Moira, Co. Down.

MOIRA is a Georgian village situated eight miles outside the City of Lisburn, just off the M1 motorway as you head west from Belfast.

The historic village is full of character. There is a market house built about 1800. (now a church). The wide main street is lined with red berried Rowans and eighteenth century black-stone houses divided by carriage archways. A feature over the years was the group of four lime trees in the village centre. Sadly the passing of time and modern traffic has necessitated these being replaced with smaller trees. Built mostly by Sir Arthur Rawdon, whose famous formal gardens have vanished, the town has a habit of winning civic flower awards. For most of the year the place is a mass of flowering shrubs, roses, flowerbeds and hanging baskets.

It is a place you must visit, to admire the floral displays, browse the antique shops and art gallery, sip refreshments in one of the many quiet outlets and soak up the local atmosphere.

Moira today is a growing community of around 4,000 people. Many have settled here because of the character of the place and because of its proximity to Belfast and other major centres of employment.

Moira had it first .....or so they say...

The first hothouse in Europe was built in Moira by Sir George Rawdon The first frogs in Ireland were apparently discovered in Moira. Moira is reputed to have been the first village in which the famous Lambeg drums were made. When the Earl of Moira died in 1793, his funeral was described as the largest ever in Ireland. It was "attended by upwards of 800 carriages of various kinds, with a train of 4000 people, among whom 2000 hatbands and scarves were distributed.” It is reported that the first Harvest Thanksgiving service in Ireland was held in Moira Church in 1726 Read "At the heart of a village" - the History of Moira by David McFarland