Walking near and and Camlough near Walking

which involved dragging the the dragging involved which ensure the best crop sowing had had sowing crop best the ensure are associated with igneous activity activity igneous with associated are

www.ringofgullion.org . Lisburn. in bundles. Rippling was next, next, was Rippling bundles. in was a skilled business in itself - to to - itself in business skilled a was the rocks of Camlough Mountain Mountain Camlough of rocks the

a number of mills in Lambeg, near near Lambeg, in mills of number a continuous thread. continuous then gathering and stacking it it stacking and gathering then seed would be sown by hand. This This hand. by sown be would seed of the present day Atlantic Ocean, Ocean, Atlantic day present the of

Gullion!

linen manufacturing company with with company manufacturing linen and pulled into one long, long, one into pulled and by hand, laying it out to dry, dry, to out it laying hand, by started around April, when the flax flax the when April, around started activity related to the formation formation the to related activity

The Richardsons were a successful successful a were Richardsons The when the fibres were twisted twisted were fibres the when taking the flax out of the flax dam dam flax the of out flax the taking In those days the work would have have would work the days those In of Gullion are associated with igneous igneous with associated are Gullion of

his brothers bought the property. property. the bought brothers his quality. And finally, came spinning, spinning, came finally, And quality. Next came the smelly, slimy job of of job slimy smelly, the came Next coarse stalks was a laborious process. process. laborious a was stalks coarse years old. Whereas the younger rocks rocks younger the Whereas old. years Experience

called John Grubb Richardson and and Richardson Grubb John called combs and graded according to their their to according graded and combs Creating fine linen cloth from these these from cloth linen fine Creating Mountain are around 400 million million 400 around are Mountain

1845, when a Quaker businessman businessman Quaker a when 1845, linen fibres were drawn through metal metal through drawn were fibres linen to rot the tough outer stems. outer tough the rot to ago, the granodiorites of Camlough Camlough of granodiorites the ago,

fire. The buildings lay derelict until until derelict lay buildings The fire. lung disease. After scutching, the the scutching, After disease. lung was called retting and its purpose was was purpose its and retting called was the plant’s stalk. plant’s the formed around 60 million years years million 60 around formed

but in 1839, it suffered a disastrous disastrous a suffered it 1839, in but fine dust from the fibres which caused caused which fibres the from dust fine water ponds called ‘flax dams’. This This dams’. ‘flax called ponds water and linen thread from the fibres of of fibres the from thread linen and and the , which were were which Gullion, of Ring the and

Nicholson mill was very successful successful very was mill Nicholson blades, and the mills were also full of of full also were mills the and blades, pulled, they soaked for a while in fresh fresh in while a for soaked they pulled, products: linseed oil from the seeds, seeds, the from oil linseed products: the life of their mill workers. mill their of life the Gullion Slieve up make that rocks

and various other buildings. The The buildings. other various and finger or a hand in the scutching scutching the in hand a or finger time. After the flax stalks had been been had stalks flax the After time. to its production. Flax produces two two produces Flax production. its to village we see today so as to improve improve to as so today see we village the unlike However, magma. molten

mill, a scutch mill, a hackling house house hackling a mill, scutch a mill, places to work, many a man lost a a lost man a many work, to places helping each other out at harvest harvest at out other each helping the area was particularly well suited suited well particularly was area the fair employers. They built the planned planned the built They employers. fair of underground, deep cooling, the

Nicholson and he set up a spinning spinning a up set he and Nicholson fibres. Scutching mills were dangerous dangerous were mills Scutching fibres. a communal effort, with local farmers farmers local with effort, communal a throughout South . Indeed, Indeed, Armagh. South throughout Richardsons were known as firm but but firm as known were Richardsons from forms Gullion, Slieve up make

from William Pollock by Joseph Joseph by Pollock William from ‘scutching’ to expose the tough linen linen tough the expose to ‘scutching’ usually in mid-August. This was often often was This mid-August. in usually flax was a very important cash crop crop cash important very a was flax bleaching business on the site. The The site. the on business bleaching that rocks the like just Granodiorite,

