| Gilford | |
|---|---|
 The old Gilford Mill | |
  Gilford Location withinCounty Down | |
| Population | 1,957 [2] |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CRAIGAVON |
| Postcode district | BT63 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
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Gilford is avillage inCounty Down,Northern Ireland. The village sits on theRiver Bann between the towns ofBanbridge,Tandragee andPortadown. It covers thetownlands ofLoughans, Ballymacanallen and Drumaran. It had a population of 1,957 people in the2021 census.[2] Gilford is in theArmagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district.
Following theIrish Rebellion of 1641, Captain John Magill acquired land in the parish ofTullylish and founded Gilford,[citation needed] the name of the village being derived from "Magill’s ford".[3] He afterwards became Sir John Magill and built Gill Hall inDromore, County Down.[4]
The Magill lands passed by marriage to the Meade family, who were made Barons Gillford in 1766 and laterearls of Clanwilliam. In the 19th century, Gilford grew and its population swelled when alinen mill was built. Many mill houses can still be found in the village. When the mill shut in 1986, the village waned. Recently though, the village had started to recover and new shops had opened, then since closed, currently only 2 shops and 2 pubs still stand. At the edge of the village is Gilford Castle, amansion built in 1865[3] to the designs of architectWilliam Spence.
Tanderagee and Gilford railway station was opened in 1852 to serve the villages closing in 1965.[5]
There are two schools in the area: Gilford Primary School and St John's Primary School. The schools are within theSouthern Education and Library Board area.There is a nursery located in Gilford Primary School.
Gilford Boxing Club has produced a number of All-Ireland winners.[citation needed] It is situated in the old church hall beside Gilford chapel.
Gilford Crusaders Football Club play in theMid-Ulster Football League. Theirbadge depicts aChristian Crusader with asword andshield. The clubs' home matches take place at Woodlands Park.[6] Gilford Crusaders won the covetedMid-Ulster Cup in 1935.[7]
Millpark Cricket Club was a cricket club in Gilford, County Down, that last played in Section 2 of the NCU Senior League. The club, originally based at Millpark, an area located between Gilford and Banbridge, moved the short distance to its second and final home Banford Green, in 1969.[1] In 2017, the club merged with Donaghcloney Cricket Club under the name Donaghcloney Mill Cricket Club
The local GAA club serving Gilford is Tullylish GAC, with its home ground, Páirc na nÓg. Tullylish GAC represents the broader Tullylish area, The club actively competes in the County Down Leagues and offers a comprehensive structure for Gaelic football, with teams available from under 6 to senior levels. For hurling and camogie, Aghaderg Gaelic Athletic & Ballyvarley Hurling Club serves as the nearest club that offers those codes, and is located approximately three miles from Gilford.
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