Family Gathering at Lurgan Castle

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Ann and I are just returned home from Northern Ireland where we attended my mother's cousin's 90th birthday party at Lurgan Castle.

The castle stands in its own grounds where it is approached by a long driveway.

The keystone shows that the castle was started in 1833. It was commissioned by the Right Honourable Charles Brownlow, who later became Baron Lurgan, and designed by the Edinburgh architect W.H.Playfair, and completed in 1839. In 1904 the castle was sold to the Loyal Orange Lodge, and subsequently the Ulster Declaration was signed here. The castle became the headquarters of the Imperial Grand Black Chapter of the Orange Order of the British Commonwealth. During World War I the 16th battalion Royal Irish Rifles and the 10th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers were billeted here, and various UK and US troops were billeted here in World War II.

The castle has had a turbulent history during the Irish troubles of the 20th century, and as can be seen from this side view, a wing was totally destroyed when the castle was attacked and burnt by Irish republican sympathisers on 28th November, 1979.

The grand oak staircase was destroyed when the castle was again attacked by republicans and set on fire in August 1996, when 50% of the interior was destroyed. Members of the Orange Order entered the still smouldering building to raise the Union Jack again. Happily the staircase has been restored to part of its former grandeur.

The stained glass window glimpsed in the previous photo is a fine reproduction of the original.

This is the largest room of the suite where General Eisenhower stayed for two nights during 1944.
The room has been restored since the 1996 fire but has not been re-furnished.

This is the view which General Eisenhower would have enjoyed from his bedroom window.