Bessbrook. The property was leased leased was property The Bessbrook. This was also hard work. Then came came Then work. hard also was This back-breaking job of flax harvesting, harvesting, flax of job back-breaking and for around two hundred years years hundred two around for and a flax spinning, weaving and and weaving spinning, flax a granodiorite. called is Mountain

would have taken place right here in in here right place taken have would brittle flax had to be broken by hand. hand. by broken be to had flax brittle several months, there was the slow, slow, the was there months, several Linen comes from the flax plant plant flax the from comes Linen long disappeared Lapetus Ocean. Lapetus disappeared long by 1846, they had established established had they 1846, by Camlough up makes that rock The

in 1802, many of these processes processes these of many 1802, in the seeds, and after this, the dry, dry, the this, after and seeds, the the moon. Then, after tending it for for it tending after Then, moon. the Bessbrook linen Bessbrook to the present day Atlantic, the now now the Atlantic, day present the to improving the Bessbrook mill and and mill Bessbrook the improving Mountain Camlough

After the founding of the linen mill mill linen the of founding the After flax through a thick comb to remove remove to comb thick a through flax to take place at the right phase of of phase right the at place take to Línéadach an tSrutháin tSrutháin an Línéadach related to the closure of a precursor precursor a of closure the to related They set about restoring and and restoring about set They gCuircín Sliabh

