Editing Limavady

{{Short description|Town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = Main Street, Limavady - geograph.org.uk - 1455684.jpg
| static_image_width = 240
| static_image_caption = Main Street
| official_name = Limavady
| irish_name = Léim an Mhadaidh
| scots_name = Limavadie<ref>[http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/banagherus.pdf Banagher and Boveagh Churches (Ulster-Scots translation)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830193411/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/banagherus.pdf |date=30 August 2011 }} Department of the Environment.</ref>
| map_type = Northern Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|55.053|-6.946|display=inline,title}}
| population = 11,279
| population_ref = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]])<ref name="2021 pop">{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>
| irish_grid_reference = 
| unitary_northern_ireland = [[Causeway Coast and Glens]]
| country = Northern Ireland
| historic_county = 
| post_town = LIMAVADY
| postcode_area = BT
| postcode_district = BT49
| dial_code = 028
| constituency_westminster = [[East Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)|East Londonderry]]
| constituency_ni_assembly = [[East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)|East Londonderry]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Londonderry]]
| website = [http://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/ Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council]
}}

'''Limavady''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɪ|m|ə|ˈ|v|æ|d|i}}; {{etymology|ga|Léim an Mhadaidh|leap of the dog}}<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/129764 | title = Léim an Mhadaidh/Limavady | website = [[Placenames Database of Ireland]] (logainm.ie) | access-date = 10 August 2022}}</ref>) is a [[market town]] in [[County Londonderry]], [[Northern Ireland]], with [[Binevenagh]] as a backdrop. Lying  {{convert|17|mi|km}} east of [[Derry]] and {{convert|14|mi|km}} southwest of [[Coleraine]], Limavady had a population of 11,279 people at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]].<ref name="2021 pop"/> In the 40 years between 1971 and 2011, Limavady's population nearly doubled.<ref name="PS">{{cite web | title=Limavady | work=Planning Service – Draft Northern Area Plan 2016 | url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/AreaPlans_Policy/Plans/Northern/draft_plan/Volume2/Part6/Limavady/DevelopmentContext&Strategy.htm | access-date=15 July 2008}}{{dead link|date=April 2018}}</ref> 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 southeastern edge of the town. The large industrial estate at Aghanloo is 2&nbsp;miles (3&nbsp;km) north of the town.<ref name="PS"/>

== History ==
[[File:Alexander Hall, Limavady (geograph 4391509) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Limavady Town Hall, now part of the [[Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre]]]]
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 [[Columba|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 Resort.<ref name="CN">{{cite web | title=Limavady | work=Culture Northern Ireland | url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=437 | access-date=15 July 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022419/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=437 |archive-date = 9 June 2008}}</ref>

[[Gaelic Ireland]] was divided into kingdoms, each ruled by its own family or clan. In the Limavady area, the predominant 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.<ref name="CN"/> 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 of Ulster|Plantation]] settlement founded by [[Thomas Phillips (Irish adventurer)|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 [[Thomas Phillips (Irish adventurer)|Sir Thomas Phillips]] by [[King James I of England|King James I]] to distil whiskey.<ref name="Hill1877">{{cite book|author=George Hill|title=An historical account of the plantation in Ulster at the commencement of the seventeenth century, 1608-1620|url=https://archive.org/details/historicalaccoun00hill_0|access-date=31 October 2010|year=1877|publisher=M'Caw, Stevenson & Orr|page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalaccoun00hill_0/page/393 393]}}</ref>

<blockquote>for the next seven years, within the countie of Colrane, otherwise called O Cahanes countrey, or within the territorie called Rowte, in County 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...</blockquote>

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.<ref name="PS"/> Limavady Town Hall, later known as the Alexander Memorial Hall and now part of the [[Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre]], was completed in 1872.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/North-Derry.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029175121/https://www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/North-Derry.pdf |archive-date=2021-10-29 |url-status=live  |title=North Derry|page=8| publisher=Ulster Architectural Heritage Society|date=1 August 1975|first=W. D.|last=Girvan|access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>

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 [[Fleet Air Arm|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.
{{see also|The Troubles in Limavady}}

