County Londonderry
Encyclopedia
The place name Derry is an anglicisation
of the old Irish
Daire (Modern Irish Doire) meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists
and Londonderry preferred by unionists
. The name Derry is used in the Republic of Ireland
, while most of the British
authorities use the name Londonderry.
According to the Encyclopedia of Earth, Mount Sandel in County Londonderry is "perhaps the oldest recorded settlement within Ireland". Unlike the town, governmentally there was not a preceding administrative area called County Derry. Rather County Londonderry was created by James I
when he gave a charter to the Irish Society
to undertake the new county's plantation – the London prefix being added in reference to the London Livery Companies
of the Irish Society. This charter is dated 29 March 1613, and declared that the "City of Londonderry" and everything contained within:
This new county would comprise the then County Coleraine, which consisted of the baronies of Tirkeeran, Coleraine, and Keenaght; all but the south-west corner of the barony of Loughinsholin, which was then a part of County Tyrone; the North East Liberties of Coleraine, which was part of County Antrim; and the City and Liberties of Londonderry, which were in County Donegal. The liberties of Coleraine and Londonderry were requested by the Irish society so that they could control both banks of the mouths of the River Foyle
and the River Bann
and have access to sufficient wood for construction.
As a result of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
, the city was detached from the county for administrative purposes, becoming a separate county borough
from 1899. The county town
of County Londonderry, and seat of the Londonderry County Council until its abolition in 1973, was therefore moved to the town of Coleraine
.
.
Derry City Council
, Limavady Borough Council
, and Magherafelt District Council
all fall within County Londonderry's boundaries. Most of Coleraine Borough Council
also covers an area within the county (the remainder being in County Antrim
), as well as a part of Cookstown District Council
(most of which covers an area in County Tyrone
).
(population of 75,000 or more with a cathedral)
Large towns
(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)
Medium towns
(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)
Small towns
(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)
Intermediate settlements
(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)
Villages
(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)
Small villages or hamlets
(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)
Parishes
Townlands
level is administered by
For Catholic grant-maintained schools administration is by the Derry Diocesan Education Office.
Two major centres of the University of Ulster
are in the county, including its headquarters at Coleraine
and the Magee Campus
in Derry.
, the Derry teams
wear the colours red and white. There are many club teams competing in up to five leagues and three championships. The county team has won one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
(in 1993
) and five National League titles
. Hurling
is also widely played but is not as popular as football. However, the county team is generally regarded as one of the top hurling sides in Ulster
and in 2006
won the Nicky Rackard Cup
- the third tier hurling competition in Ireland.
In association football, County Londonderry is represented in the IFA Premiership
by Coleraine F.C.
and Institute F.C.
Coleraine are one of the most successful provincial sides in the country. Limavady United F.C., Moyola Park F.C.
, Portstewart F.C.
and Tobermore United F.C.
compete in the IFA Championship. Derry City F.C.
play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland
after leaving the Northern Ireland
structures in 1985, having resigned from the Irish Football League
at the height of the Troubles
because of not being allowed play their home games at the Brandywell due to security concerns from other clubs.
The Northern Ireland Milk Cup was established in 1983 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in Europe and the world. The competition is based at Coleraine
and involves several other towns and villages in the county - Limavady
, Portstewart
and Castlerock
- and in neighbouring County Antrim
- Ballymoney
, Portrush
, Ballymena
and Broughshane
. The event, held in the last week of July, has attracted teams from 56 countries around the world including Europe, the USA, Africa, the Far East, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Russia, New Zealand and Canada. Some of the biggest teams in the world have entered including Premiership giants Everton, Liverpool
, Manchester United
, Chelsea
, Tottenham Hotspur
as well as top European teams such as Feyenoord, FC Porto, FC Barcelona
, Benfica, Bayern Munich and Dynamo Kiev.
In rugby union
, the county is represented at senior level by Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club, Magherafelt who compete in the Ulster Senior League and All Ireland Division Three. Limavady R.F.C, City of Derry Rugby Club, Londonderry Y.M.C.A and Coleraine Rugby Club all compete in Ulster Qualifying League One.