Derrymore House Derrymore Lake Camlough Viaduct Craigmore viewpoint Ballintemple

Fáilte go dtí an Sruthán is Camloch Conair Oidhreachta an tSrutháin is Chamlocha Welcome to Bessbrook and Camlough Bessbrook and Camlough Heritage Trail The villages and the communities of Camlough and Bessbrook are linked by a shared heritage but also by the Camlough River which flows from Camlough The Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership is part of the Heritage Lake through Bessbrook Pond and under the Craigmore Viaduct, before joining Lottery Fund’s programme to conserve and enhance some of the regions’s most treasured landscapes. the Canal and reaching Carlingford Lough and the Irish Sea. The water was used to power the many mills along this river and fuelled the linen industry in Bessbrook. For further details about the Ring of Gullion and the locality, please see www.ringofgullion.org or email [email protected] An Sruthán Bessbrook used to have its own Camlocha South Armagh Farming Enterprises For further information on general touring, accommodation, short breaks and activity Bessbrook hydro-electric tramway, only the Camlough premises in the village. breaks please contact one of the following Visitor Information Centres or visit our website. The Bessbrook you see today second such tramway in the UK and Camlough was an ecclesiastical dates from 1845 when the mill in ! It opened in 1885 and was district in the of Upper Orior. The village is very much to the Newry Visitor Information Centre Newcastle Visitor Information Centre Bessbrook was purchased by the used to transport workers, as well as In ancient times this was part of the forefront on the sporting scene, with Bagenal’s Castle 10-14 Central Promenade Quaker Richardson family. They raw materials and finished goods, O’Hanlon’s country. At the time of two boxing clubs, two Castle Street, Newry BT34 2BY Newcastle BT33 0AA built the present village in order to between the mill and Newry. It was the , 1000 acres clubs, a soccer club, and a camogie T: 028 3031 3170 T: 028 4372 2222 provide accommodation for the mill cleverly designed, the wheels of the or 12 were granted to club. These clubs provide activities for workers. The village was a social tramway could run on both road and Henry McShane O’Neill. It would numerous young people each week. experiment based on Quaker ideals rail, so it wasn’t necessary to build appear that this was the time that Camlough also hosts one of Ireland’s Kilkeel Visitor Information Centre Banbridge Visitor Information Centre of temperance, earning it the title of a line through Newry. The tramway the village was developed. Shortly top annual triathlon competitions. Nautilus Centre, Rooney Road The Old Town Hall, 1 Scarva Street ‘The Model Village’. It was also often remained in operation until 1948. after this period the Church of Ireland Kilkeel BT34 4AG Banbridge BT32 3DA called the village of the ‘three Ps’: erected St Jude’s Church, the remains T: 028 4176 2525 T: 028 4062 0232 no public house, no pawn shop, and The Bessbrook Spinning Company of which are still standing. consequently no need for police. The flourished for many years, with linen Visitor Information Point Visitor Information Point streets, terrace houses and squares business peaking around 1900. Being on the main road from Community Centre Courtyard of Bessbrook are all made from the Production rose during the Second Newry to and Experience T: 028 3086 1949 T: 028 3084 8109 local hard-wearing Bessbrook granite. World War, but trade ceased in ‘The Crossmaglen, the village of Camlough Bessbrook was the inspiration for the Brook’ in the early 1970s, from became and still remains a very Email: [email protected] or visit www.visitmournemountains.co.uk later model village built by Cadbury at which time the mill became vibrant place. Up until the mid 1960s, Gullion! Bourneville near an army base until it was the monthly cattle and horse fair www.ringofgullion.org vacated in 2007. drew vast crowds of buyers Bessbrook’s links with the linen and sellers. The cattle RingOfGullion industry date back to the 1750s, sales are now Experience @Ring_Of_Gullion when John Pollock established a conducted bleaching business here. It’s believed weekly www.ringofgullion.org he may even have given Bessbrook at the Gullion! its name – Pollock’s wife was called Elizabeth, or Bess, and the Camlough River, or brook, runs through the village. www.ringofgullion.org Bessbrook Village designed by wibble.ie Conair Oidhreachta Chamlocha Conair Oidhreachta an tSrutháin Camlough Heritage Trail Map of Bessbrook and Camlough Heritage Trail Bessbrook Heritage Trail Camloch – an loch féin Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne Muileann an tSrutháin An Íoclann Camlough Lake Donn-Byrne (1889 –1928) was a Bessbrook Mill The Dispensary The often calm, tranquil waters of prolific Irish writer, well known for his A Bessbrook Mill was the centre This was opened for use in 1876 ‘Cam Lough’,Points meaning Crookedof Interest Lake, novels, short stories and poetry . He B of the Richardson enterprise in to replace the former building in stretch for just over two kilometres. was born in New York but returned Bessbrook. By 1878, 33 years Fountain Street. From here a doctor This narrow,A elongateCollege Square lough providesH Thewith west his / church family area to IrelandO McGrath’sand grew Spout C after its acquisition, it employed and