GORTMORE VIEW POINT - AMAZING 360 DEGREE EXPERIENCE BINEVEAGH MOUTAIN Limavady

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• published: 03 Feb 2017
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Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep. GORTMORE VIEW POINT - 360 DEGREE EXPERIENCE BINEVEAGH MOUTAIN Limavady Gortmore Viewpoint is located right on the Bishop's Road by the Binevenagh Loop which is part of the Causeway Coastal Route. This path also crosses through the town of Gortmore and continues on to through an open field before reaching a small headland. Then, one of the largest sand dune systems in these islands that forms part of Magilligan Special Area of Conservation come into view. As you keep going South following the fence line uphill taking you to Bishop's Road, you will go past Hell's Hole. Binevenagh Mountain towers over Limavady Borough, giving breathtaking views of Lough Foyle, Inishowen and the northern coastline. It is also home to a wide variety of birds including the peregrine falcon. The Statue of Manannán mac Lir The Celtic God of the sea, after whom the Isle of Man is named, is one of five life-size sculptures highlighting the myths and legends of the Roe Valley's cultural heritage. The statue made headlines in 2015 when it suddenly disappeared from Binevenagh Mountain and went missing for an entire month. The monument was created by sculptor John Sutton, known for his work on the popular HBO hit TV series Game Of Thrones, had became a popular tourist attraction. The monument featured the figure of Manannan Mac Lir standing in a boat's prow at the top of the mountain. The nine feet monument was later found by a group of ramblers dumped on the mountainside just a few hundred meters from its original spot after a land and air search involving PSNI officers had failed to locate it. The statue was badly damaged and whoever cut it down left a wooden cross with the words 'You shall have no other gods before me' in its place. The artist spent the next six months painstakingly creating a replacement sculpture to be put in the original's place. “It took too much effort because you can see where they tried to saw it off at the beard, the neck and the arms,” said Mr. Sutton. “They obviously went to some effort, but they shot themselves in the foot. I don’t think they realised there would be such a backlash. Everybody was talking about it. They obviously didn’t think it through.” "The replacement … quickly attracted a large crowd of spectators. Some people might say this is a huge waste of money, but I think it is a vital investment in tourism for the local area. The original one was found with chunks missing from its head and was too badly damaged to be put back. But I am hoping we can use it in the local arts centre for educational purposes. The new one has been reinforced, but I hope those involved in damaging the first one don't do the same again. Tourism is the only real sustainable industry we have in the northwest and this piece of art is vital to help boost that industry. We even had a bus tour come to see the sculpture almost the minute it went back up again." Local people living near Lough Foyle believe Manannán's spirit is released during fierce storms and some even remark “Manannán is angry today”. It is believed that he inhabits the offshore sandbanks between Inishtrahull Sound and Magilligan waters. Historians believe that Mannin Bay was named after him and he is thought to be an ancestor of the Conmhaícne Mara, the people for whom Connemara is named. According to local folklore, one day Manannán’s daughter was caught in a storm while boating in Kilkieran Bay, so to rescue her from the danger she was in, he conjured up Mann Island. Located within the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady Visitor Information Centre provides information services for locals and visitors who are new to the area. The center provides a range of free tourism literature, including accommodation, events, visitor guides and maps with details on the Causeway Coast and Glens area and Northern Ireland. It also provides an accommodation booking service, assistance with genealogy inquiries and information on planning trips. The center is open all year round Monday through Wednesday and Saturday 09.30 - 17:00, Thursday & Friday 09.30 - 21:30. If you liked this - do check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S_pmIppAD4 along with other amazing locations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2SQMqLhsgs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWSVzAgt-us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnZRmhkydcY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E9jASWIfBs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aa4aOOU90c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uVpkf4EYIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DhqUuCqhC8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdTqJPL-i5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLPdulpZ8E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mNBbRE5fQ0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9RJdf9QVww https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnI9_8cm1Lw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjxG2zZEu0 www.connollycove.com for more amazing sites.