Limavady

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Limavady
Scots: Limavadie
Irish: Léim an Mhadaidh
Limavady (Northern Ireland)
Limavady

Limavady shown within Northern Ireland
Population 12,135 (2001 Census)
District Limavady Borough
County County Londonderry
Constituent country Northern Ireland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LIMAVADY
Postcode district BT49
Dialling code 028777
Police Northern Ireland
Fire Northern Ireland
Ambulance Northern Ireland
European Parliament Northern Ireland
UK Parliament East Londonderry
Website: www.limavady.gov.uk
List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • County Londonderry

Coordinates: 55°03′11″N 6°56′46″W / 55.053, -6.946

Limavady (IPA: [lɪmə'vadi]) (from the Irish: Léim an Mhadaidh meaning "leap of the dog") is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Benevenagh as a backdrop. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census. Limavady is most famous for the tune Londonderry Air collected by Jane Ross in the mid-19th century from a local musician. The tune was later used for the song Danny Boy and other famous lyrics.

Contents

[edit] Places of interest

Limavady lies in the scenic Roe Valley area and the Roe Valley Country Park on the River Roe lies to the south west of the town. The birthplace of New Zealand prime minister William Massey is on Irish Green Street. Nearby Massey Avenue is also named after William Massey.

The archaeologically significant Broighter Gold collection was found nearby in 1896. It is currently in the National Museum in Dublin.

[edit] History

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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 AD. Early records tell of Saint Columbkille, who presided over a meeting of the Kings at Mullagh Hill, which is just outside Limavady, now part of the Roe Park Golf Resort, in 575 AD.

Celtic Ireland was divided into kingdoms, each ruled by their 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.

[edit] The Troubles

Main articles: The Troubles and The Troubles in Limavady

28 March 1972 - Joseph Forsythe (57) and Robert McMichael (27), both Protestant civilians, were killed in a Provisional Irish Republican Army van bomb explosion outside Limavady Royal Ulster Constabulary base. They were driving past at the time of the attack.

[edit] Administration

The headquarters of Limavady Borough Council are based on Connell Street. Together with the neighbouring district of Coleraine, it forms the East Londonderry constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Road

  • In 2003 a road bypass was completed to the north of Limavady at a cost of £11.5 million.[1] This bypass aimed to reduce the time taken to travel on the A2 between Derry and Coleraine.

[edit] Rail

[edit] Canal

  • The Broharris Canal was constructed in the 1820s when a cut, some 2 miles 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.

[edit] Schools

There are four primary schools, three secondary schools 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 Limegrove 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

  • Roe Valley Integrated Primary
  • Limavady Central Primary School
  • Drumachose Primary School
  • Termoncanice Primary School

Secondary Schools

Special Needs Schools

  • Rossmar Special School (formerly Limegrove)

[edit] Sport

[edit] 2001 Census

Limavady is classified as a Medium Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 10,000 and 18,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 12,135 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
  • 41.6% were from a Catholic background and 56.5% were from a Protestant background
  • 5.1% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

[edit] Famous People from Limavady

Notable people who have come from or have been resident in the town and environs include:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ A2 Limavady bypass. Retrieved on 2007-12-29.
  2. ^ a b Limavady and Limavady Junction stations. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.

[edit] External links

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