Dorsey, County Armagh

Coordinates: 54°08′49″N 6°31′12″W / 54.147°N 6.520°W / 54.147; -6.520

Dorsey or Dorsy (from Irish: Na Doirse, meaning "the gateways")^[1] is a small village and townland between Belleeks and Cullyhanna in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It has an estimated population of 130-160 people and includes about 30-35 houses.

'Dorsey ramparts'

Dorsey Walls meet Bonds rd

Na Doirse, the gateways, is an extensive earthwork which runs through the South Armagh area. The Dorsey Ramparts, or 'The Walls' as they are known locally, are said to have been a fortified frontier post to the kingdom whose capital was Emain Macha (Navan Fort), blocking an important historic route into South Armagh. It was built at a time when the power of the Ulster kingdom may have been at its strongest, around 100 BCE. Some time later Ulster was threatened from the south and it is speculated that Dorsey may have been incorporated into a more extensive defensive system known in Monaghan and further west as the Black Pig's Dyke.

Dorsey is one of the few monuments in the north of Ireland which have been confirmed as Iron Age in date. It is a group of linear earthworks with a perimeter of 4 km, enclosing an area of 300 acres (1.2 km²).

Facilities

It currently has:

a community centre
a chapel
a Gaelic football pitch (Rory McGee Park)
football teams (U8, U10, U14, U16, Minor and Senior levels)

Chapel

The chapel in Dorsey is over 50 years old and was built by local people. The site on which the chapel was built was donated by a local, Felix Mackin. Dorsey is part of the parish of Lower Creggan which incorporates Dorsey, Newtownhamilton and Cullyhanna.

Sport

Dorsey Emmet's GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dorsey and fielding football teams at Under-8, U10, U14, U16 and senior level.

Education

Dorsey does not have its own schools so its 4-11-year-olds usually go to St. Olivers Primary School in Carrickrovaddy or St. Brigid's Primary School in Belleeks, County Armagh. Its 12-16-year-olds usually attend St. Joseph's High School in Crossmaglen or St. Paul's High School in Bessbrook.

References

↑ Placenames NI

Geography of County Armagh

List of places in County Armagh

Cities and towns	Armagh Craigavon Lurgan Newry (part) Portadown

Villages and townlands	Acton Aghacommon Annaghmore Annahugh Ardress Aughanduff Ballydugan Ballymacnab Bannfoot Belleeks Bessbrook Blackwatertown Broomhill Camlough Carrickaness Charlemont Cladymore Clonmore Collegeland Corrinshego Creeveroe Creggan Crossmaglen Cullaville Cullyhanna Darkley Derryadd Derrycrew Derryhale Derrymacash Derrynoose Derrytrasna Dorsey Drumnacanvy Drumintee Edenaveys Forkill Granemore Hamiltonsbawn Jonesborough Keady Kernan Killeen Killylea Kilmore Lislea Lisnadill Loughgall Loughgilly Madden Maghery Markethill Meigh Middletown Millford Millvale Mountnorris Mullaghbawn Mullaghbrack Mullaghglass Mullavilly-Laurelvale Newtowncloghoge Newtownhamilton Poyntzpass Richhill Scotch Street Silverbridge Tandragee Tartaraghan The Birches Tullynawood Tynan Whitecross

Landforms	Coney Island Derrywarragh Island Eamhain Mhacha Lough Clea Slieve Gullion/Ring of Gullion

Baronies	Armagh Fews Lower Fews Upper Oneilland East Oneilland West Orior Lower Orior Upper Tiranny

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Places of Interest in County Armagh

Castles and military sites	Charlemont Fort Creevekeeran Castle Fathom Castle Gosford Castle Moyry Castle Tandragee Castle

Churches and religious sites	Creggan Church Drumcree Church Killeavy Old Church Church of Ireland Cathedral Catholic Cathedral Primate’s Chapel, Armagh Seagoe Parish Church

Museums and cultural sites	Archbishop's Palace, Armagh Armagh County Museum Armagh Court House Armagh Gaol Armagh Public Library Armagh Observatory Armagh Planetarium Bessbrook Institute Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library & Archive Dan Winter’s Cottage Franciscan Friary, Armagh Newry Town Hall (Part) Rokeby Obelisk Royal School, Armagh Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum Sloan’s Inn Museum

Natural landmarks and outdoor spaces	Gosford Forest Park Maghery Country Park The Mall, Armagh Peatlands Park Slieve Gullion Forest Park

Prehistoric landmarks	Slieve Gullion Passage Tomb Annaghmare Ballykeel Dolmen Ballymacdermott Clontygora Dorsey Haughey's Fort Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone King's Stables Navan Fort

Stately homes	Abbey House Adress House The Argory Ballymoyer House Brownlow House Castle Dillon Darton Dean’s Hill Derrymore House Drumbanagher House Eden House Fairview House Fellow’s Hall Forkhill House Hockley Lodge Killeavy Castle The Manor House, Loughgall Raughlan Richhill Castle Tynan Abbey Umgola

Transport and industry	The Barn Museum, Lurgan Craigmore Viaduct MacNeill's Egyptian Arch

See also	Newry Canal

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