In 1987, Limavady became famous as the unintended arrival point for the world's first [[Transatlantic crossing|transatlantic]] [[hot air balloon]] crossing by [[Richard Branson]] and [[Per Lindstrand]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-40478397|title=When Branson's balloon hit a Limavady wall|first=Seán|last=O'Halloran|date=4 July 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115072446/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-40478397|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Townlands ==
Limavady sprang up within the [[townland]] of Rathbrady Beg in the parish of Drumachose and was originally known as Newtown Limavady.<ref>[http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/parishes/par108.htm Parish of Drumachose] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006094329/http://applications.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/parishes/par108.htm |date=6 October 2011 }} www.ulsterancestry.com Retrieved 28 June 2010</ref> Over time, the urban area has expanded into the surrounding townlands. These include:<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.placenamesni.org/Index.html
 |title=Northern Ireland Placenames Project
 |access-date=12 June 2010
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001193620/http://www.placenamesni.org/Index.html
 |archive-date= 1 October 2010
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,667986,922053,4 |title=OSI Limavady |publisher=Ordnance Survey Ireland |access-date=2 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829114800/http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,667986,922053,4 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Bovally ({{etymology|ga|Bó Bhaile|townland of cows}})
* Coolessan ({{etymology|ga|Cúil Leasáin|nook of the little fort}})
* Enagh ({{etymology|ga|Eanach|marsh}})
* Killane ({{etymology|ga|Coill Leathan|broad wood}})
* Rathbrady Beg ({{etymology|ga|Ráth Brighde Beag|little fort of St. Brigid}})
* Rathbrady More ({{etymology|ga|Ráth Brighde Mór|great fort of St. Brigid}})

== Politics ==
Limavady is in both the [[Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council]] area and the [[East Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)|East Londonderry]] constituency for elections to the [[Westminster Parliament]] and [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. In 2023, the residents of Limavady district elected 2 [[Democratic Unionist Party]], 1 [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]], 1 [[Sinn Féin]] and 1 [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] councillor to the borough council.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Causeway Coast and Glens result - Northern Ireland Council Elections 2023 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2023/northern-ireland/councils/N09000004 |access-date=2023-09-15}}</ref>

== Places of interest ==
* Limavady lies in the scenic Roe Valley area and the [[Roe Valley Country Park]] on the [[River Roe (Northern Ireland)|River Roe]] lies to the southwest of the town.
* The birthplace of [[New Zealand]] Prime Minister [[William Massey|Rt. Hon. 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 of Ireland|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]]".<ref name="CN"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Dungiven | work=Culture Northern Ireland | url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=444 | access-date=15 July 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022346/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/YourArea.aspx?location=444 |archive-date = 9 June 2008}}</ref>

===Events===
The town hosts events such as the NI Super Cup, the Danny Boy Jazz and Blues Festival, the Roe Valley Folk Festival the [[Stendhal Festival]] of Art, and the Bishop Hervey International Summer School.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.herveysummerschool.com/ |title=Bishop Hervey Summer School - Home |access-date=5 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914200347/http://www.herveysummerschool.com/ |archive-date=14 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Transport ==
Limavady is in close proximity to [[City of Derry Airport]], 9 miles (15&nbsp;km) to the west, and the [[Port of Londonderry]], 13 miles (22&nbsp;km) to the west.<ref name="PS"/>

===Road===
In 2003 a road bypass was completed to the north of Limavady at a cost of £11.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/A2limavadybypass.html|title=A2 Limavady bypass|access-date=29 December 2007|archive-date=5 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905105851/http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/A2limavadybypass.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This bypass aimed to reduce the time taken to travel on the [[A2 road (Northern Ireland)|A2]] between [[Derry]] and [[Coleraine]].

===Rail===
The [[Limavady Railway]] was a branch line to the main [[Belfast–Derry 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. Nowadays it is the site of the bus station, which [[Ulsterbus]] occupies. [[Limavady Junction railway station]] opened on 1 March 1855 and finally closed on 17 October 1976.<ref>{{cite web | title=Limavady and Limavady Junction stations | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=28 October 2007 | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> Limavady is no longer served by the branch line – the nearest station is at [[Bellarena]], approximately {{convert|5|mi|km}} from the town.

[[Bellarena railway station]] has direct trains west to [[Derry ~ Londonderry railway station|Derry~Londonderry]] and east to [[Castlerock railway station|Castlerock]], [[Coleraine railway station|Coleraine]] (for stations to {{stnlnk|Portrush}}), and stations to [[Lanyon Place railway station|Belfast Lanyon Place]] and [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central.]]

An All-Island Review on railways commissioned in 2021 recommended that a short spur of the Limavady branch line be reinstated up to Limavady to restore services.<ref>{{cite web | title=Derry and Donegal links estimated £2-3.2bn, could start 2030-40, be finished 2040-50 | url= https://uk.news.yahoo.com/derry-donegal-rail-links-cost-121819735.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmllLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMw57lUcAagNZQcHBa0HNhKmhKBqXNObo_m2eEhzwUoJzbXqeOpefAmzIhT2iEJH2g5Lb0sB1_X-cvXgp7AyLvU5LfvV5Rb_lnjq1nn9bUotR0_PYpVqCMlqqfdm3ghzOLC7u9KDwoy4bV7920VL48vt0CcsyXzA-mB8Hxp2eMtO |date=26 July 2023|newspaper=Yahoo! News|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

===Canal===
The [[Broharris Canal]] was constructed in the 1820s when a cut, some {{convert|2|mi|km}} long on the south shore of [[Lough Foyle]] near [[Ballykelly, County Londonderry|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.

