Charlemont

Charlemont takes its name from Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy, who built a bridge and fort here in 1602 in order to secure the Blackwater valley against the rebel Earl of Tyrone. Sir Toby Caulfeild became the fort's governor the following year. By 1611, a "towne" had grown up around the fort, "replenished with many inhabitants of English and Irish, who have built them good houses of coples." It was incorporated as a borough in 1613. Charlemont Fort retained its military significance after Tyrone's Rebellion came to an end. Caulfeild rebuilt the defences in 1622, adding a three-storied governor's house. At the outbreak of the 1641 Rebellion, the fort was taken by Sir Phelim O'Neill in a…

On 15 May 1976, the Ulster Volunteer Force launched two attacks on pubs in Charlemont. A bomb attack on Clancy's Bar left three Catholic civilians dead: 54-year-old Felix Clancy, 22-year-old Sean O'Hagan, and 41-year-old Robert McCullough. Shortly after, a gun attack on the nearby Eagle Bar led to the death of another Catholic civilian: 49-year-old Frederick McLoughlin two weeks later. A UDR soldier was later convicted for taking part in the attacks, which have been linked to the "Glenanne gang".