The locals are kind and generous as well as friendly and chatty. If you walk down the streets of Lurgan or Portadown, people will nod, say hello, toot their horn or give a wee wave. We all love a good gabble. And despite our differences over the decades we are good and supportive neighbours.
Music is steeped in the soul of the people of Co Armagh from traditional Irish music to flute and accordion bands as well as plenty of rock and roll, indie and soul. With great local bands such as Flash Harry, Billy Elvis, The Bonnevilles, Decky McKerr and Black Gold, Lurgan town is full of talent. In Portadown we recently lost rock legend Les Binks of Judas Priest.
We have the most beautiful countryside, parks and the incredible Lough Neagh on our doorstep. There is the magnificent Lurgan Park and the People’s Park in Portadown but also Maghery Country Park and Oxford Island as well as the renowned Peatlands Park nearby.
We have some of the best businesses in NI from Almac in Craigavon which employs thousands of local people to Moy Park in Portadown not to mention Rushmere Shopping Centre.
And plenty of home grown businesses such as Sona Kitchens in Portadown, Foxberry Strawberry Farm, Derrytrasna and McKeever’s Sports in Lurgan as well as Wilson’s Country in Portadown and Viet By Vee restaurant plus many more.
How amazing to have Craigavon Area Hospital on our doorstep. Despite its dated buildings and over-crowded Emergency Department, surgeons, doctors and nurses as well as all the fantastic ancillary staff continue to provide some of the best care possible. There are issues and appointments are not easy to come by, however all in all, it is an amazing service and requires more investment.
One thing that irritates me most is the lack of investment in mental health services, particularly for our children and young people. Compounded with years of neglect and an explosion in illegal drugs across the area, mental health workers both in the Bluestone Unit and in the community are struggling to cope with the demand for services.
5. Portadown Plaza is a beautiful spot to people watch
The plaza at St Mark's Church in Portadown is also a lovely spot to sit and watch the world go by. The seats there are often used by people to take a rest while out shopping and to catch up with friends and family. It's a friendly town where the local butchers' shops and bakeries are some of the friendliest in the country. Photo: Google
6. Portadown legend Les Binks
A Portadown native, Les Binks was a member of the iconic heavy rock bank Judas Priest. Aged 73, he died in March this year. He was inducted into the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Theo Wargo / Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Photo: Theo Wargo / Getty Images
7. Lurgan legends Black Gold
Black Gold was set up in Lurgan in the 80s by local lads Gerdy Halfpenny, Hugh Blaney, Gerard O'Neill and Jim Greene. In their youth they practiced in Jim Greene's parents' garage before hitting the pubs and clubs of Lurgan and beyond. One of many bands which were established in the 1980s, Black Gold is still going strong today with regular gigs across the county and further afield. Photo: Old Lurgan Photos
8. Mud bath at the N. Ireland Bog Snorkelling Championships held at Peatland Park.
Mud bath...mother and daughter Jemma Woods and Louise Proctor had a great time at the N. Ireland Bog Snorkelling Championships held at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh. Photo: Adrian Robinson