== 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)|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)

== Sport ==
* [[Limavady GAC|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]]

==Demography==
===2011 census===
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)' religion and 44.41% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion
* 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 dialect|Ulster-Scots]] and 6.43% had some knowledge of [[Irish language|Irish]] (Gaeilge).

===2021 census===
On census day (21 March 2021) there were 11,729 people living in Limavady.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Population {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref> Of these:

* 19.26% were aged under 16, 62.83% were aged between 16-65, and 17.90% were aged 66 and over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Age {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=AGE_BAND_AGG3&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref>
* 51.4% of the usually resident were female and 48.6% were male.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Sex (MS-A07) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=UR_SEX&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref>
* 47.6% belong to or were brought up [[Protestantism|Protestant]] (including other Christian-related denominations), 45.65% belong to or were brought up [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], 0.45% belong to or were brought up in an 'other' religion, and 6.3% [[Irreligion|did not adhere to]] or weren't brought up in any religion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |website=NISRA |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>
* 39.93% indicated that they had a British only identity, 26.47% had a Northern Irish only identity, 18.51% had an Irish only identity, 3.78% had an 'other' national identity and the remaining 11.31% indicated a mixture of identities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for National identity (person based) - basic detail (classification 1) (MS-B15) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BASIC&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref> When accounting for the fact respondents could select multiple national identities, 50.6% indicated that they had a British identity,<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> 37.45% had a Northern Irish identity,<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> and 22.20% had an Irish identity.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>
* 10.24% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots and 8.15% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Knowledge of Ulster-Scots (MS-B08) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=ULSTER_SCOTS_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview data for Knowledge of Irish (MS-B05) {{!}} NISRA Flexible Table Builder |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/viewdata?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=IRISH_SKILLS_INTERMEDIATE&~SETTLEMENT15=N11000410 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=build.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Robert Bradford (Northern Irish politician)|Rev. Robert Bradford MP]] - Methodist Minister and MP for South Belfast. Murdered by the [[Provisional IRA]] on 14 November 1981.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/robert-bradfords-widow-norah-the-murder-of-another-mp-sir-david-amess-filled-me-with-horror-i-know-what-his-family-are-suffering-41023438.html|title=Robert Bradford's widow Norah: 'The murder of another MP, Sir David Amess, filled me with horror. I know what his family are suffering.'|date=6 November 2021|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[David Brewster (politician)|David Brewster]] LLB - noted Solicitor and former UUP Forum member for East Londonderry 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tributes paid to popular Limavady solicitor David Brewster who died suddenly |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-paid-to-popular-limavady-solicitor-david-brewster-who-died-suddenly-39991901.html |website=belfasttelegraph |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304011442/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-paid-to-popular-limavady-solicitor-david-brewster-who-died-suddenly-39991901.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[John Deighan]] – [[Derry GAA]] [[Gaelic football]]er and SDLP Councillor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/gaa-player-selected-new-sdlp-councillor-776104|title=GAA player selected as new SDLP councillor|date=3 June 2016|newspaper=Derry Journal| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Denis Desmond|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/dVHvPxaOMXL9XxKQhe2YMqq53C0/appointments|title=Denis Fitzgerald Desmond|publisher=Companies House| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[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 from 1998 to 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/unionist-councillor-boyd-douglas-defamed-sinn-fein-representative-anne-brolly-29913467.html|title=Unionist councillor Boyd Douglas defamed Sinn Fein representative Anne Brolly|date=14 January 2014|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[William Douglas (Northern Ireland politician)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northernirelandworld.com/news/opinion/letters/orange-awards-2012-2718819|title=Orange Awards 2012|date=15 December 2012|newspaper=Northern Ireland World| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[George Downing (politician)|George Downing]] – seventeenth-century politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=5880&js=true|title=Listing building details: Walworth House 11 Walworth Road Ballykelly Limavady Co Londonderry BT49 9JU|publisher=Department for Communities| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>John F. Harbinson, ''The Ulster Unionist Party, 1882-1973'', p.206</ref>
