250 years young - doesn't The Mall look great for its age!
As the warm weather approaches, people all around the county are getting excited for a chance to soak up some sun and enjoy the great outdoors. The sun was shining brighter than a disco ball at a rave - ok there were some clouds for all you realists out there!
For those of you ‘who got’ the bank holiday, it was a glorious day - and you always know this when you smell the odd BBQ.
Some of you even took to the long grassy expanse in the heart of Armagh's centre – The Mall – to soak up the rays and got your summer vibe going on, as they say in Belfast “Taps aff”.
Flanked by notable buildings, including the Armagh Courthouse, the former Women’s Prison in Gaol Square, and the many Georgian buildings to the east and west.
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But is The Mall one of those spaces which could perhaps be utilised a little better? After all, it was originally built as a racecourse! Just imagine that the next time you’re taking your lunchtime stroll.
The Mall was established by Church of Ireland Primate Robinson in 1773 when he leased common land for use as a public park. Fast forward a couple of centuries and by the 1990s, the Mall had fallen into serious disrepair.
In 2001, Armagh City Council, with the support of the Mall Trustees and Cricket Club, submitted an application for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore, improve and develop the Mall. Restoration of the historic park, to a contract value of approximately £1M commenced in 2003.
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Yes, our beautiful Mall has a rather vulgar past made up of horse-racing, cock-fighting and bull-baiting unit. It was Archbishop Robinson who decided that a great city of learning deserved better and transformed it into an elegant Georgian park.
The Brooks Armagh International Road Race got off to a roaring start in February as it celebrated it's 31st year - hosted on The Mall.
Maybe you’ve given it some thought over the last few days about what else could be done with another of Armagh’s national treasures - let us know your thoughts.
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