County Londonderry

County Londonderry, also called County Derry, is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. It is also part of the nine counties of the province of Ulster and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Before the partition of Ireland, it was a county of the Kingdom of Ireland and later joined the United Kingdom after the Acts of Union 1800. The county is next to the north-west shore of Lough Neagh and covers an area of 2,118 km² (818 mi²). Today, about 252,231 people live there.

Since 1972, the counties in Northern Ireland, including Londonderry, are not used for local administration any more. After reforms in 2015, the area is now governed by three different districts: Derry and Strabane, Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid-Ulster. Even though the county name is not used for local government, it is sometimes used in cultural events and sports, like with the Derry GAA.

Since 1981, Londonderry has been one of four counties in Northern Ireland with a Catholic majority. The county flower is the purple saxifrage.

Name

The name Derry comes from an old Irish word meaning "oak-grove" or "oak-wood".

People sometimes argue about whether to call the place Derry or Londonderry. Some prefer "Londonderry", while others use "Derry". The county was mostly formed from an older area called County Coleraine. British authorities usually say "Londonderry", but the Republic of Ireland uses "Derry".

History

County Londonderry has many old stone buildings from long ago, including a special place called Mountsandel. This may be one of the oldest places where people lived in Ireland.

In the past, the land was controlled by a group called the O'Cahans. Later, it became part of a new area named Coleraine. In 1613, King James I created the county of Londonderry. This new county included parts of several areas so important rivers could be used. Twelve groups from London were given land to help build and manage the area.

In 1899, the city of Londonderry became its own area for government, and the main town for the county changed to Coleraine.

Geography and places of interest

The highest point in County Londonderry is Sawel Mountain, which is 678 metres tall. It is on the border with County Tyrone. Sawel is part of the Sperrin Mountains, which cover much of the south of the county. To the east and west, the land slopes down into valleys of the Bann and Foyle rivers. In the south-east, the county reaches the shore of Lough Neagh, Ireland’s largest lake. The north has steep cliffs, sandy dunes, and beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast.

County Londonderry has many interesting places, such as the well-preserved 17th-century city walls of Derry, the National Trust-owned Plantation estate at Springhill, and Mussenden Temple on the Atlantic coast. There are also special coastlines and bird sanctuaries on the eastern shore of Lough Foyle. Near Bellaghy Bawn, there is a visitor centre close to where famous writer Seamus Heaney grew up. In the centre of the county, you can find old forests at Banagher and Ness Wood, where the Burntollet River flows over the highest waterfalls in Northern Ireland.

Subdivisions

Baronies

Main article: Baronies of Ireland

• Coleraine
• Keenaght
• North East Liberties of Coleraine
• North West Liberties of Londonderry
• Loughinsholin
• Tirkeeran

Parishes

Main article: List of civil parishes of County Londonderry

Townlands

Main article: List of townlands in County Londonderry

Settlements

Cities

(population of 75,000 or more with a cathedral)

• Derry

Large towns

(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)

• Coleraine

Medium towns

(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)

• Limavady

Small towns

(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)

• Maghera
• Magherafelt
• Portstewart

Intermediate settlements

(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)

• Culmore (part of Derry Urban Area)
• Dungiven
• Eglinton
• Newbuildings (part of Derry Urban Area)

Villages

(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)

• Ballykelly
• Bellaghy
• Castledawson
• Castlerock
• Claudy
• Draperstown
• Garvagh
• Greysteel
• Kilrea
• Moneymore
• Strathfoyle (part of Derry Urban Area)

Small villages or hamlets

(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)

• Articlave
• Ballerin
• Ballymaguigan
• Ballyronan
• Clady
• Culnady
• Desertmartin
• Downhill
• Drumsurn
• Feeny
• Glenullin
• Gulladuff
• Lettershendoney
• Macosquin
• Ringsend
• Swatragh
• Tobermore
• Upperlands

Demography

County Londonderry is one of four counties in Northern Ireland where most people come from a Catholic community background. This information is based on the 2021 census. At that time, about 252,231 people lived in the county.

Of these residents, 61.3% were from a Catholic background, 32.5% were from a Protestant and Other Christian background, 0.9% were from other religions, and 5.3% had no religious background.

Administration

County Londonderry was managed by the Londonderry County Council from 1899 until 1973. After that, district councils took care of the area. These include Derry City Council, Limavady Borough Council, Magherafelt District Council, most of Coleraine Borough Council, and part of Cookstown District Council. In 2011, the number of councils was reduced. Now, County Londonderry is served by three councils: Causeway Coast and Glens, Derry and Strabane, and Mid-Ulster District.

Transport

County Londonderry has many ways to travel, such as airports, trains, and sea ports.

The county has City of Derry airport. It has flights to cities like Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London-Heathrow, Liverpool, and Manchester. Airlines like easyJet, Loganair, and Ryanair fly there.

Trains are run by Translink Northern Ireland Railways. They go from Derry~Londonderry, Bellarena, Castlerock, and Coleraine to Belfast Grand Central on the Belfast-Derry railway line. There is also a train from Coleraine to Portrush on the Coleraine-Portrush railway line. This serves the University.

The county has a busy port at Londonderry Port, also called Foyle Port. It is at Lisahally on Lough Foyle. The port is used for bringing in materials and fuels. It can also welcome cruise ships.

There is a regular ferry called the Lough Foyle Ferry. It runs between Magilligan Point in County Londonderry and Greencastle in County Donegal in the spring and summer.

Education

The government pays for schools up to secondary level. This is managed by the Education Authority, with help from the Department of Education. The Education Authority has three areas: the Western region for Derry and Limavady, the North Eastern region for Coleraine and Magherafelt, and the Southern region for Cookstown. Catholic schools are run by the Derry Diocesan Education Office.

The county has two big places for the University of Ulster. These are in Coleraine and the Magee Campus in Derry.

Sport

In Gaelic games, teams from Derry come from County Londonderry. They wear red and white. Many local teams play in different leagues. The county team has won a big football championship and several league titles. Hurling is also played, but it is not as popular as football. The county team is known as one of the best in Ulster and has won a special competition.

In soccer, two main teams from the county play in the top division, with others in lower divisions. A team from Derry plays in the top league in Ireland after moving there in 1985.

The Northern Ireland Milk Cup is a big youth soccer tournament started in 1983. It is held every July in Coleraine. Teams from all over the world come to compete.

In rugby union, several local clubs compete in leagues across Ulster and Ireland.

Cricket is enjoyed in the north-west, with many teams based in County Londonderry.

In rowing, a rower from Coleraine helped the Irish team qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and another rower from Coleraine won a gold medal in a world competition.

Media

County Londonderry has four main radio stations. These are BBC Radio Foyle, Q102.9, Q97.2, and Six FM which broadcasts in the south of the county.