Limavady facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Limavady Scots: Limavadie Irish: Léim a' Mhadaidh
Main Street
Limavady
Population	12,032 (United Kingdom Census 2011)
District	Causeway Coast and Glens
County	County Londonderry
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LIMAVADY
Postcode district	BT49
Dialling code	028

Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland

EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	East Londonderry
NI Assembly	East Londonderry
Website	www.limavady.gov.uk
List of places UK Northern Ireland County Londonderry 55°03′11″N 6°56′46″W / 55.053°N 6.946°W / 55.053; -6.946

Limavady ( from Irish Léim a' Mhadaidh, meaning 'leap of the dog') is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. Lying 17 miles (27 km) east of Derry and 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Coleraine, Limavady had a population of 12,032 people at the 2011 Census. In the 40 years between 1971 and 2011, Limavady's population nearly doubled. Limavady is within Causeway Coast and Glens Borough.

From 1988 to 2004, a total of 1,332 dwellings were built in the town, mainly at Bovally along the south eastern edge of the town. The large industrial estate at Aghanloo is 2 miles (3 km) north of the town.

Features

Limavady has undergone sustained growth during the past fifty years thanks to significant modern industrial development and public perception of the town as attractive and residential. Limavady, a lucrative service hub for the Roe Valley, has seen competition from other retail centres: Derry, Coleraine and, to a lesser extent, Ballymena. One of the distinctive features of the town's growth has been the predominant southward and eastward expansion of its suburbs, with the River Roe flood plain continuing to contain the town to the west and north. From 1988 to 2004, a total of 1,332 dwellings were built in the town, mainly at Bovally along the south eastern edge of the town. The large industrial estate at Aghanloo is 2 miles (3 km) north of the town.

History

Limavady and its surrounding settlements derive from Celtic roots, although no-one is sure about the exact date of Limavady's origins. Estimates date from around 5 CE. Early records tell of Saint Columba, who presided over a meeting of the Kings at Mullagh Hill near Limavady in 575 CE, a location which is now part of the Roe Park Golf Resort.

Gaelic Ireland was divided into kingdoms, each ruled by its own family or clan. In the Limavady area, the predominate family was the O'Cahans. Their mark is found everywhere in the town and surrounding area. O'Cahan's Rock is one of Limavady's main historical points. This is where, according to local myth, a dog belonging to one of the Chiefs jumped the river to get help from nearby clans after a surprise enemy attack. This gave Limavady its name, Limavady being the anglicised version of Leim an Mhadaidh, which means leap of the dog. This rock, along with other relics of Limavady's history, can be seen at Roe Valley Country Park.

The town developed from a small Plantation settlement founded by Sir Thomas Phillips. In 1610 Sir Thomas Phillips was granted 13,100 acres of land at Limavady which included an O’Cahan castle. He commenced the building of the ‘Newtown of Limavady’ which was laid out in a cruciform road pattern. Newtown Limavady was incorporated, with the appointment of a Provost and 12 Burgesses, on 31 March 1613 with a charter granted by King James I. By 1622, 18 one-storey houses and an inn had been built and they were centred on the crossroads which contained a flagpole, a cross and stocks.

Limavady had an early association with the linen and Irish whiskey industries. In 1608, a licence was granted to Sir Thomas Phillips by King James I to distil whiskey.

for the next seven years, within the countie of Colrane, otherwise called O Cahanes countrey, or within the territorie called Rowte, in Co. Antrim, by himselfe or his servauntes, to make, drawe, and distil such and soe great quantities of aquavite, usquabagh and aqua composita, as he or his assignes shall thinke fitt; and the same to sell, vent, and dispose of to any persons, yeeldinge yerelie the somme 13s 4d...

The Limavady Distillery was founded in 1750 on the banks of the River Roe. Limavady, however, did not benefit from subsequent expansion of linen manufacturing in the 19th century. As a result it remained a modest sized market town until the late 20th century.

In 1941 RAF Limavady, a base for air patrols over the Atlantic during World War II, was opened just to the north of the town. The RAF left the base in 1945 but it continued as a naval air station until 1958, when the land was returned to agricultural use.

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, four people were killed in or near Limavady by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Two were members of the security forces and two were civilians who were killed by a bomb as they drove past Limavady Royal Ulster Constabulary station.

Townlands

Limavady sprang up within the townland of Rathbrady Beg in the parish of Drumachose and was original known as Newtown Limavady. Over time, the urban area has expanded into the surrounding townlands. These include:

Bovally (from Irish Bó Bhaile, meaning 'townland of cows')
Coolessan (from Irish Cúil Leasáin, meaning 'nook of the little fort')
Enagh (from Irish Eanach, meaning 'marsh')
Killane (from Irish Coill Leathan, meaning 'broad wood')
Rathbrady Beg (from Irish Ráth Brighde Beag, meaning 'little fort of St. Brigid')
Rathbrady More (from Irish Ráth Brighde Mór, meaning 'great fort of St. Brigid')

Places of interest

Limavady lies in the scenic Roe Valley area and the Roe Valley Country Park on the River Roe lies to the southwest of the town.
The birthplace of New Zealand prime minister William Massey is on Irish Green Street. Nearby Massey Avenue is named after him.
The archaeologically significant Broighter Gold collection was found nearby in 1896. It is currently in the National Museum in Dublin.
Jane Ross, who first transcribed Londonderry Air, was born and lived in Limavady. A plaque is shown above her old house on Main Street.

