PORTSTEWART, a sea-port and town, in the parish of BALLYAGHRAN, liberties of COLERAINE, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of ULSTER, 3 ½ miles (N.) from Coleraine, to which it has a penny post; containing 475 inhabitants. It is situated at the foot of a branch of the great basaltic range of promontories, and commands an extensive view of the estuary of the river Bann, the entrance into Lough Foyle, and the promontory of Downhill, with the peninsula of Ennishowen in the distance.

The name 'Agherton' (or properly 'Bally O'Hatheran') was given to it by a family of the name of O' Hatheran who owned this district long before the Conquest of Ireland and after it. The original parish church, on the leading road from Portstewart to Coleraine, was listed in a nationwide ecclesiastical taxation book as the "Church of O'Hatheran". While some historians suggest that the church was built by a family of the Ó Neills (a branch of the Shane's Castle family) who resided a long time here, it is more likely that it was one of the churches founded by St. Patrick. At Tubber Patrick or St Patrick's Well at the end of Portstewart strand was thought to be the fresh water supply for the Stone Age inhabitants of the sand hills. It was used as a source of holy water by the inhabitants of Portstewart.

Ballyaghran, the Old Church and Flowerfield is the most ancient part of Portstewart. The Church of Agherton (Ballyaghran) was founded on a Bronze Age ritual site before 1000 A.D. In the field beside it, towards the sea, are the remains of a court grave (c.3500 B.C.) and an ancient signalling mound. Behind the walled garden of "Nelly's Bar" is Cashlandoo, citadel of Congal Clairingneach, High King of Ireland in 161 B.C.

In the sixteenth century the Ó Neills put a new roof on the Church. It was unroofed by a great storm early in the eighteenth century, and was roofed again by Felix Ó Neill, Land Steward of Shane's Castle, who dwelt beside it in Flowerfield House in 1740.3 The oldest tombstone within the Church's graveyard is dated 1713.4

When Agherton's parishioners decided to build a new church it was sited across the road from the older building, and was consecrated on 25 April 1827. The roof was taken off the old church and sold, and it has remained roofless ever since.5 On this page you will find a current photograph of the ruins of the old church.

PORTSTEWART, CO. DERRY. -Portstewart fronts the ocean on the Derry coast, between Portrush and the mouth of the river Bann. It is not a large place, but is a deservedly popular sea-side resort, and therefore, commands an extensive patronage in the bathing season. The tall, massive building on the right of the picture is Portstewart Castle, surrounded by its battlemented wall, and seated on an eminence that adds much to its imposing aspect. The houses near the beach are used as bathing cottages in summer, and are constructed with far more regard to their solidity than their elegance. Main Street is the principal throughfare. Charles Lever, the Irish novelist, practiced medicine, as dispensary doctor, in this village, in his younger days. He resided at Verandah Cottage, which was pulled down some years ago, and the commodious residence erected in its place is called Lever House.