City of Armagh RFC

City of Armagh Rugby Club is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland. Records exist of games being played in the early 1870's but the accepted date of the club's foundation is 1875. Shortage of players led to a break in activities in the late 1890's but the club re-emerged after a couple of years and went on to win a rare double in 1910 - Town's and Junior Cup in the same season. In 1920 after five years inactivity during the war years, Armagh entered the senior league but after two seasons were prevailed upon by the Ulster Branch to step down again. It should be noted that all the other senior sides of that period were based in Belfast, that Armagh were unable to field a second team and that the Mall was not perhaps an ideal rugby pitch. Originally , the pitch had been at right angles to the later form but about 1908 it was changed which led to an overlap with the cricket pitch. Drainage was always a problem and indeed from 1927 on, most games had to be played at the asylum grounds, pressure being applied from Ravenhill. Success continued, however, at junior level with five cups being won between 1928 and 1939, and three sides being put on the field. Bobby Barnes. then at Trinity College Dublin achieved a rare double in 1933 when he played for Armagh in the Town's Cup in January and for Ireland against Wales in March, being on the winning side on both occasions. After another wartime break Armagh resumed their junior status in 1945, going on to win the Town's Cup in 1947. Other cup victories include the Town's Cup in 1951 and 1971, Junior Cup in 1965 and Past Player's Cup in 1958 and 1965. By 1961 the necessity to acquire new headquarters was more and more apparent. A new pavilion was built on the Mall to accommodate cricket and rugby clubs in 1964 but the pitch remained a problem. Once the Palace grounds became available the club eagerly moved, with the first game being played on 8 September 1973.