North East Liberties of Coleraine

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Location of the Liberties
Portstewart coastline

The North East Liberties of Coleraine are the parts of County Londonderry to the east of the River Bann. They are named after Coleraine town, and today much of that town has extended into its liberties. The one other town in the Liberties is Portstewart, a jolly seaside resort town.

The Liberties were lands formerly belonging to Antrim, but were granted by King James I to the Honourable the Irish Society and its new County of Londonderry in order that the company should have control of the mouth of the River Bann. Likewise the lands west of the mouth of the River Foyle were granted as the North West Liberties of Londonderry.

The North East Liberties of Coleraine have the status of a Barony of County Londonderry.[1] The Liberties border the northern County Londonderry coastline, and are bordered by three other baronies: Coleraine to the west and the Antrim baronies of Dunluce Lower to the north-east and Dunluce Upper to the south-east.[1]

The North East Liberties formed the north-western part of the mediæval territory known as The Route.

Towns

Over the Bann from Coleraine to the Liberties

Parishes

The parishes in the North East Liberties of Coleraine are:[2]

  • Ballyaghran
  • Ballymoney (split with barony of Dunluce Upper)
  • Ballywillan (split with barony of Dunluce Lower)
  • Ballyrashane (split with barony of Dunluce Lower)
  • Coleraine
  • Kildollagh

References