It is on the banks of the Agivey River, 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Coleraine on the A29 route.

Garvagh was important from very early times, and later rebuilt as a Plantation town, as its broad main street and neatly planned buildings evidence.

During that time, individuals and groups in the Garvagh area inevitably became involved or affected.

The Garvagh and District Development Association- GADDA undertook a project to modernise the town in the late 1990s and early 2000s by installing new water mains, upgrading road surfaces, improving pedestrian surfaces, new street lighting, a new community building and a new toilet block, which were funded through various support channels: the Coleraine Borough Council, the Ireland Fund of America, the EU and the British Government.

[citation needed] In August 2009, more than 20 windows in Catholic owned businesses including a public house, butchers’ shop and cafe were smashed some time around 3am.

[5][6] Garvagh is classified as a village by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people).

[8] Disused remnants of the track still remain in a few locations including several railway bridges.

The house fell into disrepair over the years and was eventually demolished; in 1965 the County Londonderry Education Committee opened Garvagh Primary School on the site.

Where the gates are, was the site of the old cinema (AVON - which stood for Allies Victory over Nazis).