Latest news with #Limavady
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Limavady: House and van 'completely destroyed' in arson attack
A house and van have been "completely destroyed" after an arson attack in County Londonderry in the early hours of Sunday. Police received a report of a fire on the Seacoast Road in Limavady shorty after 02:00 is believed that a van, which was parked at the house, was set alight with the fire spreading to the said there were no reports of any injuries and no one was in the house at the time.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stendhal: Twelve-year-old DJ Fionn ready to mix it up at festival
At just 12 years old, DJ Fionn says he is more than ready to perform at one of Northern Ireland's biggest independent music and arts O'Kane's passion for DJing began at just two years old after his dad gave him his first set of young musician has already turned heads with his talent on the turntables in his hometown of Limavady, and is now preparing for his biggest gig to is on the line-up at this year's Stendhal Festival in County Londonderry, joining The Lightning Seeds, Brit Award–winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash, Joshua Burnside, and one of Fionn's DJ idols, Mark McCabe. From school halls to Stendhal "My dad has always done a bit of DJing, so I grew up with it, and I used to watch YouTube videos of DJs when I was younger, and that's where it just started for me," Fionn told BBC News NI."Like my dad, I like all sorts of music, a bit of everything, but mostly I like to listen to things like house and techno and that's the genre of music I play."Fionn said one of his first "official gigs" was at Termoncanice Primary School when he performed at his school assembly hall as part of a Christmas event in front of all his classmates and teachers. He said performing at Stendhal will be his biggest performance yet and he cannot wait to take to the stage in front of a large crowd. "I have most of the set finished already, I am just tweaking the last few things for it," he said with a big smile. Fionn said that he and his family always loved going to Stendhal, and being on the billing was a real "pinch yourself" moment. Parents only told after application sent After coming across an advert on social media, the 12-year-old put his name forward to be a part of the festival line-up "I applied more in hope than anything else," he admitted. And he only told his parents, Andy and Kerry O'Kane, after he had submitted the application. Fionn said they are incredibly supportive of his DJing, provided it doesn't interfere with his schoolwork. As well as being very excited to perform his own set, he is also really looking forward to seeing Irish DJ and producer Mark McCabe take to the Stendahl stage."I really like his music, especially Maniac 2000, it's a massive tune." What is Stendhal? Now in its 15th year, Stendhal Festival, is an annual event featuring music, comedy, dance, poetry, workshops and family-friendly name is a reference to Stendhal syndrome - a psychological condition resulting in dizziness experienced by people exposed to things of great festival, which runs from 4 to 6 July, is taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm in Roe Valley, outside festival bill this year also includes comedian Ed Byrne, country singer Lisa McHugh, and electronic group The Orb .DJ Fionn will be performing on Friday 4 July on the Woolly Woodland stage, and you can see a full line-up of all the acts performing at this year's Stendhal Festival here. A number of BBC Radio Ulster programmes will be broadcasting from the festival, including a special programme with Vinny and Cate, Your Place and Mine with Eve Blair, and Sunday with Anna Curran.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lowry brothers reunited at Limavady 19 years on
"I think it was in both our minds it would be nice to sign off together and the stars have aligned".Philip Lowry is delighted to be reunited his older brother Stephen at Limavady United after joining the Roesiders from Crusaders earlier this brothers have both enjoyed distinguished careers in the Irish League with various won four league titles, six Irish Cups and three County Antrim Shields during spells with Linfield and CrusadersStephen lifted a Gibson Cup and an Irish Cup in a separate spell with the Blues and picked up a League Cup with are now back at the club where it all started for them, 19 years on from the last time they lined up as team-mates in a competitive game. 'It's fate at this stage to come back and play together' A 1-1 draw in a league game against Cliftonville in December 2006 was the last time the two were on the same they have since faced each other on numerous occasions at different clubs, Philip says it is nice to be reunited as they enter the latter stages of their career, especially after a number of false brothers admitted they were almost together again at Linfield and Coleraine at various stages, but that those transfers did not materialise. "As the years progressed, we didn't think it would pan out like this," Philip told BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound programme. "It is kind of crazy that we haven't [reunited], we have come close a number of times. Naturally the rumour mill thought I would join Stephen at Coleraine for a year or two and then with the takeover there that stifled those plans, we are 10 years too late in that boat!" he joked. Stephen said his failed transfer to Linfield when his brother was there was "probably the closest" they have been to being on the same side, but the 38-year-old believes their long-awaited reunion is better late than never."It's unfortunate we never got to play together in our prime, that would have been nice too, with circumstances that didn't work out, but it's fate at this stage to come back and play together," he added. 'It's a nice project to go to' Upon Stephen's return to Limavady last summer for a third stint at the club he was quickly named captain and spearheaded what proved to ultimately be an unsuccessful promotion push to get back in the Irish 35-year-old Philip now set to join him in midfield, the brothers are keen to help their hometown club push to get back into the top flight for the first time since 2008."I'm lucky to still be playing and Philip is a few years younger than me and he's going strong, so we've been fortunate to be injury free and hopefully we can both do that this season and get as much time on the pitch as possible," Stephen added."Limavady are growing again, there's a bit of excitement, they've put themselves in a position to challenge to go up to the Premiership, so I've really enjoyed it."Philip concurred, highlighting the club's ambition under Paul Owens as a key reason he returned."They have a great young manager and have assembled a decent squad, so it's a nice project to go to, it's not like I'm going somewhere with nothing to play for, it's exciting for sure."The extra nice tough is we play close by, so we'll be in close proximity, but we probably need a third body in midfield that is 10-15 years younger to do our running!"
