THE ARMAGH CLUB, NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, CRICKET AND FOOT-BALL CLUBS, ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, PROTESTANT ORPHAN SOCIETY, YOUNG WOMEN 'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, UNITED PROTESTANT: MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, CATHOLIC READING ROOM.

CLUB for the County and City of Armagh has been in existence since 1869. It is called The Armagh Club, and has first-rate quarters in English Street. Mr. John G. Winder, J.P., took the initiative in effecting an organization, and succeeded in securing a member ship of 126. At present there are 108 members, who pay an annual subscription of £3. The entrance fee is £5. Sir John Calvert Stronge, Bart., and St. John Blacker Douglas, are the trustees ; Mr. W. C. Hobson, J.P., is treasurer ; and the secretaries are Mr. John G. Winder, J.P., and Mr. A. W. M 'Creight. The Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society occupies a building on The Mall, in the Grecian style of Architecture. It has about 275 members, paying an annual subscription of 5s. each. The object of the society is to maintain a museum, library, and reading-room, procure qualified persons to deliver lectures, and to hold meetings for mutual improvement, at which occasional debates may be held. To economise space, the reading-room, by the withdrawal of a partition formed of shutters, becomes the stage of the theatre, and the theatre and museum are one. A good collection of specimens has been secured for the illustration of lectures on natural history. The library is well stocked with books in the following departments :-Antiquities, Astronomy, Arts, Biography, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Geology, and Mineralogy, History, Mechanics, Metaphysics, Microscopy, Natural History, Natural Philosophy, Poetry, and general literature. Nearly all the leading magazines, and reviews, and

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a fair representation of the useful weekly and daily newspapers, are supplied to the reading-room. Members may take out books for family use by paying 2s. 6d. a year extra. Every year the Society makes an excursion, to stimulate the taste of the members for natural history and antiquities. The officers for 1888 are Rev. Geo. Robinson, A.M., President ; Mr. E. R. Johnson, Secretary ; Mr. F. L. Martin, Treasurer, and Mr. James Roberts, Librarian. Miss Susan Reid is the Curator. The reading room is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
In 1887 the Armagh Philharmonic Society was established. In spite of the fact that there are so many societies in the city, it immediately became an assured success. Opportunities are afforded to the members, who now number about eighty, for instruction in instrumental as well as vocal music. The concerts given under the auspices of the society, thus far, have been well attended, and the efforts of the management fully appreciated. Outside help has been freely provided. Meetings are held in the Mall Female School and in the Music Hall, Vicars ' Hill, for instrumental practice. The subscription is 7s. 6d. for performing members, and from 5s to 21s. per annum for honorary members. Mr. George De La Poer Beresford, D.L., is president, Rev. W. F. Johnson and Mr. Arthur Nelson, secretaries, Mr. W. J. Gibson, treasurer, and Mr. Thomas Osborne Marks, Mus. Doc., conductor.
The Archery and Lawn-tennis Club is described at page 51.
Armagh has had a first-rate Cricket Club since 1859. At present there are 120 members, paying an annual subscription of 10s. each. A portion of The Mall green is rented at £25 a year, and maintained in excellent order. There is a good pavilion and seats for guests. The club is really an " institution" of Armagh. It has some good men, and its matches, being open to the public, are usually witnessed by a large number of people. This year, out of 28 matches, 17 were played at The Mall. Mr. Geo. D. Beresford, D.L., is president, Mr. Thomas Gordon, treasurer, Mr. W. J. Girvin, secretary. The committee, 1888, includes Messrs. J. A. Allen, G. W. Bowen, W. J. Griffiths, H. J. Harris, E. R. Johnson, Rev. W. M. Morgan, C. H. M 'Callum, W. H. M 'Combe, W. M 'Crum, E. S. Obre, J. G. Sharkey, James Wilson.
Several football clubs maintain an active existence in Armagh and vicinity. The Armagh Rugby Football Club has been established for many years. It has 33 members at present. The subscription this season, 1888, is 7s. 6d. Nearly all the members belong to the Cricket Club, and share its hospitality in the use of The Mall ground.

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The students of the Royal School have a Rugby club, and good ground at the back of the college. Frequently on Saturdays, matches are played at The Mall. Members of the Catholic Reading Room have had a club for two seasons - Association - and there is a flourishing club at Milford, also Association. [soccer]
A desire to improve the breed of poultry and to cultivate a taste for the keeping of song-birds suggested the establishment of the Armagh Ornithological Society. It began its career in 1883, and had the first show in 1884. Mr. Alexander Wallace, 15 Scotch Street, is president, and Mr. James Wilson, secretary and treasurer. There are 50 members. The subscriptions are from 5s to 21s. The show is held in the Tontine Rooms. Mr. W. H. Gillespie won the principal prizes at the last show.
This year the County Armagh Protestant Orphan Society met at Armagh to consider its twentieth annual report. In 1888 the number of orphans was 134, including four apprentices. The total income for 1887 was £1,060 12s. 1d., leaving a balance to credit of £72 5s. 6d., after paying off a debt of £80, incurred in 1886. A bazaar held at Lurgan proved to be the chief source of income. It netted £464 15s. Rev. W. G. Murphy is hon. sec.
Ten years ago the Young Women 's Christian Association, was established. There are 60 members, paying each a subscription of one shilling a year. Honorary members pay 2s. 6d. Miss Mary A. Kidd is secretary, and Mrs. John S. Riggs, treasurer. A Bible Class is held once a week. Once a month there is a Recreation Class, the programme of which consists of vocal and instrumental music, and fancy work for charity bazaars. The special object of the Society is to look after and help girls. Members visit other towns with this view. Asocial tea meeting is held annually. In this friends participate.
Since 1864 the Armagh United Protestant Young Men 's Mutual Improvement Society has been in existence. It assembles in the Protestant Hall, Abbey Street, during the session, October to April. There are stated meetings for essays and debates. In February the annual meeting is held. Over 200 members are in good standing. Mr. Maxwell C. Close, A.M.D.L., is President, Mr. Thomas Newton, Treasurer, and Messrs. Thomas Wright and Richard Patterson, secretaries.
The Catholic Reading Room was established by Dean Byrne, of Dungannon, while Administrator of the parish of Armagh, in 1875. Its headquarters were then in Castle Street. Now they are in Ogle Street. The late Primate McGettigan took a warm interest in the undertaking, and gave it substantial monetary help. The Reading Room is well supplied with newspapers and magazines, and about 400 standard books form the nucleus of a library. There are 200 members paying is. per quarter. Honorary members pay 2s. 6d. per quarter.

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A billiard room, with two tables, is among the attractions. The house belongs to the members. It was bought in October 1887, for £300. Rev. Hugh McOscar, Adm., is spiritual director, Mr. Joseph McParland, treasurer, Mr. John Toole, secretary, Mr. P. Corr, assistant secretary, and Mr. John Campbell, librarian.