Cricket
is particularly popular in the north-west of Ireland, with 11 of the 20 senior clubs in the North West Cricket Union located in County Londonderry: Limavady, Eglinton
, Glendermott, Brigade, Killymallaght, Ardmore, Coleraine, Bonds Glen, Drummond, Creevedonnell and The Nedd.
In rowing
, Richard Archibald from Coleraine
along with his Irish team-mates qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympics by finishing second in the lightweight fours final in Poznan, thus qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Another Coleraine rower Alan Campbell
is a World Cup gold medallist in the single sculls in 2006.
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
of the old Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
Daire (Modern Irish Doire) meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
and Londonderry preferred by unionists
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
. The name Derry is used in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, while most of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
authorities use the name Londonderry.
History
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
when he gave a charter to the Irish Society
The Honourable The Irish Society
The Honourable The Irish Society is the organisation created by royal charter consisting of members nominated by livery companies of the City of London, set up to colonise County Londonderry during the plantation of Ulster. Notably it was involved in the construction of the city of Londonderry,...
to undertake the new county's plantation – the London prefix being added in reference to the London Livery Companies
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
of the Irish Society. This charter is dated 29 March 1613, and declared that the "City of Londonderry" and everything contained within:
This new county would comprise the then County Coleraine, which consisted of the baronies of Tirkeeran, Coleraine, and Keenaght; all but the south-west corner of the barony of Loughinsholin, which was then a part of County Tyrone; the North East Liberties of Coleraine, which was part of County Antrim; and the City and Liberties of Londonderry, which were in County Donegal. The liberties of Coleraine and Londonderry were requested by the Irish society so that they could control both banks of the mouths of the River Foyle
River Foyle
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the City of Derry, where it...
and the River Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
and have access to sufficient wood for construction.
As a result of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
The Local Government Act 1898 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that established a system of local government in Ireland similar to that already created for England, Wales and Scotland by legislation in 1888 and 1889...
, the city was detached from the county for administrative purposes, becoming a separate county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
from 1899. The county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of County Londonderry, and seat of the Londonderry County Council until its abolition in 1973, was therefore moved to the town of Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
.
Administration
In 1973 counties ceased to be a unit of administration within Northern Ireland, being replaced by district councilsLocal government in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
.
Derry City Council
Derry City Council
Derry City Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The Council is is responsible for the city of Derry and the immediate environ, providing services to an estimated population of , making it the third largest district council in Northern Ireland by population.The...
, Limavady Borough Council
Limavady Borough Council
Limavady Borough Council is a Local Council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Limavady. The Borough has a population of over 32,000 with 63% of the population living in a rural setting. It covers an area of 586 square kilometres and includes the valley...
, and Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Council headquarters are in Magherafelt. The Council area stretches from Lough Neagh and the River Bann in the east and into the Sperrin Mountains in the west and is divided by the Moyola River. It covers...
all fall within County Londonderry's boundaries. Most of Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council
Coleraine Borough Council is a local council mainly in County Londonderry and partly in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters are in the town of Coleraine. Small towns in the area include Garvagh, Portrush, Portstewart and Kilrea...
also covers an area within the county (the remainder being in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
), as well as a part of Cookstown District Council
Cookstown District Council
Cookstown District Council is a district council covering an area largely in County Tyrone and partly in County Londonderry. Council headquarters are in Cookstown. Small towns in the council area include Pomeroy, Moneymore, Coagh and Stewartstown and in the east the area is bounded by Lough Neagh...
(most of which covers an area in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
).
Settlements
Cities(population of 75,000 or more with a cathedral)
- DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
Large towns
(population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2001 Census)
- ColeraineColeraineColeraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
Medium towns
(population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2001 Census)
- LimavadyLimavadyLimavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
Small towns
(population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2001 Census)
- MagherafeltMagherafeltMagherafelt is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people recorded in the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of County Londonderry and is the social, economic and political hub of the area...
, PortstewartPortstewartPortstewart is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. Its harbour and scenic coastal paths form an...
Intermediate settlements
(population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2001 Census)
- CulmoreCulmoreCulmore is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is between Derry and Muff, at the mouth of the River Foyle. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 2,960 people.- History :...
(part of Derry Urban AreaDerry Urban AreaThe Derry Urban Area is the urban area that includes and surrounds the city of Derry in Northern Ireland, and is part of the Derry City Council area. It had a population of 93,512 in the 2001 census...
), DungivenDungivenDungiven is a small town and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A6 Belfast to Derry road. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over...
, EglintonEglinton, County LondonderryEglinton is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Derry, to which it serves as a sleeper village, and west of Limavady. Many inhabitants of the village work in Derry city and send their children to school there. Eglinton had a population of 3,165 people in the 2001...
, Maghera, NewbuildingsNewbuildingsNewbuildings or New Buildings is a large village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies about 1 km from the banks of the River Foyle and 5 km south of the city of Derry...
(part of Derry Urban Area)
Villages
(population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census)
- Ballykelly, BellaghyBellaghyBellaghy , is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies north west of Lough Neagh and about 5 miles north of Magherafelt. At the centre of the village lies the junction of three main roads leading to Magherafelt, Portglenone and Toome. It had a population of 1,063 people in the...
, CastledawsonCastledawsonCastledawson is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is mostly within the townland of Shanemullagh , about four miles from the north-western shore of Lough Neagh, and close to the market town of Magherafelt...
, CastlerockCastlerockCastlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is situated between Coleraine and Derry and is very popular with summer tourists, having numerous apartment blocks and three caravan sites. Castlerock Golf Club has both 9 and 18-hole links courses bounded by the beach, the...
, ClaudyClaudyClaudy is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies southeast of Derry, where the River Glenrandal joins the River Faughan. Claudy is located in the Faughan Valley....
, DraperstownDraperstownDraperstown is a village in the Sperrin Mountains of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,638 people in the 2001 Census.-Name:...
, GarvaghGarvaghGarvagh is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the banks of the Agivey River, south of Coleraine on the A29 route. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,288.-History:...
, GreysteelGreysteelGreysteel or Gresteel is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies to the east of Derry and to the west of Limavady on the main A2 coast road between Limavady and Derry, overlooking Lough Foyle...
, KilreaKilreaKilrea is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the River Bann, which marks the boundary between County Londonderry and County Antrim...
, MoneymoreMoneymoreMoneymore is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,369 in the 2001 Census.It is an example of a Plantation village in Mid-Ulster. It was the first town in Ulster to have piped water.-Geography:...
, StrathfoyleStrathfoyleStrathfoyle is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, about north east of Derry. It was newly built in different phases between the late 1920s and the late 1930s, with many new recent additions to the village, including Westlake, Butler's Wharf and Old Fort. In the 2001 Census it had...
(part of Derry Urban Area)
Small villages or hamlets
(population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census)
- ArticlaveArticlaveArticlave is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A2 coastal road, 7 kilometres west of Coleraine. It is a growing residential area and includes a range of commercial, social and community facilities. Its population grew by a third to 800 in the period...
, BallerinBallerinBallerin is a small village between Garvagh and Ringsend in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is located within Coleraine Borough Council. It includes Saint Columba's Catholic primary school and Saint Mary's Catholic church.-Name:...
, BallymaguiganBallymaguiganBallymaguigan is a hamlet and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the northwest shore of Lough Neagh and close to Magherafelt. The hamlet forms one part of a parish named Ardtrea North. Ballymaguigan is part of the local Magherafelt District Council.-Lough Neagh:Lough...
, BallyronanBallyronanBallyronan is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the shores of Lough Neagh. The village is from Magherafelt and from Cookstown, and is within the Cookstown District close to its border with Magherafelt District.-History:...
, CladyClady, County LondonderryClady is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 596 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Magherafelt District Council area.- Schools :...
, CulnadyCulnadyCulnady is a small village near Maghera in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 144 people. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area.- History :...
, DesertmartinDesertmartinDesertmartin is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is four miles from Magherafelt, at the foot of Slieve Gallion. In the 2001 Census Desertmartin greater area had a population of 1,276. It had a population of 2257 in 1837 and 3101 in 1910. It lies within Desertmartin...
, Downhill, DrumsurnDrumsurnDrumsurn is a small village and townland in the Limavady Borough Council area of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is southeast of Limavady and northeast of Dungiven. It lies in the Roe Valley, at the foot of Donald's Hill and at the edge of the Sperrins...
, FeenyFeenyFeeny is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is between Dungiven and Claudy. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 542. Feeny lies just inside the boundary of the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Features:...
, GulladuffGulladuffGulladuff is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 405 people. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area....
, LettershendoneyLettershendoneyLettershendoney or Lettershendony is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, close to Drumahoe. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 506 people.- 2001 Census :...
, MacosquinMacosquinMacosquin is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is south-west of Coleraine, on the road to Limavady. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 596 people...
, RingsendRingsend, ColeraineRingsend is a small village in the borough of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The nearest city is Derry which is 25 miles away...
, SwatraghSwatraghSwatragh is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Swatragh is on the main A29 road north of Maghera. The population was 435 in the 2001 Census....
, TobermoreTobermoreTobermore is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is located two and a half miles south of Maghera and five miles west of Magherafelt. Tobermore lies within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan and is part of Magherafelt District Council...
, Upperlands
Subdivisons
Baronies- Coleraine
- Keenaght
- North East Liberties of Coleraine
- North West Liberties of Londonderry
- Loughinsholin
- Tirkeeran
Parishes
Townlands
Education
Government-funded education up to secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
level is administered by
- Western Education and Library Board: Derry, Limavady
- North Eastern Education and Library BoardNorth Eastern Education and Library BoardThe North Eastern Education and Library Board is an organisation providing education and library services for the north-eastern Local Government Districts, Northern Ireland, in County Antrim and eastern County Londonderry...
: Coleraine, Magherafelt - Southern Education and Library BoardSouthern Education and Library BoardThe Southern Education and Library Board is a board providing education and library services in the southern districts of Northern Ireland: namely the district councils of Armagh, Banbridge, Cookstown, Craigavon, Dungannon and South Tyrone, and Newry and Mourne...
: Cookstown
For Catholic grant-maintained schools administration is by the Derry Diocesan Education Office.
Two major centres of the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
are in the county, including its headquarters at Coleraine
University of Ulster at Coleraine
The University of Ulster at Coleraine is the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. It houses the administrative headquarters of the university and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. It was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster...
and the Magee Campus
Magee College
Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1865 as a Presbyterian Christian arts and theological college...
in Derry.
Sport
In Gaelic gamesGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
, the Derry teams
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
wear the colours red and white. There are many club teams competing in up to five leagues and three championships. The county team has won one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
(in 1993
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
) and five National League titles
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
. Hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
is also widely played but is not as popular as football. However, the county team is generally regarded as one of the top hurling sides in Ulster
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the premier intercounty "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Ulster Hurling Final is played in July...
and in 2006
Nicky Rackard Cup 2006
The Nicky Rackard Cup 2006 is the current Nicky Rackard Cup, having begun on Saturday June 10, 2006. 2006 was the second time this new element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was introduced. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the weaker hurling...
won the Nicky Rackard Cup
Nicky Rackard Cup
The Nicky Rackard Cup is a competition for the Tier 3 hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The tournament is organised by the [Gaelic Athletic Association]] and is played during the summer months with the final being played in Croke Park, Dublin...
- the third tier hurling competition in Ireland.
In association football, County Londonderry is represented in the IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
by Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
and Institute F.C.
Institute F.C.
Institute F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who play in IFA Championship 1.The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium in the YMCA Grounds...
Coleraine are one of the most successful provincial sides in the country. Limavady United F.C., Moyola Park F.C.
Moyola Park F.C.
Moyola Park Association Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1880, hails from Castledawson, near Magherafelt, County Londonderry, and plays its home matches at the Mill Meadow, which has an artificial "3G" surface...
, Portstewart F.C.
Portstewart F.C.
Portstewart F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1968, hails from Portstewart, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at Seahaven, near the centre of the town....
and Tobermore United F.C.
Tobermore United F.C.
Tobermore United is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1965, is based in Tobermore, near Magherafelt, County Londonderry and currently plays its home matches at Fortwilliam Park. Club colours are red and black...
compete in the IFA Championship. Derry City F.C.
