TRIBUTE TO SAD PASSING OF MARGARET MCMANUS WHO HELPED TO SAVE MILFORD HOUSE
Tributes have poured in to sad passing of Margaret McManus who was long serving
Trustee of Milford Buildings Preservation Trust and former Chairperson. Margaretpassed away on Saturday 22 nd June 2025 after long illness. She served as a Trusteeand for many years Chairperson of Milford Buildings Preservation Trust until herretirement last year.
Milford Buildings Preservation Trust was established to protect, promote preserveand restore Milford House Co. Armagh its gardens and parkland and the built and natural heritage of the area. It became a registered charity in 2005. Milford House,the extraordinary home of the is the former home of the remarkable McCrum family,linen manufacturers who revolutionized the linen industry. Famous for being firsthouse in Ireland to be lit with hydroelectricity and for having a proper waterfall in theDining Room!. Today it is world famous for being home of William McCrum inventorof penalty kick rule! It is one of the top twelve listed buildings at most serious risk in Northern Ireland.
Stephen McManus explained “I set up the Trust as a teenager to save Milford House to work with Armagh City and District Council who owned Milford House to help themfind new use for the house. It had been derelict since closure of Manor HouseSpecial Care in 1994 and all but forgotten about. Armagh City and District Councilwere selling the property under what transpired to be a highly controversial sale. I was not always able to attend meetings due to school. My mother Margaret had notraining in heritage but was instrumental in uncovering what was happening. She was a remarkable person with enormous generousity and dedication. When Council officers were often dismissive of our members, and Councillors often ignored her, thinking she was ‘just a woman’- Margaret regardless stood her ground determined to help advise the Council at meetings”.
On the night in March 2022 when the Council signed the controversial sale of MilfordHouse, many in the Trust were ready to give up in despair. Margaret said no we will fight on. And when the BBC came out to Milford for handing over the keys Margaret was interviewed and spoke against the sale, even though she was not used totelevision interviews.
. Between 2007 and 2009 the Trustundertook a caretaker’s agreement of Milford House Gate Lodge which had been derelict. Mary Lester the Treasurer will never forget, when the roof needed repaired and cleaned Margaret was up on the roof cleaning it herself. She painted part of the Parlour and was on her knees lifting the old floor tiles. On the night of the official opening of the Gate Lodge, Margaret decided to host and arrange a buffet in herhouse 48 Hill Street Milford for member of the McCrum family. Indeed over the lasttwenty years Margaret hosted many visitors media and dignitaries in her house, usually serving them tea in Royal Albert that she collected. As result of the Trust’s restoration work on Milford House Gate Lodge it was declared a B1 listed building in 2009.
When plans were submitted for a retirement village for Milford House in 2014. As Chairperson, Margaret was among the Trustees invited to meet with Planning Authority’s in Belfast. She advised them on the merits and problems of the application and on the importance of the heritage. The Application was later turned down by the Minister as “unacceptable in its entirety” Over the years Margaret quietly played an important role in protecting Milford House and built and natural heritage in Northern Ireland. Despite not being confident she attended meetings with government and other officials.
When the Milford House collections opened to public in 2005 and tour guides were needed Margaret stepped in and started giving house tours. She was a popular guide and welcomed visitors all over the world. She travelled all over Northern Ireland meeting people connected with Milford House and in search for lost artworks from the house. In the Armagh Georgian Festival Milford House events Margaret regularly Georgian character played Mrs. Ogle (who was so wealthy no one knewhow wealthy she was). Margaret was always helping serve and prepare for theextremely popular Silver Service afternoon Teas that Milford House host.Trust Patron, the Rev. John Miller (a great grandson of Robert Garmany McCrumwho built Milford House) said he was very sorry to hear of the sad passing of
Margaret. He said he and his wife Joan thought very highly of her. The Millers always asked about her and visited Margaret and her family when they visited from Scotland.
Margaret McManus (left) as Mrs. Ogle and Mary Lester (right)as Miss Cust at Milford House during Armagh Georgian Festival
Outside of work for Milford Buildings Preservation Trust Margaret was a nurse for many years. The daughter of Thomas and Rose she was born in Bessbrook (but grew up in Camlough), she trained as a nurse at St. Margaret’s in Birkenhead before transferring to Laganvalley Hospital in Lisburn where she met lifelong friends Anne Carmichael and Maureen Gault. In 1980 she married very popular Armagh journalist Joe McManus. They had three children Stephen, Catherine and Jane. Afterher marriage she transferred to Armagh City Hospital and later to Mullinure Hospitalwhen Armagh City Hospital closed. After taking early retirement she worked in Sunnymead and later as receptionist at Armagh Observer. She had many wonderful stories of her nursing days. A devoted wife, mother and proud grandmother to Emma Jane, she believed strongly in cross community. Margaret never sought recognition for the work she did helping save Milford House and its heritage for the benefit of the nation. Thanks to her work Milford House is still standing and now world famous. An ambassador for Milford House heritage, the Trustees and colleagues are devastated at her loss. Deepest sympathy to her family and friends
.