Editing Magilligan

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name                = Magilligan
| irish_name                   = Ard Mhic Giollagáin
| scots_name                   =
| local_name                   = 
| static_image_name            = Magilligan Point from Gortmore - geograph.org.uk - 4585711.jpg
| static_image_caption         = View of Magilligan Point and [[Inishowen]] beyond
| map_type                     = Northern Ireland
| coordinates                  = {{coord|55.187|-6.958|display=inline,title}}
| belfast_distance_mi          = 
| unitary_northern_ireland     = [[Causeway Coast and Glens]]
| civil_parish                 = Magilligan
| population                   = 578
| population_ref               = ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
| irish_grid_reference         = H8396
| country                      = Northern Ireland
| post_town                    = 
| postcode_area                = BT
| postcode_district            = BT49
| dial_code                    = 028
| constituency_westminster     = [[Londonderry East (UK Parliament constituency)|Londonderry East]]
| constituency_ni_assembly     = [[Londonderry East (Assembly constituency)|Londonderry East]]
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = [[County Londonderry]] 
}}
'''Magilligan''' is a [[peninsula]] at the mouth of [[Lough Foyle]] in [[County Londonderry]], Northern Ireland. It is an extensive {{convert|79000|acre|ha|abbr=off|adj=on}} coastal site, part military firing range and part nature reserve, and is home to [[HM Prison Magilligan]].<ref name="eoceanic"/><ref name="prison"/> The tip of the peninsula, which lies less than a mile from [[Greencastle, County Donegal|Greencastle]] in [[County Donegal]], is known as '''Magilligan Point'''. The two are linked by a ferry service.

==History==
The peninsula historically belonged to a district known as "MacGilligan's Country", which formed a major part of the [[Barony (Ireland)|barony]] of [[Keenaght (barony)|Keenaght]].<ref name="eoceanic">{{cite web|url=https://eoceanic.com/sailing/harbours/160/magilligan_point|title=Magilligan Point|publisher=Eoceanic.com|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

Magilligan served as the base line for triangulation for the [[Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland|mapping of Ireland]] in the 19th century. [[Thomas Frederick Colby|Colonel Thomas Colby]] chose Magilligan due to the flatness of the strand and its proximity to Scotland which, along with the rest of Britain, had been accurately mapped in previous decades. A straight line precisely {{convert|30533|feet|m}} was measured from North Station to Ballykelly in 1828, from which all other references were measured. The survey finished in 1846 when [[County Kerry]] was mapped.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exics12jmtwC&q=Magilligan+colonel+thomas+colby&pg=PA190|title=Ingenious Ireland: A County-by-County Exploration of the Mysteries |publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2003|pages=190–2|author=Mary L. Mulvihill|isbn=9780684020945 }}</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:Magilligan_Martello_Tower.jpg|thumb|right|Magilligan Martello Tower]]
There is a well-preserved [[Martello Tower]] at Magilligan Point, built between 1815 and 1817. It is one of the northernmost of the 74 towers built along the coasts of Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://discovernorthernireland.com/Magilligan-Martello-Tower-Limavady-P2926/ |title=Magilligan Martello Tower
 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=discovernorthernireland.com |publisher= Discover Northern Ireland |access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> 

[[HM Prison Magilligan]] is situated along the main road (Point Road) running out to Magilligan Point. It opened in 1972 and has a capacity of 568 prisoners.<ref name="prison">{{cite web|url=https://www.prisonphone.co.uk/prison-finder/magilligan-prison/|title=Magilligan Prison|date=24 April 2015 |publisher=Prisonphone.co.uk|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Ferry slip, Magilligan Point (geograph 4026589).jpg|thumb|Ferry slip, Magilligan Point]]
[[File:Magilligan_ferry_-_geograph.org.uk_-_895050.jpg|thumb|The ferry to Greencastle]]
It is close to [[Bellarena railway station]] and there is a ferry service which operates during the summer season, connecting Magilligan with Greencastle across the lough.<ref name="eoceanic"/> 

During the 19th century the [[Londonderry & Coleraine Railway]] operated a [[Londonderry & Coleraine Railway#Magilligan Point Branch|short-lived tramway]] between the village of [[Magilligan railway station|Magilligan]] and the settlement of [[Magilligan Point railway station|Magilligan Point]]. Opening in July 1885 and closing in October 1885, it is the shortest-lived passenger railway line in Ireland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Johnson |first= Steven |date=2002-06-15 |title=Lost Railways of Co. Derry|publisher=Stenlake Publishing |isbn=1-84033-199-2}}</ref> For decades, local spiritual leaders have declared travelling across the railway line as "ill-advised."

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Magilligan}}

* [[Donnchadh Ó Hámsaigh|Donnchadh Ó hÁmsaigh]] (1695–1807)&nbsp;– Irish harpist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earlygaelicharp.info/hampsey/life.htm|title=Denis O'Hampsey – his life|publisher=earlygaelicharp.info|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>
* [[John Graham (clergyman)|John Graham]]&nbsp;– [[Church of Ireland]] clergyman, a senior officer of the [[Orange Order]], and a prolific author of poetic and historical works
* [[Eddie Butcher]] (1900–1980)&nbsp;– singer, songwriter and song collector<ref name="EBLife2011Book">{{cite book
 |editor1-last  = Shields
 |editor1-first = Hugh
 |editor2-last  = Shields
 |editor2-first = Lisa
 |editor3-last  = Carolan
 |editor3-first = Nicholas
 |year          = 2011
 |title         = All the Days of His Life
 |location      = Dublin, Ireland
 |publisher     = Irish Traditional Music Archive
 |isbn          = 978-0-9532704-4-6}}</ref>{{rp|1}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://roevalley.com/newsbrowser/historical/martello.htm Magilligan Martello Tower]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090415033435/http://loughfoyleferry.com/main.htm  The Lough Foyle Ferry Company]
*[http://cotyroneireland.com/estore/index.php?recid=5&maincat_id=1&subcat_id=6&page=1 History of Magilligan 1600–1800]
{{County Londonderry}}

[[Category:Geography of County Londonderry]]
[[Category:Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Tourism in County Londonderry]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in County Londonderry]]
[[Category:Civil parishes of County Londonderry]]
[[Category:Beaches of Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Causeway Coast and Glens district]]