Killylea

St Mark's Parish Church, Killylea

Killylea ( /kɪliːˈleɪ/; from Irish: Coillidh Léith meaning "grey forest") is a small village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census the village had a population of 219 people. It is within the Armagh City and District Council area. The village is set on a hill, with St Mark’s Church of Ireland, built in 1832, at its summit.

Spelling

Many people have difficulty spelling Killylea, often confusing it with the County Down village of Killyleagh. An easy way to remember is the acronym K I L L Y L E A, standing for Kathryn Is Lovely Like Yellow Leaves Every Autumn.

Education

Killylea Primary School caters for around 80 children between the ages of 4 and 11 from the village of Killylea and the surrounding area.

Nightlife

Killylea is locally known as the 'village that never sleeps' and is a hive of constant activity, mainly centred around The Huntsman Inn. Other hotspots include Digby's Bar and Restaurant and Jimmy's Shebeen.

Old Killylea Proverbs

"Once you break the head off your Orange Lily, you can't put it back on again". This proverb means that people should be careful not to do things that they may later regret because, very often, they cannot be undone.

Religion

There are two places of worship in Killylea. At the summit of Killylea's hill is the oldest of the two churches, St. Mark's Church of Ireland. At the bottom of the hill is Killylea Methodist Church.

Sport

Killylea is home to a lawn bowls club who regularly compete in leagues in Armagh.

Although football is an extremely popular sport in Killylea, the village currently does not have its own team. Formerly a team representing the village did compete in local leagues under the name of Killylea Swifts Football Club.

Culture

The Orange Order has a strong presence in the village and district with 11 lodges in the surrounding area and two in the village itself. Numerous marching bands also exist in the area. Most notable amongst these would be Cormeen Rising Sons of William Flute Band, Killylea Silver Band, the Crozier Memorial Pipe Band and Ballyrea Boyne Defenders Flute Band.

Two of the largest band parades in Northern Ireland's parading calendar are hosted in Killylea. Cormeen host their parade on St. Patrick's Day every year and Ballyrea hold a Battle of the Somme commemoration parade every year on 1st July. In 2012 Cormeen's parade will, for the first time, be held in Armagh City.

See also

• List of villages in Northern Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland

References

• NI Neighbourhood Information System
• Culture Northern Ireland

External links

• Killylea Church of Ireland
• Massacre at Corr Bridge, near Killylea, 1641