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food-drink · Saturday 4 July 2026 · 11:00am 
Magherafelt Speciality Market
At Magherafelt Market Yard · Rainey Street, Magherafelt BT45 5DA, Co. Derry
At Magherafelt Market Yard · Rainey Street, Magherafelt BT45 5DA, Co. Derry
Magherafelt’s old Market Yard on Rainey Street gets a proper weekend outing four Saturdays a year, and the 4 July date is one of the best times to catch it. The Speciality Market draws independent traders from across Northern Ireland - artisan food and drink producers, street food vendors, craft makers, artists, vintage dealers and lifestyle sellers - all gathered in a venue with real historical weight. It suits anyone who enjoys browsing without pressure, picking up something handmade or locally produced, or simply spending a few hours in good company with good food.
The market fills the Market Yard with a mix of indoor marquee space and outdoor stalls, so it runs comfortably regardless of the weather. Trader categories are deliberately kept varied: you might find a small-batch preserves maker beside a jewellery designer, a hot food stall serving coffee and lunch beside a vintage ceramics table. The emphasis, set by the organising partnership between Magherafelt Chamber of Commerce and Naturally North Coast and Glens (NNCG), is on local provenance - food and drink traders are expected to use local produce where possible, and craft sellers are there because they actually make what they’re selling.
NNCG is a well-regarded charity that has been running community markets across the Causeway Coast and Glens area for years, bringing a practised hand to the curation. Markets in their network range from 15 to 60 stalls depending on the venue. The Market Yard format, with hard standing and power available for traders, supports a solid range of stalls. Trading runs 11am to 4pm, giving you plenty of time to arrive mid-morning, have lunch from one of the street food traders, and browse properly.
Magherafelt is the main town in the Lough Neagh area of Co. Derry, sitting roughly equidistant between Derry city and Belfast - about 40 minutes by road from either. The A6 (from Derry) and the A31 (from Antrim and Belfast) are the main approach roads. Ulsterbus runs services into Magherafelt from Derry/Londonderry, Cookstown and Antrim; the Market Yard on Rainey Street is a short walk from the town’s central bus stops. Town centre car parking is available close by.
The town has a decent main street with independent shops and cafes, and the surrounding Mid Ulster countryside - Lough Neagh to the south, the Sperrins to the north - makes for good driving or walking country if you want to stretch the day. There is more to see in Magherafelt and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Magherafelt Market Yard in Magherafelt? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Magherafelt area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.