Maghera is a small town at the foot of the Glenshane Pass in County Londonderry, within the Mid-Ulster District of Northern Ireland.
Historically part of the barony of Loughinsholin, Maghera is positioned in a fertile valley, benefiting from its proximity to the River Moyola and the surrounding uplands.
Maghera is surrounded by several small villages and rural communities that form part of its social and economic network. Tobermore is about 2.5 miles south-west, while Gulladuff is 3 miles east, and Knockloughrim is 3.5 miles south-east. Other nearby localities include Upperlands, Milltown, and Glen.
The history of Maghera goes back thousands of years. A mile north of the town is the Tirnomy Dolmen, a single-chamber megalithic tomb dating to the Neolithic period, estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,000 years old. This tomb, with its upright stones and capstone, would originally have been covered by a cairn and used for burials.
The earliest recorded settlement in Maghera dates to the 6th century, when Saint Lurach founded a monastery here. His family is believed to have been converted by Saint Patrick, and the site became an important ecclesiastical centre. The Annals of Ulster record that the seat of the Cenél nEoghain was at Ráth Luraig in Maghera.
By the 10th century, the monastery site was home to St. Lurach's Church, whose ruins still stand today. The church features a carved crucifixion lintel, possibly the oldest depiction of the crucifixion in Ireland.
In the 12th century, the church and town were burned, but Maghera later became the seat of the Bishopric of Cinél nEógain until 1246, when the see was moved to Derry.
The Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century brought Scottish settlers, leading to tensions with the native Irish population. Maghera was touched by the 1641 Rebellion, the United Irishmen uprising of 1798, when 5,000 rebels gathered at Maghera before dispersing.
The Great Famine of the 1840s caused severe depopulation in the surrounding countryside.
In the 20th century, Maghera was a modestly prosperous market town with a railway station, embroidery works, and close ties to the linen industry in Upperlands. However, during the period of sectarian violence known as The Troubles, the town experienced violence, with fourteen fatalities recorded between the 1960s and 1990s. The Provisional Irish Republican Army was responsible for ten of the deaths. Two, including a Sinn Féin councillor, were killed by loyalist paramilitaries.
Maghera was administered by Londonderry County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973. Since 2011, it has been part of the Mid-Ulster District Council.
Today, Maghera's economy is a blend of traditional industries, small business enterprise, and new regeneration-driven development. Key economic drivers include small and medium enterprises, agriculture, construction, fabrication, retail, and services.
Maghera benefits from its location on the A6 and A29 arterial routes, giving it strong transport links to Belfast and Londonderry.
Significant structures in Maghera include Tirnomy Domen, St. Lurach's Church (Old Church), Maghera Church and Round Tower, Catholic Church of St. Mary's, and Market House.
Businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, libraries, museums, historical places, entertainment venues, lodging facilities, organisations, events, and recreational or sporting facilities in Maghera are appropriate resources for this category.
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APS is a small, rural, controlled primary school serving the Upperlands/Maghera area of County Londonderry. The school caters to boys and girls aged 4-11, offering mixed-age classes designed to promote cross-year collaboration and peer learning. School schedules and contacts are posted on the school's website, along with information on visiting during Open Day, transportation options, catchment maps, and information on after-school clubs and community partnerships.
https://www.ampertaineps.co.uk/
BSG is a multi-disciplined Tier 1 engineering contractor established in 1982 and based in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Its core services include civil engineering contractors for carpark, water and waste water treatment, flood engineering, renewable energy civil works, MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, controls, automation) services, and bespoke project design and delivery. Contact details are provided, and job opportunities are posted.
https://www.bsg-ltd.com/
Formed in 2013, the Club has worked closely with Cricket Ireland and the North West Cricket Union to expand the game's reach locally. Currently, it fields multiple senior, junior, and women's teams competing in the North West Senior Leagues, Mid-Week T20, and Social T10 competitions. At the Rainey Endowed School Sports Ground, the club offers changing rooms with showers, a full-size cricket pitch and an all-weather playing surface, three permanent outdoor nets, and two bowling machines.
https://www.cricketmaghera.com/
The family-run specialist is located in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The company has more than 25 years of experience in crafting and supplying premium natural stone and engineered quartz products, and its modern workshops utilize advanced computer-operated machinery. Its products and services include kitchen worktops, bar counters, hotel reception desks, vanity units, fireplaces, floor and wall tiles, bespoke marble stairs, and design consultation and installation.
https://www.magheragranite.com/
The Christian congregation is located in the town of Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and serves as a spiritual and community hub for local residents. The congregation meets at its facilities on Main Street on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday evenings, and at other times according to its schedule of events and announcements. Its building dates back to the mid-19th century and features classic Gothic-Revival architecture.
https://www.magherapc.co.uk/
Situated beside Maghera Garden Centre at Station Road, on the outskirts of Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Maghera Primary School opened its doors in 1967, serving pupils from Maghera and the surrounding area. The school features four traditional classrooms, a computer suite and library, a mobile classroom, a multi-purpose hall, and outdoor grounds with a football pitch, two playgrounds, a wildlife garden, and outdoor play equipment. A school calendar and contacts are posted.
https://www.magheraprimaryschool.com/
McKeefry's Furniture in Maghera is a source for furniture in Northern Ireland. It carries a range of sofas, dining sets, bedroom furniture, office furniture, flooring, garden furniture, and other items, with free delivery offered on orders over £100. Its location, opening hours, contact details, and an online product catalog are set forth, with live chat support and expert advisors available by telephone. Client reviews are published on the store's website, and policy information is available.
https://www.mckeefryfurniture.com/
Also known as The Hearth, this community-run hub in Maghera, County Londonderry, is dedicated to preserving and promoting local history. It offers genealogy and research services, hosts events and workshops, and runs community initiatives such as the Community Fridge and craft rooms for skill-sharing. A core objective is to provide a venue where information, records, publications, photographs, memorabilia, folk memories, and artefacts can be collected and displayed.
https://www.maghera-heritage.org.uk/
Situated on Glenshane Road, at the foot of Glenshane Pass in Maghera, Northern Ireland, the family-run venue was established over twenty years ago, and sources local ingredients to craft dishes that cater to travellers between Belfast and Derry City. Its address, opening hours, signature dishes and menu highlights are highlighted, along with its availability for private functions and events, customer ratings, and a gallery of photographs. Gift vouchers are also available.
https://www.oakleafrestaurant.co.uk/
Also known as St. Patrick's Co-Ed Comprehensive College, St. Patrick's is a co-educational secondary school for students aged 11-18 in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It teaches within the Roman Catholic ethos, and is widely regarded as one of Ireland's most successful athletic schools. St. Patrick's primarily serves those students who live within the Maghera parish, particularly those from local feeder schools. It consists of two sites, one for Years 9-14, the other for Year 8.
https://www.stpatricksmaghera.org/
