placenamesCulmore
An Chúil Mhór
At Derry’s approach from Lough Foyle, Culmore’s military landmark and reclaimed shoreline have acquired new public uses.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- An Chúil Mhór · Irish · main form · validated name
- Culmore · English · main form
Place & story
A fort on the Foyle
Culmore Fort occupies the point where the River Foyle opens towards Lough Foyle. Henry Docwra established a base here in 1600. The surviving tower and traces of its moat preserve the military importance of this approach to Derry. The building's later history included repairs and a different coastal role: Griffith's Valuation described it as a coastguard station in 1858, before the coastguards left in 1870. [2]
From landfill to country park
Culmore Country Park occupies ground with several earlier lives. Tidal land was reclaimed for farming, then flooded again after storm damage to the sea defences. A municipal landfill operated here from 1971 until March 2007. Restoration completed in 2016 capped the waste and collected its gas for electricity generation, while creating woodland, grassland and shoreline habitats beside the lough's bird-rich mudflats. [3]
A community use for the fort
A new phase began with discussions in 2021 between Culmore Community Partnership, the Irish Society and Lough Foyle Yacht Club. The partnership secured a lease and raised funds to conserve the fort. Its restoration was celebrated on 4 June 2025. The project provided space for young people's emotional wellbeing, adult support and local heritage activities, bringing an old defensive building into everyday community use. [4]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Town
- County
- Derry
- Civil parish
- Templemore
- Coordinates
- 55.05223, -7.28017 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 1416659 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Culmore. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Culmore Fort, HB 01/27/020 · Department for Communities, Historic Environment Division
- Culmore Country Park · Derry City and Strabane District Council
- Culmore Fort · Culmore Community Partnership
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2016-09-29. How this page was prepared.