nurse, employed by The Spinning rich waters for the angler and marks up being equally fluent in Irish and F D approximately 3,000 workers in the Company, gave medical advice a break in BtheThe lines Institute of the hills that I LakeEnglish, view living in CamloughP Frank where Aiken plaque E mill and 1,500 outworkers (mainly and dispensed medicines to the surround Slieve Gullion, the Ring of some Irish was still spoken. G handloom weavers). Linen production employees. With the introduction Gullion. InC fact,The Cam Primary Lough School marks J Bessbrook Mill Q Camlough village pump H A continued under Bessbrook Spinning of national medical insurance in the point where the Ring of Gullion At University College , he Points of Interest I B Company until 1972, when the site 1912, the company scheme became is broken, Dor offset.The Dispensary On the western K Friendsstudied Meeting under House DouglasR Hyde,St. Jude’s the Church was taken over by Ulster Weavers, redundant and the vacant building A College Square H The west / church area O McGrath’s Spout J C side, the ring of hills intersects Cam famous Gaelic scholar andRaymond first McCreesh F D and production finally ceased in became a public bath-house. It is now E The Temperance Hotel L S Ballynabee Road Lough at its northern end at Sturgan president of Eire, he also didmemorial work monument B The Institute I Lake view P plaque Bessbrook E K 1987. The site was then used as an business premises. Mountain. However, on its eastern Camlough’sat the Sorbonne Haunted and in Leipzig, G army base until 2007. Bessbrook F Charlemont Square M C The Primary School J Bessbrook Mill Q Camlough village pump side, the ring of hills intersects the HouseGermany. He turned down his PhD H I Mill was constructed with granite Radharc an Locha lough halfway down its eastern shore. Brianwhen Oswald he learned Donn- that he would haveD The Dispensary K Friends Meeting House R St. Jude’s Church in stages between 1845 and 1880. Lakeview G The Tirzah N J Byrne’s homestead Raymond McCreesh to wear evening clothes to his early The Temperance Hotel Derrymore House S Ballynabee Road Bessbrook The architect was W J Gililand and These four large houses overlooking E L memorial monument K Leacht Cuimhneacháin Réamoinn morning examinations – a thing Camlough’s Haunted the Mill is a B1 Listed Building. It is the pond were traditionally occupied F Charlemont Square M Mhic Raois no true Irish gentleman would ever House Heritage Trail an interesting piece of 19th century by the members of the upper Brian Oswald Donn- Raymond McCreesh Memorial do! After Donn-Byrne’s marriage G The Tirzah N industrial architecture in terms of management of the Bessbrook Byrne’s homestead Bessbrook On the eastern edge of Camlough to playwright Dorothea Cadogan, its huge size and in the quality of its Spinning Company. stands a memorial to Raymond the couple lived first in Connecticut Heritage Trail construction, for example, the former McCreesh (1957 – 1981). McCreesh before returning to Ireland to live in engine house has fine Arts & Crafts- Cearnóg Charlemont was born in Camlough and attended Coolmain Castle in Co. Cork. Several influenced detailing. While access Charlemont Square the local primary school. He became of his works are still in print, including to the site is not possible at present This square was the first to be built involved with the Republican The Wind Bloweth, and Messer Marco visitors can get a good view of the to realise the Richardson plan of low movement as a teenager and was Polo. Quarter Road L mill from the small business/shop density housing for his workers. The arrested and imprisoned following Quarter Road L units off Mill Road and see part of east side was built with provision for an army ambush in 1976. He joined Fuarán Mhic Craith the weaving sheds from the Boiler Hill five shops where individuals could set the IRA in 1981, and McGrath’s Spout High St. High St. section of Derrymore Road. up their own businesses. died after 61 days on hunger strike. The water from this spring comes The memorial is comprised of a from Camlough Mountain through To Craigmore Viaduct An Tarbhealach Craig Mór An Óstán Ólséanta To Craigmore Viaduct Green Road Celtic cross and a large memorial McGrath’s spout and was believed to r Craigmore Viaduct The Temperance Hotel e Green Road stone on a plinth, within a memorial hold healing powers. Local sportsmen r iv The highest railway bridge in Ireland Now the Post Office, this large e R v h garden which also includes ten small (footballers, hurlers, athletes and i g carries the rail link between house provided accommodation for R u memorial stones bearing the names boxers) would bathe their injuries and lo To Newry and Dublin. Construction began commercial travellers, visitors and Carrickcroppon Road h m of the ten Republican Hunger Strikers. wounds in the water and many locals g a in 1849 and the bridge opened in school teachers until they established u C got it bottled and blessed by a priest lo M To Newry 1852. Designed by Sir John McNeill, more permanent living arrangements. Carrickcroppon Road m Frank Aiken to use as holy water in their homes. a the eighteen arch viaduct sweeps C Camlough born Frank Aiken (1898 M in a curve across the valley, 126 An Ceantar Thiar/Ceantar na –1983) was an Irish politician and a The McGraths were a family who lived Key feet above the Camlough River. The n-eaglaisí founding