Popular culture

Danny Boy

Limavady is most famous for the tune "Londonderry Air" collected by Jane Ross in the mid-19th century from a local fiddle player. The tune was later (ca. 1913) used for the song "Danny Boy".

Between the 12th and 17th centuries, the area was ruled by the O'Cahan clan. "Danny Boy" is taken from a melody composed by O'Cahan bard Rory Dall O'Cahan. The original version concerns the passing of the Chief Cooey-na-Gall whose death brought an end to a long line of O'Cahan chiefs in Northern Ireland.

Events

The town hosts international events such as the Danny Boy Festival, the Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival, the Roe Valley Folk Festival the Stendhal Festival of Art, and the Bishop Hervey International Summer School.

Transport

Limavady is in close proximity to City of Derry Airport, 9 miles (15 km) to the west, and the Port of Londonderry, 13 miles (22 km) to the west.

Road

In 2003 a road bypass was completed to the north of Limavady at a cost of £11.5 million. This bypass aimed to reduce the time taken to travel on the A2 between Derry and Coleraine.

Rail

The Limavady Railway was a branch line to the main Derry – Belfast line. Limavady railway station opened on 29 December 1852, closed for passenger traffic on 3 July 1950 and finally closed altogether on 2 May 1955. Limavady Junction railway station opened on 1 March 1855 and finally closed on 17 October 1976. Limavady is no longer served by the branch line – the nearest station is at Bellarena, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) from the town.

Bellarena railway station has direct trains west to Derry and east to Castlerock, Coleraine (for stations to Portrush), and stations to Belfast Central and Belfast Great Victoria Street.

Canal

The Broharris Canal was constructed in the 1820s when a cut, some 2 miles (3.2 km) long on the south shore of Lough Foyle near Ballykelly was made in the direction of Limavady. The inhabitants of Limavady appealed for the building of a canal from Lough Foyle to the town but were turned down, and the Broharris Canal was the nearest they came to achieving such a navigable link.

2011 Census

Limavady is classified as a medium town by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (March 2011) there were 12,043 people living in Limavady. Of these:

25.4% were aged under 16 years and 14.3% were aged 60 and over
48.8% of the population were male and 51.2% were female

5343 were from a Catholic background and 6236 were from a Protestant background

5.1% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Demography

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 12,032 people living in Limavady (4,759 households), accounting for 0.66% of the NI total. Of these:

21.52% were aged under 16 years and 13.54% were aged 65 and over;
51.37% of the usually resident population were female and 48.63% were male;
51.83% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' faith and 44.41% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith;
56.27% indicated that they had a British national identity, 31.08% had a Northern Irish national identity and 18.47% had an Irish national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity);
37 years was the average (median) age of the population;
9.20% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots and 6.43% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaelic).

Sport

Wolfhounds GAC is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club
Limavady United F.C.
Roe Valley F.C.
Roe Rovers F.C.
Newtowne F.C.
Drummond Cricket Club
Limavady rugby club
Roe Valley Cycling Club

Education

There are four primary schools, three secondary schools, a regional college and a special needs school in Limavady. Limavady's schools are closely located in an 'education circle'. The three secondary schools are all located along the same stretch of road (Ballyquin Road and Irish Green Street), with Rossmar Special School opposite Limavady Grammar School, Termoncanice Primary opposite Limavady High School and St. Mary's High School. Limavady Central Primary School is located a short distance from the other schools.

Primary schools

Termoncanice Primary School
Roe Valley Integrated Primary
Limavady Central Primary School
Drumachose Primary School
Gaelscoil Leim an mhadaidh

Secondary schools

St Mary's High School
Limavady Grammar School
Limavady High School

Regional college

North West Regional College

Special needs schools

Rossmar Special School (formerly Limegrove/Greystone Hall)

