Limavady

Town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 26 km/16 mi east of the city of Londonderry; population (2002) 12,100. There is a large clothing manufacturer, and smaller light industries. The town was founded in the 17th century by Thomas Phillips during the plantation of Ulster by English settlers.

St Canice was born near Limavady at Drumramer in 526. Limavady was also the birthplace in 1856 of William Massey, prime minister of New Zealand 1912–25.

Roe Valley country park nearby includes an exhibition centre; in the park is the Mullagh, a small hill reputed to be the site of the Convention of Druim Ceatt in 575, attended by St Columba (Colum Cille), at which various political matters were discussed, including the future of the kingdom of Scotland.

The Irish melody known as the Londonderry Air, better known as ‘Danny Boy’, was first written down in Limavady by Jane Ross in 1851 (although it originally derived from an itinerant fiddler called MacCormick).

Limavady

Administrative region in the north of Northern Ireland, covering the north-central area of County Londonderry/Derry; area 586 sq km/226 sq mi; population (2002) 32,400. The towns under the council's remit include Limavady, Dungiven, and Ballykelly. The principal sources of employment include textiles, agriculture, engineering, information technology, the communications industry, retail, tourism, and construction.