member of the Fianna Fáil nearby and used the spout as their A25 disused track of the Bessbrook to The west/church area political party. Aiken was first elected main water supply. Newry tramway runs underneath the The major denominations of the Hiking Access to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each N Lowes Ln viaduct and is now part of The Ulster latter half of the nineteenth century subsequent election until 1973. He Caidéal sráidbhaile Chamlocha S Way and The Ring of Gullion Way. all had adherents in Bessbrook. The Key Fishing holds the distinction of being the Camlough village pump Q A25 remains of one of the oldest buildings second longest-serving member of Originally the well located at the P Historic Building Teach an Dhoire Mhóir in the area, the Caulfield Bawn, are in Dáil Éireann. bottom of Gordan’s Lane in the Camlough Derrymore House the grounds of the Old Convent. Built HikingMuseums Access & Cultural Centres of Cross supplied the water S N Lowes Ln Built in the last quarter of the about 1625 as a place of safety, at As Foreign Minister he developed and to the locality. However, in 1926 the Picnic Area eighteenth century at the instigation the instigation of Sir Toby Caulfield, Fishing maintained an independent stance local council decided to pipe a water Church Rock of Isaac Corry. He was the Member only a small piece of wall now Car Parking for Ireland at the United Nations supply to the village of Camlough, the Q O To Camlough Mt. of Parliament for Newry from 1776 remains. R Historic Building and other international forums such trenches for the pipes were all hand P Camlough Public Art until 1806 and was Chancellor of the as the Council of Europe, defending dug by a local man - Mick McGlade. Irish Parliament at the time of the An Tirzeá Museums & Cultural Centres the rights of small nations. Aiken also The pumps were installed at various To Camlough Lake Heritage Trail passing of the Act of Union in 1801. The Tirzah supported the right of countries such locations in the village. One was It was later acquired by John Grubb Tirzah is a Hebrew word which means as Algeria to self-determination and outside Carragher’s , another at Picnic Area Richardson, whose grandson John ‘she is my delight’. The Tirzah in he was a critic of apartheid in South the corner of the Village Green, and Church Rock S. Wakefield Richardson gave it to Bessbrook was created as a small Africa. Aiken was also a champion a third was placed outside the old Car Parking the National Trust. The surrounding park or place of rest and its unusual O St Jude’s Terrace To Camlough Mt. of nuclear non-proliferation and he school, and is no longer in place. The R park and woodlands are open to the name refers to it being ‘a pleasant was granted the honour of being pumps hold the distinction of being Camlough Public Art public. place’ where the villagers could ‘rest the first minister to sign the Nuclear the symbol of the Camlough Heritage a while’. Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 at Society. An Bhunscoil To Camlough Lake Heritage Trail Moscow. The Primary School An Institiúid A Points of Interest This two teacher school, built in The Institute Teach Siúil Chamlocha 1849, originally provided education Constructed from local blue granite B Camlough’s Haunted House on an interdenominational basis. in 1885, by local craftsmen. It was College Square The west / church area O McGrath’s Spout C The house was built and furnished, A H Beside the school are the teachers’ erected as a meeting, educational F D but before the owner moved in he St Jude’s Terrace semi-detached residences, built in a and recreational facility. Soon after its B The Institute I Lake view P Frank Aiken plaque found all his furniture scattered matching style. completion, it became known as the E around the fields. The story goes Town Hall. G C The Primary School J Bessbrook Mill Q Camlough village pump that the house was haunted and the Cearnóg an Choláiste H I owner never moved in, leaving the College Square Teach Tionóil Chumann na gCarad D The Dispensary K Friends Meeting House R St. Jude’s Church house derelict to this day. But another This square was the second of the Friends Meeting House J Raymond McCreesh story tells of how the owner built and The Temperance Hotel Derrymore House S Bessbrook Squares to be built.Ballynabee House Road Located in the grounds of Derrymore E L memorial monument furnished the house to woo a woman, No.6 along College Square East, estate this solid granite structure K Camlough’s Haunted when she declined the furniture was F Charlemont Square originally a mill worker’s dwelling, opened for worship in 1864 and was M House thrown out in the fields in fury. has been acquired by Bessbrook built by John Grubb Richardson. The Brian Oswald Donn- G The Tirzah N Development Company (a group of Woodhouse, his Bessbrook residence, Byrne’s homestead Bessbrook local residents) and restored to what lies a few hundred yards from the Walking close to Craigmore Viaduct it was like when first inhabited Meeting House. Heritage Trail in 1881.

Quarter Road L

High St.

To Craigmore Viaduct

Green Road r e iv R h g u lo To Newry Carrickcroppon Road m a C M

Key A25

Hiking Access S N Lowes Ln Fishing Q P Historic Building

Museums & Cultural Centres

Picnic Area Church Rock Car Parking O To Camlough Mt. R Camlough Public Art

To Camlough Lake Heritage Trail

St Jude’s Terrace