Cullaville
Cullaville
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Population | 400 (2001 Census) |
| Irish grid reference | H910152 |
| • Belfast | 56 mi (90 km) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWRY |
| Postcode district | BT |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
Cullaville or Culloville (from Irish Baile Mhic Cullach, meaning "MacCullach's townland") is a small village and townland near Crossmaglen in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is the southernmost settlement in the county and one of the southernmost in Northern Ireland, straddling the Irish border. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 400 people. The village is on a busy crossroads on the main Dundalk to Castleblaney road (the A37 in Northern Ireland and N53 in the Republic); three of the roads lead across the border and the fourth leads to Crossmaglen.
History
- On 29 March 1922, during the Irish War of Independence, Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteers ambushed and shot dead two Royal Irish Constabulary men (Patrick Earley and James Harper) at Ballinacarry Bridge, Cullaville.[1]
- On 2 September 1942, during the Northern Campaign of the IRA, an attack was scheduled to take place against a British Army barracks in Crossmaglen. Twenty IRA volunteers were led by Patrick Demody in a commandeered lorry and accompanying car. A passing Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) patrol, however, noticed the IRA convoy as it moved through Cullaville and in the ensuing gun battle, one IRA man was injured along with one RUC member. Conflicting accounts exist of the outcome, one claiming that the IRA unit surrendered and was released, all survivors being allowed to return to Dublin; another claiming that it was the RUC men (there were only two of them) who surrendered to the IRA and were later released. In any case, the element of surprise was lost and the intention to attack the barracks was abandoned.
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in Cullaville, which includes a list of incidents in Cullaville during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
On 22 April 1993, the South Armagh IRA unit took control of the village for two hours, making good use of dead ground. The fact that the IRA executed the action despite the presence of a British Army watchtower nearby, caused outrage among Parliamentary circles both in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.[2][3]
Sport
The village is home to Cullaville Blues Gaelic Athletic Club. Tracing its origins to a club founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland. When there's grass on the field these boys play ball, a famous quote used by the team 'no smile till United ireland' this results in no member of any culloville squad smiling for a photograph
Transport
Cullaville's former railway station and post office are south of the River Fane, in County Monaghan.
References
- ^ "March 1922". Chronology of Irish History 1919 - 1923 (Dublin City University). Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ Transcripts of the Commons debate over the security situation in NI and the Cullaville incident (Column 196 in the first link and Column 184 in the second one):
- ^ Senead Éireann - 29 April 1993
