Scarva

Last updated

Scarva
St. Matthews (COI) Scarva - geograph.org.uk - 1342710.jpg
St Matthew's Church of Ireland, Scarva
County Down UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Scarva
Location within County Down
Population320 (2001 Census)
Irish grid reference J063436
  Belfast 25 mi (40 km)
District
County
Country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CRAIGAVON
Postcode district BT63
Dialling code 028
Police Northern Ireland
Fire Northern Ireland
Ambulance Northern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Down
54°19′54″N6°21′53″W / 54.3317°N 6.3646°W / 54.3317; -6.3646

Scarva (from Irish Scarbhach meaning "shallow place, rough ford") [1] [2] is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is at the boundary with County Armagh, which is marked by the Newry Canal. In the 2001 census it had a population of 320.

Contents

Scarva is home to the "Sham Fight" Pageant which is held on 13 July every year. [3] The pageant attracts thousands of members of the Royal Black Preceptory, a group related to the Orange Order, who come to march and stage a theatrical (sham) re-enactment of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. [4]

History

During the Williamite War in Ireland (1689–1691), the forces of Frederick Schomberg reputedly first camped near Scarva, before marching south. [5]

Much of the village was laid-out by John Reilly, owner of Scarvagh House, in the mid-18th century. [5] This included the construction of Scarva's Presbyterian meeting house, [5] which was built in 1753. [6]

In the late 18th century, there were skirmishes in the area involving the Hearts of Steel and Break-of-day Boys. [5]

Transport

Scarva railway station opened on 23 March 1859. [7]

Scarva is on National Cycle Route 9, linking Belfast with Newry, and onwards to Dublin.[ citation needed ]

Amenities

Scarva's main street, 2009 Scarva Main Street - geograph.org.uk - 1272382.jpg
Scarva's main street, 2009

The village has a park, with playing fields and a wildlife pond, scenic walks and wild fowl sanctuary. [8]

The local primary school, Scarva Primary School, had an enrollment of 61 pupils as of 2011. [9]

Sport

The local football club is Scarva Rangers, formed in 1972. Home matches are played at Scarva Park.

People

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omagh</span> County town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. Northern Ireland's capital city, Belfast, is 68 miles (109.5 km) to the east of Omagh, and Derry is 34 miles (55 km) to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newry</span> City in Armagh and Down, Northern Ireland

Newry is a city in Northern Ireland, standing on the Clanrye river in counties Down and Armagh. It is near the border with the Republic of Ireland, on the main route between Belfast and Dublin. The population was 27,913 in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portadown</span> Town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 24 mi (39 km) southwest of Belfast. It is in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area and had a population of about 32,000 at the 2021 Census. For some purposes, Portadown is treated as part of the "Craigavon Urban Area", alongside Craigavon and Lurgan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warrenpoint</span> Port town in County Down, Northern Ireland

Warrenpoint is a small port town and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits at the head of Carlingford Lough, south of Newry, and is separated from the Republic of Ireland by a narrow strait. The town is beside the village of Rostrevor and is overlooked by the Mournes and Cooley Mountains. Warrenpoint sprang up within the townland of Ringmackilroy, and is locally nicknamed "The Point", which also represents the town's full name in Irish, An Pointe".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rostrevor</span> Village in County Down, Northern Ireland

Rostrevor is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the foot of Slieve Martin on the coast of Carlingford Lough, near Warrenpoint. The Kilbroney River flows through the village and Rostrevor Forest is nearby. 7.5 miles (12 km) south-east of Newry, the village is within the Newry, Mourne and Down local government district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bessbrook</span> Village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Bessbrook is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles (5 km) northwest of Newry and near the Newry bypass on the main A1 Belfast-Dublin road and Belfast-Dublin railway line. Today the village of Bessbrook straddles the three townlands of Maghernahely, Clogharevan and Maytown. Bessbrook is near Newry railway station. It had a population of 2,892 at the 2021 Census. The model village of Bessbrook, County Armagh is a visible memorial to the commercial endeavours of the Richardson family over a number of generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saintfield</span> Human settlement in Northern Ireland

