History of Lisburn

Lisburn was founded in the early 17th Century and its name in Irish is Lios na gCearbhach or Lisnagarvey, which means the 'fort of gamesters'. The earliest reference to the word Lisburn is found in a baptismal entry of 11 January 1662. It has been suggested that Lisnagarvey was changed to Lisburn because the town was burned in the rebellion of 1641. Today, many local sports clubs still carry the City’s original name.

Lisburn City is Northern Ireland’s newest City, having been awarded the accolade during the Queen’s Jubilee Year. Set in the beautiful Lagan Valley the area covers 174 square miles of contrasting scenery from the gentle drumlins of the open countryside to its many picturesque towns and villages. The City centre still retains many architectural buildings and streets dating from the 18th century but it is also a lively bustling modern city.

The City of Lisburn is located just off the M1 Motorway and the A1 main arterial route connecting Belfast to Dublin and is the perfect base for a visit to Ireland North and South.