroundings, menu and service that was way ahead of it’s time. Last but not least the old toilet block in the centre that have long gone and replaced by modern art!

26 photos of Lurgan in the 1980s when the town was bustling and the music was vibrant

By Carmel Robinson
Published 10th Jul 2025, 16:37 GMT

Lurgan in the 1980s was a bustling market town with lots of shops, plenty of bars and full of characters.

In the summer Lurgan pool was full of children and everyone looked forward to Lurgan Show and Lurgan Park Car Rally.

It was a time when we were swept up by Live Aid and a bunch of lads created Lurgan’s Folk Aid to raise vital funds. Others had charity ‘knit ins’ and bed pushes.

Gerard Skelton’s had all the tickets to the best gigs and ran fantastic trips to football matches and more. The Silverwood Hotel, or the Country Club, was the in-spot with many a one spotted doing the wobbly walk home down the Lough Road.

Snooker clubs and darts teams were the big pull for many and fishing was a great past time. Youth Clubs were the place to be especially in the summer.

Huge thanks to the kindness of Old Lurgan Photos for sharing their photographs of times gone by.

Tullygally Youth Club in 1982 - there was a wealth of talent and lots of activities at this popular youth club.

9. Tullygally Youth Club

Tullygally Youth Club in 1982 - there was a wealth of talent and lots of activities at this popular youth club. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos

A view along High Street, Lurgan in the 1980's. Plenty of shops open and lots of parking spaces.

10. Lurgan was a great shopping town in the 80s

A view along High Street, Lurgan in the 1980's. Plenty of shops open and lots of parking spaces. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos

A photo from Lurgan Park Show in 1980 that will bring back happy memories to Lurgan kids. The old ‘Swing Boat’ in the Park. Would it get a pass from today's health and safety officer? A long heavy wooden beam painted in green and red with handles in the middle to grip… poles at each end where two kids did the hard work using their energy to pull and push to gain momentum. When this swing got going….flying from end to end and the idea was to see how high and fast it could go. There was screams of laughter and screams of fear. There would always be one who would be shouting…’let me off, let me off’. It certainly was a ‘white knuckle ride’. Onlookers knew not to stand at either end. An encounter with the Swing Boat would have knocked you into Kingdom Come! Those were great days.

11. Swing Boat in Lurgan Park

A photo from Lurgan Park Show in 1980 that will bring back happy memories to Lurgan kids. The old ‘Swing Boat’ in the Park. Would it get a pass from today's health and safety officer? A long heavy wooden beam painted in green and red with handles in the middle to grip… poles at each end where two kids did the hard work using their energy to pull and push to gain momentum. When this swing got going….flying from end to end and the idea was to see how high and fast it could go. There was screams of laughter and screams of fear. There would always be one who would be shouting…’let me off, let me off’. It certainly was a ‘white knuckle ride’. Onlookers knew not to stand at either end. An encounter with the Swing Boat would have knocked you into Kingdom Come! Those were great days. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos

Do you remember the bank strike in the late 1980’s? People were afraid they’d lose their money, so they queued outside each bank in town. This photo shows the queues outside the Ulster Bank and Allied Irish banks. Sadly both banks are now gone from town.

12. Bank run in Lurgan

Do you remember the bank strike in the late 1980’s? People were afraid they’d lose their money, so they queued outside each bank in town. This photo shows the queues outside the Ulster Bank and Allied Irish banks. Sadly both banks are now gone from town. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos

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