CRAIGAVON

Craigavon was Ulster's only planned town, being mapped out in 1965 to become a linear city and incorporate both the towns of Lurgan and Portadown. It was named after the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, James Craig, Viscount Craigavon and was to be Northern Ireland's equivalent of Milton Keynes and Cumbernauld. The majority of the plan failed and was largely abandoned during the troubles, being noted throughout the 1970s and 80s as a large area of roads and roundabouts with no actual other developments. Instead of becoming a city, or even a town, Craigavon is now regarded as a large urban area. 

For many years Craigavon consisted of little more then the Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon Area Hospital, and the housing estates of Brownlow, Legahory and Drumgor with most other housing development either being claimed by Portadown or Lurgan. Therefore no official Town of Craigavon has ever emerged, instead being an urban connection belt between the two towns it was designed to absorb. 

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Aside from the shopping centre, hospital and courthouse, Craigavon is noted for it's two large artificial lakes, which are now being landscaped into a regional park for the area.   

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Craigavon can claim to have the largest leisure complex in Northern Ireland, when the South Lake Leisure Centre opened in 2020.

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Due to it's short history and lack of development into a recognisable city or town in it's own right, most people who live in Craigavon traditionally claimed to be Lurganites or Portadownians. However, in recent years and increase in younger people identifying as Craigavonians suggests it may evolve into a town in a similar way to Newtownabbey. ​

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Although Craigavon is represented by Football and GAA clubs, it's most successful team is the Craigavon Cowboys American Football team, who were Irish Champions in 2009. 

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