LIMAVADY ,Dungiven and the Roe Valley

Pictures, information and links.

LIMAVADY BOROUGH is situated in the North-West of Northern Ireland.
The borough is made up of the fertile Roe Valley and an encircling arm of the Sperrin Mountains,bounded on the North by Lough Foyle and the Atlantic Ocean. It's main town Limavady has a population of approx. 12000.
The name Limavady comes from the Gaelic and means "Leap of the Dog". It relates to the legend of a dog that jumped a gorge on the River Roe bringing warning of an unexpected enemy attack.
The town of limavady was known as Newton-Limavady until 1870 and was settled and built by Sir Thomas Phillips in the early seventeenth century.
Famous citizens include Miss Jane Ross who first recorded Danny Boy (The Londonderry Air) which she heard being played by a street fiddler,and William Massey Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925.
William Massey's statue can be found outside the Limavady Library and Borough Council Offices.
Statue of William Massey
William Makepeace Thackeray visited Limavady in the early nineteenth century. He stayed at an inn on Ballyclose Street and wrote the poem "Peg of Limavady" in honour of the innkeeper's daughter.
This poem appeared in his Irish Sketch book and it's most famous lines are:

"Beauty is not rare In the land of Paddy Fair beyond compare Is Peg of Limavady"

The famous celtic ornaments which comprise the Broighter Gold were found in a field close to Limavady town.
Other towns in the district include:

  Dungiven with its Augustinian priory and its castle.

The name Dungiven means "Given's fort" and it is a pleasant market town situated where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg converge at the foot of the 1535 foot Benbradagh mountain next to the magnificent Glenshane Pass, the road rising to 1000 feet on its way towards Belfast.
Dungiven's Augustinian Priory was founded in 1100 A.D. It contains the finely carved tomb of Cooey-na-Gal O'Cahan, a local chieftain who died in 1385.

Near Dungiven is the beautiful Banagher Glen, popular with ornithologists. It leads up to the magnificent Altaheglish Reservoir, an impressive lake set up in the mountains, surrounded by forest.
Dungiven Castle

Dungiven Castle offers quality budget self-catering accommodation within
the magnificent Castle set in its own 22 acres of parkland.

Ballykelly contains some of the most interesting buildings erected in Ulster by the Plantation companies.

Between Limavady and Ballykelly is the Rough Fort, a prehistoric earthwork fort in the care of the National Trust. Nearby is Sampson's Tower, a fortified structure built by public subscription in memory of Arthur Sampson who for 40 years was an agent of the London Fishmonger's Company.

  Other villages and hamlets include Aghanloo, Bellarena, Bolea, Burnfoot, Drumsurn, Feeny, Glack, Gortnaghey, Greysteel and Myroe.

Places of interest include:
Benone Beach and Tourist Complex
Benone Beach is a beautiful Blue Flag Beach - part of Ireland's longest beach, Magilligan Strand.

   Benone Strand
Benone Tourist Complex boasts a nine hole golf course,tennis courts,caravan park,bowling green, adventure play area,etc.
Benone Tourist Complex





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