Limavady, in County Londonderry, is the unlikely birthplace of one of the world's most recorded melodies — and it happened by chance, on a street, in 1851.
A fiddler, a street, and a tune nobody wanted to lose
In 1851, local woman Jane Ross heard a travelling fiddler playing in Limavady and asked if she could write the melody down, intending to send it to a friend in Dublin who was collecting traditional Irish airs. That friend, George Petrie, later published it as the Londonderry Air in his 1855 collection Ancient Music of Ireland — the only reason the tune survives at all.
From a forgotten fiddler to Danny Boy
The melody stayed a wordless air for decades until English lawyer Frederic Weatherly, who had already written the lyrics to a different song called Danny Boy, received a copy of the Londonderry Air from his sister-in-law in 1913. He reworked his words to fit the tune's rhyme and meter, and that pairing became the Danny Boy sung at weddings and funerals around the world today.
Sweets still arrive the same way as everywhere else
Limavady's fame rests on a melody, not a sweet shop — so pick 'n' mix, bulk bags and trade cases for the town come by delivery, the same as the rest of County Londonderry and the UK.
25,000+ customers, and counting
We've served over 25,000 customers UK-wide, Limavady and the rest of Northern Ireland included, with most orders dispatched within 1-2 business days. The range covers pick 'n' mix by the bag and tub, bulk bags from 1kg to 3kg, trade cases for events and businesses, vegan and halal-friendly sweets, retro favourites, and full chocolate ranges from the major brands.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver sweets to Limavady?
Yes — the same as the rest of the UK, with most orders dispatched in 1-2 business days.
What is Limavady's connection to Danny Boy?
Jane Ross wrote down the Londonderry Air tune here in 1851; it later became the melody for Danny Boy.
Can I buy bulk or wholesale sweets in Limavady?
Yes — we deliver bulk bags, multipacks and trade cases direct to Limavady addresses.
Browse Pick 'n' Mix and Bulk Bags.