On our first full day, but technically our second day, we opted for a visit to Londonderry which was a 30 minute train ride away. The official name of the city is Londonderry, but most people call it Derry. It all stems back to if one is a Unionist (for British rule = Londonderry) or a Nationalist (for an independent N. Ireland = Derry).
It was an overcast day which threatened rain for most of the day, but we came out unscathed. Weather aside, it was a...
Isn't every day?
We mainly toured the walled portion of the city. "Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe." (Wikipedia) It was fun to walk on the walls and the views from higher up were excellent. Here are some photos from our tour of the walls:
The Bishop's Gate - by far the fanciest gate
Canons by St. Columb's Cathedral
Detail on canons
Interior of St. Augustine's Church where we saw a McCarter on the tablet dedicated to the war-dead
St. Augustine's Cemetery
Derry is famous for The Troubles as is Belfast. From Wikipedia: "Catholics were discriminated against under Unionist government in N. Ireland, both politically and economically. A civil rights demonstration in 1968 led by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was banned by the Government and blocked using force by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The events that followed the August 1969 Apprentice Boys parade resulted in the Battle of Bogside when Catholic rioters fought the police, leading to widespread civil disorder in Northern Ireland and is often dated as the starting point of the Troubles.
On Sunday January 30, 1972, 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by British paratroopers during a civil rights march in the Bogside area. Another 13 were wounded and one further man later died of his wounds. This event came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Violence eased towards the end of the Troubles in the late 1980s and early 1990s."
Bogside
One of the famous murals painted on Bogside buildings
We did other, less depressing sightseeing as well but overall, Derry is an economically depressed city, like much of N. Ireland. One can tell it is a workingman's town. However, it was recently named the UK City of Culture for 2013 which will be a really good thing in terms of tourism.
Pavement art
An old sewing cabinet with drawers for every possible sewing implement one would ever need
All in all, good time was had by all.
It was an overcast day which threatened rain for most of the day, but we came out unscathed. Weather aside, it was a...
Isn't every day?We mainly toured the walled portion of the city. "Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe." (Wikipedia) It was fun to walk on the walls and the views from higher up were excellent. Here are some photos from our tour of the walls:
The Bishop's Gate - by far the fanciest gate
Canons by St. Columb's Cathedral
Detail on canons
Interior of St. Augustine's Church where we saw a McCarter on the tablet dedicated to the war-dead
St. Augustine's Cemetery
Derry is famous for The Troubles as is Belfast. From Wikipedia: "Catholics were discriminated against under Unionist government in N. Ireland, both politically and economically. A civil rights demonstration in 1968 led by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was banned by the Government and blocked using force by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The events that followed the August 1969 Apprentice Boys parade resulted in the Battle of Bogside when Catholic rioters fought the police, leading to widespread civil disorder in Northern Ireland and is often dated as the starting point of the Troubles.On Sunday January 30, 1972, 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by British paratroopers during a civil rights march in the Bogside area. Another 13 were wounded and one further man later died of his wounds. This event came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Violence eased towards the end of the Troubles in the late 1980s and early 1990s."
Bogside
One of the famous murals painted on Bogside buildingsWe did other, less depressing sightseeing as well but overall, Derry is an economically depressed city, like much of N. Ireland. One can tell it is a workingman's town. However, it was recently named the UK City of Culture for 2013 which will be a really good thing in terms of tourism.
Pavement art
An old sewing cabinet with drawers for every possible sewing implement one would ever need
All in all, good time was had by all.
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