Moy was laid out in the 1760s for the Volunteer Earl – the patriot and aesthete James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont – opposite Charlemont Fort across the Blackwater. The formal rectangular market place, with lawns and horse-chestnut trees, was inspired by the square at Bosco Marengo in Lombardy, admired by the young earl during his grand tour of Europe. The houses lining the village square are mostly mid-18th century, though all four churches are later. Moy used to hold a great horse fair, held once a month and lasting a whole week. Moy had town commissioners under the Lighting of Towns Act, 1828 from 1844 until about 1865.
The Troubles
Incidents in Moy during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities: 1973
5 August 1973 - Francis Mullen and Bernadette Mullen, Catholic civilians, were found shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force at their farmhouse, near Moy.
1975
23 October 1975 - Peter McKearney and Jane McKearney, both Catholic civilians, were shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force at their home, Listamlet, near Moy. A contemporary newspaper article reported that " Army issue ammunition" had been used. The attack has been linked to the "Glenanne gang".
1976
17 May 1976 - Robert Dobson and Thomas Dobson, both Protestant civilians, were shot and killed by a non-specific republican group at their workplace, an egg packing factory in Dungannon Street, Moy.
1991
December 1991 - Robin Farmer Protestant civilian was murdered in his father's shop by republicans. He had returned home from university for Christmas.
1992
3 January 1992 - John McKearney and Kevin McKearney, both Catholic civilians, were shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force at their butcher's shop, Moy. John McKearney died on 4 April 1992. They had been targeted because two of Kevin McKearney's brothers had been killed on IRA service and another was a former IRA hunger striker, serving time for his part in the murder of a UDR soldier.
6 September 1992 - Charles Fox and Teresa Fox, both Catholic civilians, were shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force at their home, Listamlet Road, near Moy. Their son, IRA volunteer Paddy Fox, was serving a 10-year prison sentence for possession of a bomb at the time.
Moy features a cast-iron gate and screen set up in the 19th century to provide the grand entrance to the now-vanished Roxborough Castle. The richly modelled metalwork is thought by some to have been the work of the company of the celebrated Dublin iron-founder Richard Turner, best known for his conservatories in Dublin, Belfast and Kew Gardens. Turner designed a conservatory for the house c. 1850.
Moy is classified as a "Large Village" by the . On Census day 2011 there were 2,129 people living in Moy. Of these:
30.0% were aged under 18 years, with 23.0% aged 60 and over
51.0% of the population were male, with 49% female
82.0% were from a Catholic background, with 14.0% from a Protestant background
16% were from a foreign country
25.9% of people aged 18–75 were unemployed.
26% said their nationality was Northern Irish, 61% said their nationality was Irish, 6% said their nationality was British with 7% stating another nationality.
