Magherafelt, United Kingdom
Magherafelt is a town of 9,157 people in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Magherafelt
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 10 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Weather in Magherafelt
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Magherafelt
Magherafelt ( MA-hə-rə-FELT, MAK-ə-; from Irish Machaire Fíolta, meaning 'plain of Fíolta', pronounced [ˈmˠaxəɾʲə ˈfʲiːl̪ˠt̪ˠə]) is a town and civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,071 at the 2021 census. It is the biggest town in the south of the county and is the social, economic and political hub of the area. It is part of Mid-Ulster District.
From the Wikipedia article Magherafelt (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Magherafelt on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Museums and landmarks3
Magherafelt Superintendent Registrars District
Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes10
The Olive Tree
Cafe · Coffee Shop
3 Rainey Street, Magherafelt
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 0.6 mi
36 Castledawson Road
Su-Th 07:00-23:00; Fr 07:00-00:00; Sa 00:00-24:00
Where to stay1
History
Magherafelt has been documented as a town since 1425. An earlier name for the area was Teach Fíolta – 'Fíolta's (monastic) house'. This would suggest that there was a monastic settlement here under the leadership of Fíolta. The site of the medieval parish church may be marked by the ruins of a later church and graveyard at the bottom of Broad Street.
The Salters Company of London was granted the surrounding lands in South Londonderry in the seventeenth century as part of the Plantation of Ulster. Subsequently, the town began to take on its current shape with a central diamond forming the heart of the town.
During The Troubles in the late 20th century, 11 people were killed in or near Magherafelt in connection with the conflict.
From the History section of Magherafelt on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Magherafelt
Simone MagillNorthern Irish association football playerPhoto: press eye photography Birmingham..., CC0
Sarah RobsonNorthern Irish association football playerPhoto: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0
Joely AndrewsBritish footballerPhoto: Calum Mackenzie for Heart of Midlothian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Terry McFlynnNorthern Irish footballer (born 1981)Photo: Camw, CC BY-SA 3.0
Philip MainimathematicianPhoto: Royal Society uploader, CC BY-SA 4.0
JC StewartsingerPhoto: LCS-WB-UK, CC BY-SA 4.0- Harry GreggNorthern Irish footballer and manager (1932-2020)
- Peter DohertyNorthern Irish footballer (1913-1990)
- Dean ShielsBritish footballer (born 1985)
- Jonathan AndersonNorthern Irish fashion designer; founder of JW Anderson
- Laura PyperBritish actress
- Aaron DonnellyNorthern Irish footballer
Born in Magherafelt, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Churches and places of worship9
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
Church · Roman Catholic
King Street, Magherafelt
First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian
28 Meeting Street, Magherafelt
Magherafelt Free Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 1.1 mi
Mullaghboy Hill Road, Magherafelt
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Holy Family Primary School
School · Roman Catholic
1 Castledawson Road, Magherafelt
Magherafelt Controlled Primary School
School · 0.5 mi
32 Castledawson Road, Magherafelt
Healthcare1
Map of Magherafelt
47 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Belfast International Airport (BFS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Moneymore 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Cookstown 9 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Portglenone 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- Randalstown 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Ballymena 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Antrim 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
- Dungannon 18 mi south, about 30 min by car
- Craigavon 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Portadown 24 mi south, about 38 min by car
- Belfast 29 mi east, about 47 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Magherafelt
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Magherafelt, near town center, Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.