| Derry / Londonderry |
| Standing
by a river, Derry (or Londonderry for those who choose to use the name
given to the city of Derry in recognition of the corporation of London
in 1613) is the main attraction in the county of the same name. A town
with a rich history, it is a great base if you plan to visit the
Inishowen Peninsula in county Donegal. |
Useful Information The main Post Office is located on
Custom House St and has the following opening times: 8.30am to 5.30pm
on Mondays 9am to 5.30pm from Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12.30pm on
Saturdays There is a Post Office branch on Bishop St.
The Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau (call 71267284
for information or visit www.derryvisitor.com) is located on Foyle St
and has the following opening times: 9am-7pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm
Saturdays, 10am-5pm Sundays from July to September 9am-5pm Monday to
Friday, 10am-5pm Saturdays from mid-March to June and in October
9am-5pm Monday to Friday from November to mid-March
Sightseeing & Visiting [
Museums Tower Museum (call 71372411 for information) will take you
through the history of Derry. An award-winning museum, it will keep you
entertained and interested for a good two hours.
The Harbour Museum (call 71377331), although small and old-fashioned,
is nonetheless an interesting maritime museum which houses replicas of
several ships.
The Workhouse Museum (call 71318328 for information) is located in
Derry’s original workhouse. The displays on daily life at the
workhouse, the Potato Famine and on the role of Derry in the Battle of
the Atlantic are worth a visit.
Religious buildings St Columb’s Cathedral (call 71267313 for
information) is the oldest surviving building in Derry, dating back to
the early 17th century. Items not to be missed are the porch, the
chapter house, the nave and the chancel.
Long Tower Church (call 71262301 for information) is a neo-Renaissance
style building which was erected in 1784. St Eugene’s Cathedral (call
71262894 for information) was constructed in the 19th century. Every
night at 9pm, the cathedral bells still ring in memory of the Penal
Laws of 1691 which forbade Catholics to attend mass. Other The City
Walls of Derry are undoubtebly its main attraction. Built between 1614
and 1619, the ramparts have remained intact and a walk on the city
walls is a must for the visitor.
The Fifth Province (call 71373177 for information) is a great
experience if you attend the multimedia show which will take you
through the world of the Celts, sitting in a moving time charriot. The
Bogside is an area west of the walled city where the terrible events of
Bloody Sunday took place. On Sunday 30 January 1972, soldiers opened
fire on unarmed civilians marching in protest against internment
without trial. The area is nowadays being redeveloped. Tom Kelly,
William Kelly and Kevin Hasson, also known as ‘the Bogside artists’
have decorated the walls of houses along Rossville St with stunning
murals commemorating key events in the Troubles.
The monument known as Hands Across the Divide symbolises the hope for
reconciliation and a brighter future. Entertainment Tours
For Walking Tours you can contact: The Derry Visitor & Convention
Centre on 71267284 Northern Ireland Tours & Guides on 71289051 City
Tours on 71271996 For a boat cruise on the Foyle estuary
or a trip to Culmore Bay or Greencastle, contact Foyle Cruises on
71362857.
Events A number of festivals take place in Derry throughout the year,
amongst which:
The City of Derry Jazz Festival in early May (visit
www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com for information)
Gasyard Wall Féile in August, a festival of culture
Féile na Samnha on October 31, celebrating Halloween with
a carnival and street partying
The Foyle Film Festival in November (visit
www.foylefilmfestival.com for information) Pubs
Pubs in Derry are lively and not to be missed. Their friendly
atmosphere has to be experienced by the visitor. It would be too long
to list them all but here are a few of the best:
Mullan’s Bar on Little James St is an excellent live-music
venue, featuring jazz, blues or traditional sessions
Sandino’s on Water St is more of a Latin American venue
Peadar O’Donnell’s on Waterloo St is a typical Irish pub
with traditional sessions every night
Gweedore Bar and Dungloe Bar on Waterloo St are also worth
a stop Shopping The Craft Village features many craft
shops where you will find Derry crystal, hand-woven cloth, ceramics and
many other local craft items. Entrances are located on Shipquay St,
Magazine St and Tower Museum.
Donegall Shop on Shipquay St and Ogmios on Great James St
are also good places if you are looking for crafts.
For traditional Irish music lovers, Soundsaround on
Shipquay St is the place to go.
Other Concert and theatre venues include:
Millennium Forum (call 71264455 for information or visit
www.millenniumforum.co.uk) Nerve Centre (call 71260562 for
information or visit www.nerve-centre.org.uk)
Playhouse (call 71268027 for information)
Waterside Theatre (call 71314000 for information)
Magee College (call 71375679 for information or visit
www.ulster.ac.uk/culture) |
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Derry / Londonderry - Derry street
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Derry / Londonderry - Front of house in Derry
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Derry / Londonderry - Pub
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Derry / Londonderry - Street
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