Overview
Myroe is a large farming hamlet on the eastern shore of Lough Foyle, just outside Limavady in County Londonderry. Reclaimed from the Roe Valley marshes in the late 18th century, the settlement grew around the modest Myroe Presbyterian Church and today offers a quiet base for walkers, bird‑watchers and anyone keen to experience rural Northern Irish life. The hamlet gained international notice when it hosted the 1991 World Ploughing Contest and is linked to the birth of the beloved melody The Londonderry Air, first noted by Jane Ross after hearing local fiddler Jimmy McCurry.
History / Background
The drainage projects of the 1700s turned tidal flats into fertile farmland, attracting Scottish and English settlers who established farms across the new plain. In 1832 the community erected Myroe Presbyterian Church, a stone‑built hall with a rendered façade, six‑by‑three bay layout and large round‑headed windows – a fine example of early‑19th‑century Georgian rural ecclesiastical architecture. Inside, original box pews, a central pulpit with double‑step cast‑iron balusters and three rectangular gallery windows survive largely unchanged.
The church quickly became the spiritual and social heart of the hamlet, hosting services, Carols by Candlelight, Women’s Institute meetings (founded locally in 1955) and other community gatherings. Behind the church lies a modest cemetery that records generations of families who cultivated the reclaimed Myroe Levels.
Location & Map
Myroe Presbyterian Church is situated at grid reference NV8316187205 (Latitude 55.077819, Longitude ‑6.966188). The site can be viewed on Ordnance Survey Ireland, OpenStreetMap and historic OS maps via the GeoHack links provided by GENUKI.
Genealogy & Records
The church’s historic registers are an important resource for family‑history researchers. A 2017 Ulster genealogy project documented early parish registers from the wider Roe Valley, noting that Myroe’s records complement those of neighbouring Ballykelly and Drumachose. The transcribed entries include baptisms, marriages and burials dating back to the 18th century, preserving surnames such as Acheson, Adair, Anderson and many others that reflect the settlement’s Scottish‑English roots. Researchers can consult the online database linked from the Ulster genealogy blog for detailed surname lists and extracts.
What to See & Do
Lough Foyle Trail
An 8 km flat coastal walk that follows the sea wall from Ballykelly to the Roe Estuary, the trail passes directly through Myroe via the Shore Avenue entry point. It offers easy access for families, casual strolls and serious bird‑watchers, with views of the iconic “horseshoe bends” and a well‑maintained bird hide overlooking the estuary.
Myroe Levels (Intake)
The reclaimed marshland is a wildlife haven, especially in autumn and winter. Regular winter visitors include Whooper swans, Brent geese, Golden Plover, Curlew and Ringed Plover, while rarer sightings have featured Little Stint and Buff‑breasted Sandpiper. The network of ditches and shallow pools also attracts Redshank, Greenshank, Black‑tailed Godwit, Little Egret and various grebes.
Myroe Presbyterian Church
Architectural details: admire the symmetrical Georgian façade, round‑headed windows with original glazing, and the historic box pews. The double‑step pulpit, supported by ornate cast‑iron balusters, offers a tangible link to 19th‑century worship.
Cemetery walk: the quiet graveyard behind the church provides a reflective space, with headstones marking early settlers and illustrating typical rural burial customs.
Cultural Highlights
World Ploughing Contest 1991: the event showcased Myroe’s agricultural pedigree and brought competitors from around the globe.
The Londonderry Air: local tradition holds that Jane Ross transcribed the melody after hearing blind fiddler Jimmy McCurry play in the hamlet, cementing Myroe’s place in Irish musical folklore.
Practical Information
- Location & Access: Myroe lies on the A2 coastal road, about 5 km north of Limavady. The church and trail entry points are easily reached by car.
- Parking: Free on‑site parking is available beside the churchyard and at the Shore Avenue trailhead.
- Facilities: The churchyard offers basic amenities; there are no shops in the hamlet, so visitors may wish to bring water and snacks.
- Opening Hours: The church is generally open for services on Sundays and for visitors outside service times. (Please verify exact hours.)
- Best Times to Visit: Autumn and winter for peak bird‑watching; spring for wildflowers on the Levels; summer for longer daylight on the coastal walk.
- Nearby Attractions: The Roe Estuary Nature Reserve, the historic town of Limavady and the coastal walk at Ballykelly are short drives away.
Myroe’s blend of agricultural history, natural beauty and modest architectural charm makes it a rewarding stop for anyone exploring County Londonderry’s coastal heartland.