Dorsy

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

Dorsy or Dorsey (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'

Na Doirse, the gateways, is an extensive earthwork which runs through the South Armagh area. The Dorsy 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 100BC. Some time later Ulster was threatened from the south and it is thought that Dorsy may have been incorporated into a more extensive defensive system known in Monaghan and further west as 'The Black Pig's Dyke'. Dorsy is one of the few monuments in the north 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 football pitch (Rory McGee Park)
• football teams (U8, U10, U14, U16, Minor's and Senior Levels)

Chapel

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

Football

Dorsey Emmetts is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dorsy and has U8, U10, U14, U16 and senior level teams. They play at their field (The Rory McGee Park) that was completed in January 2007 and is 500-800 yards from the chapel and community centre. In 2003 their U10 team won the 3rd division shield against Whitecross in Belleek. In 2006 their U14 side also won a shield against Belleek at the Silverbridge field. History was made for Dorsy when their senior team was broadcast live on Five FM playing Belleek. The Ladies senior team were awarded Club of the year in Armagh in 2008 and in 2010 were invited to attend the 2010 Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé tournament in the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry from the 26th – 28th February. The Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé is an invitation only senior club Men's and Ladies Gaelic football tournament.

Education

Dorsy 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

1. ^ Placenames NI