Castle Street, Armagh

The street is a typical one in central Armagh, comprised of modest but solid two- and three-story terraced housing. While some of the streets are modest in scale, Armagh is nonetheless one of the most visually striking of Ulster’s provincial towns (often referred to as a city because of its ecclesiastical heritage). Its population and surrounding hinterland is of ‘mixed’ in places, ‘polarised’ political and religious allegiances and the town’s physical fabric suffered considerably during the years of the Troubles.

The street suffered considerable damage during the years of the Troubles, yet the NIHE painstakingly rebuilt the houses during the 1980s for continued residential accommodation, re-using the stone and inserting sash windows so as to retain the original character of the Georgian streetscape as far as possible.

Armagh is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland with two historic cathedrals, many distinguished buildings and a rich architectural built heritage, not least rows of Georgian houses.

Photograph by Northern Ireland Housing Executive