Limavady 400 celebrations officially underway

The Broighter Gold looks set to make a return to Limavady as part of their 400th Anniversary celebrations, so long as certain criteria can be met including enhanced security

The granting of the charter meant the Roe Valley town became a corporate borough and could select two members of parliament. The anniversary is being used as an opportunity to market the town and attract tourists as a series of commemorative and celebratory events take place throughout the Borough in 2013.

Perhaps the most significant development will be the return of the Broighter Hoard, a collection of spectacular golden artefacts found by two farm labourers on land at Broighter, in the townland of Myroe near Limavady.

The Broighter Hoard, previously described as the most significant archaeological find in Irish history, is currently in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin but plans to return the gold to Limavady on a temporary basis as part of the ‘Limavady 400’ celebrations are well underway.

Other events to attract attention to Limavady include sporting events, a world record attempt and a number of other events aimed at highlighting the town’s link to the world famous music known as the ‘Londonderry Air.’

The music, was heard by Jane Ross who immortalised the music by writing it down and submitting it for inclusion in George Petrie’s 1855 book ‘The Ancient Music of Ireland.’ The tune later gained global fame as the music to which George Weatherley’s classic ‘Danny Boy’ was set.

The council are highlighting the town’s links with the song and hope to collect 400 signatures of visitors from outside the borough, all named either Danny, Danielle, Daniel, or Dan.

On presentation of their passport, the visitors will have a photograph taken, sign a visitors’ book and receive a certificate of visiting Limavady, the home of Danny Boy. There will also be a mass performance of the song over the summer.

The beginning of the Limavady 400 celebrations was marked last week with the launch of the Limavady 400 time-line at the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, marking the most significant events in the borough throughout the four centuries since the granting of the charter.

The events include, in 1807, the death of the renowned blind harpist Dennis O’Hampsey, described as the ‘last of the Irish bards.’ Interestingly, one theory on the Londonderry Air’s origins has it that it was originally composed by O’Hampsey, while still another has it that it was composed by another blind musician – Rory Dall O’Cahan as a lament to the passing of one of the Gaelic O’Cahan chieftains who once ruled much of the Borough. Another key event recorded by the timeline is the construction of a hydro-electrc power station in the Roe by JE Ritter, a pioneering industrial development in 1896. The electricity generated was initially used to light his home at Roe Park, which is now a popular hotel and resort.