The Independent
13-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Minister honoured after 42 years as chaplain at HMP Magilligan
A prison chaplain who has spent more than 40 years at HMP Magilligan in the north west of Northern Ireland has said he feels incredibly touched to be recognised in the Kings' Birthday Honours. Free Presbyterian Minister Rev Wesley McDowell, 77, survived a siege at the prison when the inmates took over a wing seeking political status, and said while the experience was a little akin to the 'lion's den', he enjoyed his 42 years there, and felt he had made a difference to many. He is now to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM), and said it was lovely to be recognised, although it had come as a surprise to him. Rev McDowell started at Magilligan around 1982 after a member of his then church in Limavady recommended he apply. 'I thought, well if I was to spread the gospel, which is my motivation, well why not?' he said. Rev McDowell said he found ways to get attention, including putting the words of the 23rd psalm to the tune of the Loyalist marching song The Sash. 'I thought, some of these boys were never in a church, but they will know that tune,' he said. 'I was brought up in similar circumstances to, I came from a similar background to a lot of the paramilitary boys. I knew where they were coming from, I showed an interest in them. I was just a wee fella from the Shankill Road, the same as many of them. 'I didn't always find out what they were in for, I could have done, looked up the system, but I never did. For if I meet someone in the street and talked to them about the Lord, I don't know who they are and their background. 'I think the men detected that there was a genuine interest in them. 'So it's good to see, and I don't know who the proposer is, that someone recognised it. I have to say I had a lot of help and encouragement from prison staff as well.' While many may view looking after a church congregation as the preferrable option, Rev McDowell pointed out the strong turn-outs to his Sunday services, adding, 'where else would you get that outside … how would you reach that many people'. However, one of those services in the late 1980s saw him trapped inside during a prisoner protest for political status and to be segregated. 'It was just after my Sunday morning service, I went to see if I could help. I realised when I was down the wing, I thought it was a short protest but it lasted from the Sunday morning to Wednesday evening,' he said. 'It was with 30 loyalist prisoners, along with a prison officer and a republican prisoner. I had my collar on for you didn't know what was going to happen, it was a tense stand-off. 'It was nice to get out again, but the men presented no threat to me, nor the prison officer or the other prisoner. 'I often wonder where a lot of them are now.' While Rev McDowell recently retired from his post at Magilligan he said he noticed a lot of changes, with many prisoners more likely to be in for drugs offences, and more for whom English is not their first language. 'Of course we can get material in their language, so there is always a way to reach people,' he said. He added: 'I dealt with situations like prisoners protesting, I knew there were boys that maybe didn't like me, it was like Daniel in the lion's den, you just trust the Lord to keep you. 'I'm pleased that someone has acknowledged the ministry because that sort of work goes unrecognised, it's not in the headlines but the work continues on.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lowry joins Limavady United from Crusaders
Midfielder Philip Lowry has left Irish Premiership club Crusaders to join Championship side Limavady United. After stints at Linfield and League of Ireland side Derry City, the 35-year-old moved to Crusaders in 2016 and was a key player under Stephen Baxter and Declan Caddell. Advertisement Lowry's time at Seaview has now come to a close, and he will now join his brother, Stephen, at the Limavady Showgrounds. In his time with Linfield and Crusaders, Lowry won four league titles and six Irish Cups, as well as three County Antrim Shields. "To bring someone of that quality to our club is a massive coup," said Limavady manager Paul Owens. "I feel Philip is still one of the top midfielders in the country. "It's clear he is still as hungry as ever for success and we can't wait to welcome him to the group." Lowry helped Crusaders to a fifth-place finish in the Irish Premiership, while Limavady came fourth in the Championship.
