The Parish of Moville
Taken From Inishowen (Its History, Traditions, and Antiquities) Maghtochair

Until 1788 Moville formed but one parish, but it was then divided into the parishes of Upper and Lower Moville. In the Roman Catholic division, however, the whole as yet forms but one parish. Lower Moville is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Lough Foyle, and on the west by Culdaff. It contains 15,950 acres. Population, 5,192. Much of the land is cold and of rather inferior quality; the inhabitants engage themselves with fishing fully as much as agriculture. The coast of the parish, which extends from Glenagivney on the north-west around Inishowen Head and along the Foyle to the town of Moville, is singularly bold and rocky.

Doyle in his Tours in Ulster, says:- "Inishowen Head is a place of great interest, and commands magnificent coast and sea views. From this the coast runs westward to Culdaff Bay, and for about eight miles is much varied by steep and lofty cliffs, against which the Atlantic breaks with great fury. The water is very deep, from ten to fifteen fathoms up to the base of the cliffs. The same remarkable variation in the ebb and flow of the tide, observed on the coast of Antrim, occurs here also." I may state that the tides move similarly from Bushmills in Antrim to Bloody Foreland Point in Donegal. Mr.Doyle goes on to say "Outside, a line east and west, distant two miles from the shore, the line of flood sets east six hours, and ebbs six hours to the west'; but within that line the stream turns at half flood to the westward and at half ebb to the eastward, a phenomenon of great advantage in navigating this coast."

Around Moville the land is in a good state of cultivation, and there are some handsome residences in the neighbourhood. Between Shrove Head on the one side and the point of Magilligan on the Londonderry coast on the other, is the entrance to Lough Foyle. This extensive inlet is admittedly one of the best of our Irish harbours. It is remarkably well sheltered, especially from the westerly winds, and affords safe anchorage for ships of the largest tonnage in all kinds of weather, It is to the facilities for trade which this lough affords, seconded by the energy and enterprise of her inhabitants that the city of Derry owes her increasing commercial prosperity.

The channel which lies near the Inishowen coast is all along indicated by buoys and lights, and at Shrove Head are lighthouses which have been constructed by the Ballast Board to guard against shipwrecks on the "Tonns," sand banks which lie beyond the entrance to the lough, and which will be noticed by and by. Herrings, sole, salmon, and oysters are met with abundantly in Lough Foyle, but the Hon. The Irish Society of London claim a several fishery and right to every living thing within it, nay, to the very mud and sand which lie at its bottom, to the exclusion of all interference on the part of the inhabitants of all shores. This anomalous claim is founded on a Charter, which they say was granted them by James 1 and renewed at the Restoration.

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