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Situated in the north-west of the country, Derry is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland. It is located in the north-west of the country, almost straddling the border with The Republic of Ireland.
The earliest historical references to the city concern the founding of a nearby monastery by St. Columba. The hill on which the monastery was built was called "Doire" or "Doire Cholmchille", meaning "oak-wood of Colm Cille", from which the name Derry is derived. In 1613 the city was granted a Royal Charter by James 1, and the "London" prefix was added to the name to symbolise the connections with England. Although the city remains legally known as Londonderry, in the context of The Troubles the prefix proved contentious, and the city is more commonly referred to as simply Derry.
When approaching Derry the city has more the appearance of a citadel. Derry was the last walled city built in Europe, and its city walls are the most complete to be found in the entire continent. The walls form an unbroken perimeter around the city centre, running for roughly one mile in total. The walls are open to the public, the walkway along the top of the walls forming a unique promenade from which to enjoy a different view of the city. The walls of Derry were never breached and withstood many sieges, one lasting 105 days. The city's resilience earned Derry the nickname "The Maiden City".
Venturing within the city walls visitors will find a city full of magnificent architecture and history. Spectacular buildings such as St. Columb's Cathedral and the Georgian Courthouse majestically overlook the city centre, creating a refined ambience that makes the city a joy to explore. In the heart of the city visitor's will find the Derry Craft Village, a reconstruction of an 18th century street and a 19th century town square. These, and other exhibitions, provide visitors with a taste of life between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Following the partition of Ireland, Derry found itself close to the border with the newly formed Republic of Ireland. The high tensions running through the city saw it become a flashpoint for the type of violence that defined The Troubles, and many lives were lost on both sides of the conflict. Although Derry today is a forward-looking city, the dark memories of the recent past are evinced by the many memorials to be found in the city, commemorating all who lost their lives, Republic and Loyalist alike. The Bogside Murals also stand as silent witness to the strife of the recent past. Painted on the walls of Rossville Street, the murals tell the story of the sectarian violence that ravaged Ireland, and the civil rights protests that followed.
While there are still clear reminders of the city's troubled past, in recent years the city has undergone a period of rapid transformation, rapidly becoming the cultural and economic capital of north-west Northern Ireland. The city has a long-standing association with the arts, producing talents such as Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, the poet Seamus Deane and the playwright Brian Friel. Derry's cultural heritage was recognised in 2010 with its selection as the inaugural United Kingdom City of Culture starting in 2013. Thanks to its wealth of history, welcoming population, and a vibrancy of which many larger cities would be proud, the Maiden City is one of the most magnificent destinations in the whole island of Ireland.
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The earliest historical references to the city concern the founding of a nearby monastery by St. Columba. The hill on which the monastery was built was called "Doire" or "Doire Cholmchille", meaning "oak-wood of Colm Cille", from which the name Derry is derived. In 1613 the city was granted a Royal Charter by James 1, and the "London" prefix was added to the name to symbolise the connections with England. Although the city remains legally known as Londonderry, in the context of The Troubles the prefix proved contentious, and the city is more commonly referred to as simply Derry.
When approaching Derry the city has more the appearance of a citadel. Derry was the last walled city built in Europe, and its city walls are the most complete to be found in the entire continent. The walls form an unbroken perimeter around the city centre, running for roughly one mile in total. The walls are open to the public, the walkway along the top of the walls forming a unique promenade from which to enjoy a different view of the city. The walls of Derry were never breached and withstood many sieges, one lasting 105 days. The city's resilience earned Derry the nickname "The Maiden City".
Venturing within the city walls visitors will find a city full of magnificent architecture and history. Spectacular buildings such as St. Columb's Cathedral and the Georgian Courthouse majestically overlook the city centre, creating a refined ambience that makes the city a joy to explore. In the heart of the city visitor's will find the Derry Craft Village, a reconstruction of an 18th century street and a 19th century town square. These, and other exhibitions, provide visitors with a taste of life between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Following the partition of Ireland, Derry found itself close to the border with the newly formed Republic of Ireland. The high tensions running through the city saw it become a flashpoint for the type of violence that defined The Troubles, and many lives were lost on both sides of the conflict. Although Derry today is a forward-looking city, the dark memories of the recent past are evinced by the many memorials to be found in the city, commemorating all who lost their lives, Republic and Loyalist alike. The Bogside Murals also stand as silent witness to the strife of the recent past. Painted on the walls of Rossville Street, the murals tell the story of the sectarian violence that ravaged Ireland, and the civil rights protests that followed.
While there are still clear reminders of the city's troubled past, in recent years the city has undergone a period of rapid transformation, rapidly becoming the cultural and economic capital of north-west Northern Ireland. The city has a long-standing association with the arts, producing talents such as Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, the poet Seamus Deane and the playwright Brian Friel. Derry's cultural heritage was recognised in 2010 with its selection as the inaugural United Kingdom City of Culture starting in 2013. Thanks to its wealth of history, welcoming population, and a vibrancy of which many larger cities would be proud, the Maiden City is one of the most magnificent destinations in the whole island of Ireland.