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
after leaving the Northern Ireland
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
structures in 1985, having resigned from the Irish Football League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
at the height of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
because of not being allowed play their home games at the Brandywell due to security concerns from other clubs.
The Northern Ireland Milk Cup was established in 1983 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in Europe and the world. The competition is based at Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and involves several other towns and villages in the county - Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, Portstewart
Portstewart
Portstewart is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. Its harbour and scenic coastal paths form an...
and Castlerock
Castlerock
Castlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is situated between Coleraine and Derry and is very popular with summer tourists, having numerous apartment blocks and three caravan sites. Castlerock Golf Club has both 9 and 18-hole links courses bounded by the beach, the...
- and in neighbouring County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
- Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
, Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
, Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
and Broughshane
Broughshane
Broughshane is a village within the Borough of Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is northeast of Ballymena and north of Antrim, on the A42 road. It had a population of 2,364 at the 2001 Census....
. The event, held in the last week of July, has attracted teams from 56 countries around the world including Europe, the USA, Africa, the Far East, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Russia, New Zealand and Canada. Some of the biggest teams in the world have entered including Premiership giants Everton, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
as well as top European teams such as Feyenoord, FC Porto, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Benfica, Bayern Munich and Dynamo Kiev.
In rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, the county is represented at senior level by Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club, Magherafelt who compete in the Ulster Senior League and All Ireland Division Three. Limavady R.F.C, City of Derry Rugby Club, Londonderry Y.M.C.A and Coleraine Rugby Club all compete in Ulster Qualifying League One.
Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is particularly popular in the north-west of Ireland, with 11 of the 20 senior clubs in the North West Cricket Union located in County Londonderry: Limavady, Eglinton
Eglinton Cricket Club
Eglinton Cricket Club is a cricket club in Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, playing in the North West Senior League 1.The club was founded in 1936.-Honours:*North West Senior League: 3**1956, 1970, 1972*North West Senior Cup: 9...
, Glendermott, Brigade, Killymallaght, Ardmore, Coleraine, Bonds Glen, Drummond, Creevedonnell and The Nedd.
In rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, Richard Archibald from Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
along with his Irish team-mates qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympics by finishing second in the lightweight fours final in Poznan, thus qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Another Coleraine rower Alan Campbell
Alan Campbell (sculler)
Alan Campbell is a British scullerCampbell started rowing for his school, Coleraine Academical Institution for Boys, in Northern Ireland before moving to London and joining the Tideway Scullers School....
is a World Cup gold medallist in the single sculls in 2006.
Media
The county currently has four main radio stations- BBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County...
- Q102.9Q102.9Q102.9 "Northwest's Best Music" is a radio station based in Derry, County Londonderry. It broadcasts on FM 102.9 to the north west of Northern Ireland, Q102 also broadcasts via DAB throughout Northern Ireland via the Score NI multiplex. It is part of the Q Radio Network, which also owns a number...
- Q97.2Q97.2Q97.2 "Causeway Coast Radio" is a radio station based in Coleraine, County Londonderry. It broadcasts on FM 97.2 to the north coast. Part of the Q Radio network which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland. Q97.2FM broadcast from a building located on the Cloyfin Road in Coleraine...
- Six FMSix FMSix FM is a radio station based in Cookstown, County Tyrone. It broadcasts on 106 & 107.2 FM to the Mid Ulster region of Northern Ireland plus other areas, or more specifically East Tyrone, South Londonderry and North Armagh. The station broadcasts a mix of news, sport, music and community...
(in the south of the county)
See also
- Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland (County Londonderry)
- List of places in County Londonderry
- List of townlands in County Londonderry
- List of civil parishes of County Londonderry
- Lord Lieutenant of County LondonderryLord Lieutenant of County LondonderryThis is a list of people to have been Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry. The office was created on 23 August 1831.-County Londonderry:*George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh 7 October 1831 – 20 August 1840*Sir Robert Ferguson, 2nd Baronet 1840 – 13 March 1860...
- High Sheriff of County LondonderryHigh Sheriff of County LondonderryThe High Sheriff of County Londonderry, is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Londonderry. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial...