Keady

Keady, lying to the south of Armagh City, is the largest of the local towns with an estimated population of over 3,000. The name Keady is recorded as long ago as 1674 in a letter for Symore Richardson to the Provost of Trinity College Dublin (the district was part of a grant of county Armagh lands to that college). However, the town did not emerge as an important centre until the mid 18th century when the use of waterpower led to the growth of great linen mills and factories. By 1837, Keady was noted as being the centre of an important flourishing linen trade by Samuel Lewis in his "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland". The famous Keady Monument was erected by the local people to honour William Kirk, who through his mills at Keady and Darkley, provided so much economic prosperity in the area. The town was also to become a centre of tailoring before the first World War, and the advent of the railway brought the town great commercial benefit, although the lines for both goods and passenger traffic have since closed. Today, Keady retains its links with clothing manufacture, with a major textiles firm affording employment for many of the local people. Situated on the river which flows from Clay Lake to the River Callan, Keady is noted chiefly for the 'Keady trout Lakes'. It is also of interest to the industrial archaeologist as the centre of a district with many derelict watermills. Tassagh Glen, just outside the town has mill and viaduct of monumental proportions. The newly restored mill in the centre of town offers the visitor a unique glimpse into Keady's fine industrial heritage.

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