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| THE CITY OF ARMAGH. -Armagh, since the days of St. Patrick, in the Fifth Century, has been the primal see of Ireland, and the archbishop of Armagh is called the "Primate of all Ireland." The cathedral, founded by the great patron saint of the Irish people, is said to contain his ashes, and there also repose, tradition says, the relics of King Brian Boru and his gallant son, Morrough, both of whom died at Clontorf, A. D. 1014, "in the arms of victory." Gaelic archaeologists say that Ard-Macha-the Gaelic form of Armagh-means High-Field, becuase it is built on Dromsailech-"the Hill of Willows." Hugh O'Neill, the great Earl of Tyrone, took the city from the English by a daring stratagem in 1597. About two miles north by west of Armagh, on August 15th-some say the 10th-1598, was fought the great battle of the Yellow Ford-Gaelic, Beal-an-ath-a Buidhe-between the veteran English army of Marshal Sir Henry Bagenal, and the Irish clansmen of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, under Hugh O'Neill and Hugh Roe O'Donnell. This fight has been called "the Irish Bannockburn. The English left 3,500 knights and soldiers dead upon the field, including Marshal Bagenal himself, and lost, besides, all their cannon, small arms, baggage, colors, and treasure. It was, indeed, "a great day for Ireland." |
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