Saintfield is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. It had a population of 3,588 in the 2021 Census, made up mostly of commuters working in both south and central Belfast, which is about 18 km away. The population of the surrounding countryside is mostly involved in farming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbridge (district)</span> District of Northern Ireland (1973–2015)

Banbridge was a local government district in Northern Ireland. The district was one of 26 council areas formed on 1 October 1973, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972. The headquarters of the council were in the town of Banbridge. In April 2015, most of the Banbridge district was included in the merged Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. Some smaller areas in the east of the district became merged with the Newry, Mourne and Down District

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castledawson</span> Village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Castledawson is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is mostly within the townland of Shanemullagh, about four miles from the north-western shore of Lough Neagh, and near the market town of Magherafelt. In the 2011 Census, it had a population of 2,289.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiteabbey</span> Townland in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Whiteabbey is a townland in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rathfriland</span> Town in County Down, Northern Ireland

Rathfriland is a market town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Newry town centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballygowan</span> Village in County Down, Northern Ireland

Ballygowan is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Ards and North Down Borough. The town of Comber is a short distance to the north-east, the town of Saintfield to the south, and the city of Belfast further to the north-west. It is within the civil parishes of Killinchy and Comber and is split between the historic baronies of Castlereagh Lower and Castlereagh Upper. It had a population of 3,138 people in the 2021 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loughbrickland</span> Village in County Down, Northern Ireland

Loughbrickland is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland, south of Banbridge on the main Belfast to Dublin road. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 693. Loughbrickland is within the Banbridge District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richhill, County Armagh</span> Village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Richhill is a large village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies between Armagh and Portadown. It had a population of 2,738 people in the 2021 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast–Newry line</span>

The Belfast–Newry line operates from Lisburn station in County Antrim to Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland. The manager for this line is based at Portadown railway station, although the line extends to the border to include the Scarva and Poyntzpass halts and Newry. Newry is on the fringe of the network, being the last stop before the border with the Republic of Ireland. The line follows the route of the northern half of the main Dublin–Belfast line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarva railway station</span> Railway station in Northern Ireland

Scarva railway station serves Scarva in County Down, Northern Ireland. Despite serving the County Down village, the station itself is in County Armagh, the nearby Newry Canal being the boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belleeks</span> Village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Belleeks is a small village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2011 Census it had a reported population of 375. It lies within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area and the historic barony of Upper Fews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbridge</span> Town in County Down, Northern Ireland

Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road and is named after a bridge built over the River Bann in 1712. It is situated in the civil parish of Seapatrick and the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half. The town began as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing. The town was home to the headquarters of the former Banbridge District Council. Following a reform of local government in Northern Ireland in 2015, Banbridge became part of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. It had a population of 17,400 in the 2021 census.

The High Sheriff of Down is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Down. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poyntzpass</span> Village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Poyntzpass is a small village on the border between southern County Armagh and County Down in Northern Ireland. It is situated in the civil parish of Ballymore and the historic barony of Orior Lower within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area. It had a population of 552 people in the 2011 census. It was a part of the South Armagh constituency and is now part of the Newry and Armagh constituency.

References

  1. Placenames NI Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. "Crowds gather for Scarva's 'Sham fight'". Belfast Telegraph. 13 July 2002. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  4. "Sham Fight draws thousands to Scarva parade". BBC. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Lewis, Samuel, ed. (1837). "Scarvagh". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland . Lewis.
  6. "Ulster's Changing Borders" (PDF). February 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2023. Scarva Presbyterian Meeting House is a T-shaped stone building built [..] in 1753, by Mr. Reilly, owner of Scarva House
  7. "Scarva station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  8. "Scarva Park".
  9. "Primary Inspection Report - Scarva Primary School, Craigavon" (PDF). Education and Training Inspectorate. September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2024.