Moira
is very old. The
earliest sign of people living here is a crannog (a man made
island or dwelling built on stilts in a lake or bog) in the
townland of Drumbane. It is a ruin of a primitive dwelling-place
that is very old but with no date put on it.
(Craigavon Historical Soc. Vol 2 no1)
There are many earthen raths or forts in the
area. The one behind Glebe Gardens is called "Pretty
Mary's Fort." (see below)
The
best kept example is the "Rough Fort" on the Old
Kilmore Road. (below)
The
green in front of the houses at Claremont is all that is left
of another of these ring forts. (below)
Another
one close to the quarry on the Lurgan Road was levelled years
ago.
It is these forts that give Moira its name. The likely origin
of the name Moira comes from the Irish “Magh Rath”
(the Plain of the Ring Forts).
These
forts and crannogs were built to protect people and animals.
Did
the Romans ever visit this area? We know the Romans mapped
the British Isles, and one of their maps clearly shows Belfast
Lough, with a river flowing into it. Perhaps one of those
Roman map makers sailed up Belfast Lough and explored the
Lagan as far as Moira! Unlikely? You never know!
example of a Roman coin
I say this because a Roman coin from the time of Vespian (70
AD -79 AD) was unearthed here shortly before World War 1 and
is now in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. (see
Craigavon Historical Soc. Vol 2 no1 and BBC Northern Ireland
– Blueprint series)
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