“Beauty is not rare; in the land of Paddy Fair; beyond compare, is Peg of Limavady”… These romantic sentiments from William Makepeace Thackeray betray the story of his visit to Limavady, where reputedly he fell in love with the subject of his poem, “Peg of Limavady”. In the early 19th century, Thackeray paid a visit to Limavady, staying at a small inn in Ballyclose Street. During his stay, the inn keeper’s daughter’s striking look caught his eye, becomming his muse for the poem. “Peg of Limavady” later appeared in his Irish Sketch Book, immortalising her beauty forever.