* Very. Rev. [[Victor Griffin]] – formerly Dean of [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-flow-in-for-inspirational-former-derry-dean-victor-griffin-35363727.html|title=Tributes flow in for 'inspirational' former Derry Dean Victor Griffin|date=13 January 2017|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Ruth Kelly]] – Labour MP and former Cabinet Minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/17/highereducation.schools|title=The Guardian profile: Ruth Kelly|date=17 December 2004|newspaper=The Guardian| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Andrew Kinnear]] - (ca 1750 – May 23, 1818) was an Irish-born political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Westmorland in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1786 to 1792.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newirelandnb.ca/Genealogies-K/Kinnear.html |title=Kinnear |accessdate=2011-01-31 |publisher=Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706190959/https://www.newirelandnb.ca/Genealogies-K/Kinnear.html |archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[John Andrew Long|Senator John Andrew Long]] - Former Chairman of Limavady Rural Council and Northern Ireland Senator 1921-1941 (elected) Deputy Speaker 1927–28; Deputy Leader 1930–41, Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland|Prime Minister]] from 1930 to 1941.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2oYLpUUiDkAC|title=Parliamentary Debates (official Report)|volume=15|publisher= Northern Ireland Parliament|year=1932|page=329}}</ref>
* [[Charles Logue (builder)|Charles Logue]] (1858–1919) - born Limavady, founded the Charles Logue Building Company in Boston. It constructed many churches, as well as Fenway Park baseball stadium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles Logue |url=https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/collection/p15774coll6/id/3563 |publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Boston]] |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cjYeAQAAIAAJ|title=The Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1929-1969|page=26|year=1976|publisher=Heinemann Medical Books}}</ref>
* [[William Lowry|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]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TIovAQAAIAAJ|title=The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal|year=1949|volume=83|page=328|publisher=John Falconer}}</ref>
* [[William Massey|William Ferguson Massey]] – 19th [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]] (from 1912 to 1925) was born and educated in the town before migrating.<ref>{{DNZB|Gustafson|Barry|2m39|Massey, William Ferguson|10 December 2011||Barry Gustafson}}</ref> 
* [[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 [[North West Senior Cup (football)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/home/661009/bansha-man-thomas-st-george-mccarthy-the-only-gaa-founder-excluded-from-honoured-memory.html|title=Bansha man, Thomas St George McCarthy, the only GAA founder excluded from honoured memory|date=2 September 2021|newspaper=Tipperary Live| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Maurice McCausland|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]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8S41AAAAIAAJ|title=Reports|issue=473–513|publisher= Northern Ireland Parliament|year=1939|page=19}}</ref>
* Judge [[John McCunn]] (1820–1872) Judge of the Superior Court New York from 1863 to 1870<ref>Londonderry Journal 24 August 1864</ref>
* [[Jimmy McCurry]] (1830–1910) – folk musician, traditionally associated with the [[Londonderry Air]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://niarchive.org/projectitems/the-blind-fiddler/|title=The Blind Fiddler|publisher=Northern Ireland Archive|  access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Gerry Mullan (footballer)|Gerry Mullan]] – Former [[Glentoran]], [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Northern Ireland]] footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/footballer/Mullan+Gerry/22259|title=Gerry Mullan|publisher=Where are they now?| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[David Ogilby (soldier)|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.<ref>''Londonderry Journal'', 24 October 1772 (reporting his death).</ref>
*[[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.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Porter, John Scott|volume=46}}</ref>
* [[William Porter (Attorney General)|William Porter]] – His Majesty's Attorney General at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa<ref>Londonderry Journal 24 August 1964</ref>
* [[Muriel Robertson|Dr. Muriel Robertson FRS]], protozoologist and bacteriologist<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Bishop | first1 = A. | last2 = Miles | first2 = A. | doi = 10.1098/rsbm.1974.0014 | title = [[Muriel Robertson FRS|Muriel Robertson]]. 1883-1973 | journal = [[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] | volume = 20 | pages = 316–347 | year = 1974 | jstor = 769644| pmid = 11615759| s2cid = 26594618 }}</ref>
* [[William Ross (Unionist politician)|Willie Ross]] - Former Limavady Councillor and MP for Londonderry then East Londonderry 1974–2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/73-81lglimavady.htm|title=The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Limavady|publisher=Northern Ireland Elections| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Teevan (Unionist politician)|Thomas Teevan LLB MP]] - West Belfast MP and youngest Limavady Urban Council Chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2269|title= Thomas Teevan|publisher=Elections Ireland| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Young (Irish politician)|Samuel Young]] (1822–1918), MP, was Limavady Brewery's founder.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2018/08/02/news/headline-1396873/|title='Gaelic Sunday' 1918: When the GAA opposed British forces' oppression|date=2 August 2018|newspaper=The Irish News| access-date=20 November 2022}}</ref>
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== See also ==
{{Commons category|Limavady}}
*[[List of localities in Northern Ireland by population]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Limavady}}
* [http://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/ Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council]
* [http://www.roevalley.com/ Limavady and the Roe Valley] by Jochen Lueg

{{NorthernIrishTowns}}
{{County Londonderry}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Limavady| ]]
[[Category:Towns in County Londonderry]]