Notable people

David Brewster LLB - noted Solicitor and former UUP Forum member for East Londonderry 1996.
John Deighan – Derry GAA Gaelic footballer and SDLP Councillor.
Sir Denis Desmond KCVO, CBE (Born 1943) is a retired British company director and public administrator, who was Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry from 2000 to 2018. Lives in Bellarena House just outside Limavady.
Boyd Douglas (born 13 July 1950) - Councillor on Limavady Borough Council and later Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council from 1997 - 2014. He also served as MLA for East Londonderry 1998 -2003.
William Douglas - Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He rose to prominence as Limavady District Master in the Orange Order. From 1960 to 1973, he served on Limavady Rural District Council. He was then elected in Londonderry for the Ulster Unionist Party at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election, and held his seat on the Constitutional Convention and at the 1982 Assembly.
George Downing – seventeenth-century politician.
Senator John Cherry Drennan CBE JP born 1899 died 1983) Drennan studied at Foyle College before working as a farmer in the Limavady area. He became active in the Ulster Unionist Party, and served for it in the Senate of Northern Ireland from 1961 until it was prorogued in 1972. Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry 1965 - 1974.
Very. Rev. Victor Griffin – formerly Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Ruth Kelly – Labour MP and former Cabinet Minister.
Andrew Kinnear - (ca 1750 – May 23, 1818)[1] was an Irish-born political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Westmorland in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1786 to 1792.
George Leeke Junior – (died 30 March 1939) was an Irish nationalist politician. He was educated at St Columb's College. The family continued to run the family businesses established by their father and had the fishery, the hotel at Magilligan Point and The Portrush Hotel on Main Street of Portrush (run by sisters Jennie, Maggie and Rose). George is also listed as a Grain and General Merchant in Portrush. He was elected to Londonderry County Council for the Nationalist Party. In the 1921 Northern Ireland general election, Leeke was elected in the Londonderry seat, although he did not take his seat until 1926. In 1929 his seat was abolished, and he instead won the Mid-Derry seat, which he held until his death in 1939. He was active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Senator John Andrew Long - Former Chairman of Limavady Rural Council and Northern Ireland Senator 1921-d1941 (elected) Deputy Speaker 1927–28; Deputy Leader 1930–41, Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister from 1930 to 1941.
Professor Charles Gibson Lowry FRCOG (1880 - 1951) surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast. In 1921 he became professor of midwifery at Belfast and a Pro-Chancellor of, Queen's University, Belfast. He was a foundation fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He served with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War.
Rt. Hon. William Lowry MP - (19 March 1884 – 14 December 1949) was an Irish barrister, judge, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament, and Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
William Ferguson Massey – 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand (from 1912 to 1925) was born and educated in the town before migrating.
Thomas St George McCarthy (1862–1943) – was an Ireland rugby union international and founder member of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He also played soccer for Limavady FC when he was stationed in the town in 1888, and captained both the town's football and cricket clubs. He was a double winner of the County Londonderry senior cup in football and the inaugural County Londonderry Senior cricket cup final in 1888. He rose to become vice-president of the North West of Ireland Football Association and captain of the County Londonderry representative cricket side that played against the Northern Cricket Union.
Rt. Hon. Maurice Marcus McCausland - He was High Sheriff of County Londonderry in 1908, and in 1926, he was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry, serving until his death. In 1934, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland.
Judge John McCunn [1820-1872] Judge of the Superior Court New York, [1863-1870]
Jimmy McCurry (1830–1910) – folk musician, traditionally associated with the Londonderry Air.
Rev. James McGregor – was a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian minister who led a migration from the Bann Valley in Ireland, to Nutfield, New Hampshire, in 1718. Born in Magilligan 1677.
Gerry Mullan – Former Glentoran, Everton and Northern Ireland footballer.
Sir David Ogilby (1755 - 1834) was born in Limavady, County Londonderry, and went to India to serve with the East India Company. After twenty-two years he was knighted and returned to Ireland. He wrote and published poems, which included translations of Indian poets, in Walker's Hibernian Magazine in 1804.
John Scott Porter (31 December 1801 – 5 July 1880) educated locally and at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. For a time he was a schoolteacher and edited The Christian Observer in London. In 1826 he became a Presbyterian minister, and from 1831 he had a congregation at Rosemary Street, Belfast. In 1838 he was appointed Professor of Theology and in 1851 Professor of Hebrew to the Association of Irish Non-Subscribing Presbyterians. He edited the Christian Moderator and the Bible Christian and was a prolific theological writer. Among his works was Principles of Textual Criticism, published in 1848. He was devoted to the preservation of the Irish language.
William Porter [His Majesty's Attorney General at the Cape of Good Hope], South Africa
Dr. Muriel Robertson FRS, protozoologist and bacteriologist
Willie Ross - Former Limavady Councillor and MP for Londonderry then East Londonderry 1974–2001.
Thomas Teevan LLB MP - West Belfast MP and youngest Limavady Urban Council Chairman.
Bronagh Waugh- Actress, most notably from Hollyoaks.
Professor Thomas Witherow (29 May 1824 – 25 January 1890) He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in Maghera, County Londonderry, when he was twenty-one years old, and in 1865 was appointed Professor of Church History in Londonderry. He wrote many theological works and published in journals. Among his publications are Derry and Enniskillen; The Boyne and Aghrim and Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism in two volumes, 1879–1880. He gained a Doctorate in Divinity and a Doctorate of Laws.
Samuel Young (1822–1918), MP, was Limavady Brewery founder.

Images for kids

Limavady Town Hall, now part of the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre