Moville, once a port
of call for trans-Atlantic liners, has now found a new
role as a leisure centre. The town takes its name from
the Irish 'Maghbhile' which means 'Plain of the Ancient
Tree' and refers to the site of an ancient monastery.
In early Christian Ireland it was common to found churches
on pagan sites of worship and it is thought this site
was the sanctuary of trees. Moville was developed by
a Derry merchant, Samuel Montogomery about 1780.
Cooley Cross is Movilles most historic feature and dates
back to the 12th century. It sits on an ecclesiastical
site founded by St. Patrick. Within the site there are
remains of 2 church buildings dating back to the 1600's.
