Ireland’s biggest clock

This impressive piece of Victorian architecture is Derry’s Guildhall. It was built in 1887 and its eclectic style is described as ‘neo-Gothic with Tudor overtones’. It has the 2nd largest clock face in the British Isles and contains some of the finest examples of stained glass windows in the country. Derry’s first guildhall was located in an area called the Diamond at the center of the old city walls and the new one was built just outside the walls on reclaimed land from the River Foyle. It was financed by The Honorable Irish Society and its original name was ‘Victoria Hall’ after the reigning monarch. Other landmarks named after her include Victoria Market, Queen’s Quay, and Queen’s Street. The Guildhall was badly damaged by a fire in 1908 when only the clock tower survived and was also bombed twice during The Troubles. In 2013 the Guildhall underwent a major renovation at a cost of £9.5m and now boasts a new multifaceted tourism experience for visitors to the city.