DERRY JOURNAL Editorial: Exploring our own magical North West of Ireland

A few miles in any direction and there are numerous landmarks and features waiting to be discovered. On the east bank there is Brackfield Bawn, Enagh Lough, the Waterside Workhouse, stately homes in Prehen, Beech Hill and Ashbrook, the ancient church ruins in St Columb’s Park and at Boveveagh and historic villages like Claudy and Eglinton. On the west bank there is Boom and Brook Halls, Elagh Castle, Culmore Fort, Brooke Park. Further on up the coast there is the Limavady region with its beautiful coastline and historic sites and in Strabane district there is Harry Avery’s Castle, Sion Mills, and Gray’s Printing Press.

And then there is beautiful Donegal, with its pristine beaches, cliffs and heaths, its ancient forts and castles like Grianan, Norburg, Carrickabraghy, the O’Doherty Tower, Glenveagh, and the towns and villages of Inishowen.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and, impressive though many of our historic sites are in and of themselves, they are made richer and brought to life by the dramatic history associated with them, tales of love, war, triumph and tragedy. On top of this, the entire region is dotted with dolmens, stone circles and ancient cairns, woodlands, urban and forest parks.

Much has been done in terms of marketing the magical place we all call home, particularly in recent years, and prior to the pandemic, tourism was rising. Perhaps more could be done now to develop regional tourist trails along the themes of ancient sites, religious sites, natural wonders, the Wild North West etc for when the planes and ships come in once more.