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Attractions in Derry | Inishowen | Further Afield
Murals and Monuments | Sports and Leisure
What to see and do/Sports and Leisure
There are many sport and leisure centres in Derry offering a wide range of activities. To find out more about these centres phone the numbers below for more details on each.
ST COLUMB'S PARK LEISURE CENTRE
THE
BRANDYWELL FOOTBALL GROUND
Senior level soccer returned to Derry after a lengthy period when Derry
City were admitted to the League of Ireland First Division in 1985.
They went on to win the historic treble of Premier Division Championship,
FAI Cup and League Cup in 1988-89. Derry City play their home games at the
Brandywell Stadium.
T: 7128 1333.
BRANDYWELL
SPORTS CENTRE
Brandywell Sports Centre, opened in 1983, provides a specialist indoor football
arena and the only indoor handball court in the city. T: 7126 3902.
BROOKE
PARK LEISURE CENTRE
Brooke Park Leisure Centre provides two indoor halls, squash courts, a fitness
training room and sauna as well as outdoor facilities for tennis and bowls.
T: 7126 2637.
BRUNSWICK
SUPERBOWL
The award-winning Brunswick Superbowl in Pennyburn has 20 fully automated
ten-pin bowling lanes, American pool tables, video games areas, a children’s
adventure play area, a licensed restaurant, general snack bar and creche facilities.
Open every day from 1000 to 0100.
T: 7137 1999.
CITY
BATHS
The City Baths at William Street houses a 25-metre pool, a learners’
pool, steam room, solarium and fitness suite. T: 7126 4459.
CYCLE ROUTES
Derry now has an extensive network of cycling routes for tourists and locals alike. Routes include one from Craigavon Bridge to Prehen, along the east bank of the River Foyle, and the 7.5 km Foyle Valley route, which runs south alongside the old Foyle Valley Railway line on the west bank, one of the most scenic areas within easy walking or cycling distance of the city centre. The Riverside route extends from Foyle Bridge to Craigavon Bridge on the west bank and provides a panoramic view of the river and St Columb’s Park in the Waterside. All routes comply with National Cycle Network guidelines and are government-approved for safety and accessibility. Full details of all the routes, and of forthcoming events aimed at cyclists, can be accessed at www.pedalpowerni.org.
FISHING
The Derry area contains some fine waters for the prospective angler. Salmon,
sea trout and flounder may be caught in the Foyle, and salmon and trout are
to be had in the upper reaches of the Faughan.
Derry can also boast of Glenowen Fisheries’ ‘put and take’
rainbow trout lake at the Creggan Country Park as a facility designed specifically
with the angler in mind. Glenowen Fisheries can be contacted on T: 7136 3133; www.foylefishing.net. A game-rod licence
is necessary for anglers fishing for salmon, sea trout, brown trout or rainbow
trout. Coarse fishing in the Foyle area is unlicensed. The angler can obtain
advice and information from: Foyle Carlingford & Irish Lights Commission
Loughs Agency, 22 Victoria Road, Derry. T: 7134 2100.
GOLF,
GAA & RUGBY
As well as the sports centres provided by local authorities, a number of other
major sports are also catered for. At Prehen, the City of Derry Golf
Club has a fine competition 18-hole golf course, backed up by a new
9-hole practice course. T: 7131 1610. The Foyle Golf Centre at 12 Alder Road also provides excellent golfing facilities and a driving
range. It is open to the general public and tourists alike. Contact T: 7135
2222; www.foylegolfcentre.co.uk. Other
courses are available at: Ballyliffin T: (0035374) 9376119 Greencastle T: (0035374) 9381013 Lisfannon T: (0035374) 9361027 Redcastle T: (0035374) 9382073 Strabane T: 7138 2007.
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) organises Gaelic Football,
Hurling, Camogie, Rounders and Handball competitions on a county level and
at various local venues, with the main venue being Celtic Park in the Brandywell area. T: 7134 2561. City of Derry Rugby Club has its playing fields and clubhouse at Judge’s Road off the Clooney
Road dual carriageway. T: 7186 1101.
GREYHOUND
RACING
The track is situated at the Brandywell Football Ground. Contact the Brandywell
Greyhound Racing Co Ltd. T: 7126 5461.
GYM/FITNESS SUITE
Aras Tar Abhaile (ATA), Eastway Road. T: 7127
9347
Fitness First, Strand Road. T: 7127 5500
HORSE
RIDING
Ardmore Stables, 8 Rushall Road, Ardmore. T: 7134 5187.
Culmore Riding School, 130 Culmore Road. T: 7135 9248.
LISNAGELVIN
LEISURE CENTRE
The City Council’s Leisure Pool in the Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre in
the Waterside is an example of the varied and imaginative leisure and entertainment
opportunities available in the area. This new-style pool with an ozone purification
plant, a wave-making machine, poolside cafeteria and lively imaginative decor
has become a major attraction. It provides the fun of the beach without any
worries about the weather. The centre also has sauna, solarium and general
fitness facilities. Outdoors, it provides football pitches, a running track
and a bowls area. T: 7134 7695.
PARKLANDS
As well as the indoor recreational and entertainment centres, the city is
also well provided with parklands. These include St Columb's Park in the Waterside
and Brooke Park in the Rosemount area. Parks at Creggan Burn, Bay Park, Boom
Hall and Aberfoyle Gardens are now under construction. When these are completed,
the entire west bank of the river, apart from the city centre, will be parkland.
PILOTS
ROW CENTRE
The Pilots’ Row Centre in Rossville Street has a number of halls and
function rooms, and caters for the main indoor sports. It also has a photographers'
darkroom and an excellent snack bar.
T: 7126 9418.
PREHEN
WATERSPORT CENTRE
A two-mile stretch of the east bank, upstream of Craigavon Bridge, is a popular
area for water-sports activities with frequent sailing, rowing and canoeing
events centred around the Prehen Watersport Centre. Not open to the general
public; schools and youth clubs only.
RIVER FOYLE CRUISES
Visitors
can now travel the length of the final section of the Foyle, from Derry City
to Culmore Point (daytime) and on to Greencastle in County Donegal (evenings),
on board the luxurious Toucan One cruiser. The Toucan One sails seven days
a week, and offers full bar facilities and other refreshments. Cruises leave
from behind the Derry City Council offices.
For bookings: Harbour Museum, Harbour Square, L’Derry.
T: 7136 2857, F: 7136 2854.
ST
COLUMB'S PARK LEISURE CENTRE
St Columb’s Park Leisure Centre, situated in a woodland park of approximately
24 hectares, also provides a sports hall and squash courts. T: 7134 3941.
TEMPLEMORE
SPORTS COMPLEX
Templemore Sports Complex, situated on the Buncrana Road, is the regional
leisure centre for the North West and represents Derry City Council’s
commitment to providing high-quality leisure facilities. In the complex, visitors
can swim in the pools, make use of the refreshment facilities and the sauna
suite, train in the weight room or play squash.
Templemore’s main sports hall can cater for any indoor sport up to international
level and has already staged some major international tournaments, such as
the European Boxing Championships and international table-tennis, as well
as important basketball and volleyball matches. The hall is also used from
time to time to stage such attractions as motor shows, concerts and ‘Ideal
Home’ exhibitions.
Outdoors, the complex has a variety of facilities including football pitches,
running track and bowls area. T: 7128 9200.