Derry City - CURIOUS IRELAND

Derry gets its original name from the Irish word ‘doire’ meaning ‘oak grove’. This was ‘officially’ changed in the 1600’s when the city walls were built. Lately, and to avoid controversy it has been called Derry-Londonderry, Stroke City, The Maidan City, and even The Walled City. Derry has been at the epicentre of some of the biggest events in Irish history which has carved a strong and unique identity among its people. It was once a major naval port and also the shirt making capital of the world. County Derry also has some very impressive scenery with highlights including The Musseden Temple, Binevenagh Mountain and Lough Foyle. Its highest point is Sawel Mountain that stands 678m high in the Sperrins.

Craigavon Bridge, Bridge Street, Derry City 1933

emmet2024-10-21T15:52:25+00:00

Ireland's only double-decker bridge Craigavon Bridge is the oldest of Derry's 3 bridges and is the 3rd one built at this location over the mighty River Foyle. The 1st was built with wood in [...]

Craigavon Bridge, Bridge Street, Derry City 1933 emmet2024-10-21T15:52:25+00:00

The Derry Walls. Derry City 1618

emmet2024-10-21T21:27:50+00:00

The last walled city to be built in Europe Derry is the last walled city to be built in Europe. The walls were built between 1613 & 1618 during the reign of James I [...]

The Derry Walls. Derry City 1618emmet2024-10-21T21:27:50+00:00

Prehen House, Prehen, Derry City 1740

emmet2024-10-21T21:33:48+00:00

Derry's most historic & haunted house Prehen House is a beautiful building with palatial proportions and is classified as a Grade A example of an early Georgian manor house. It overlooks the River [...]

Prehen House, Prehen, Derry City 1740emmet2024-10-21T21:33:48+00:00

The Peace Bridge, Derry City 2011

emmet2023-10-11T13:57:31+00:00

Bridging the gap The Peace Bridge is a cycle and footbridge built across the River Foyle that was designed to connect Derry's predominantly east-side unionist community to its predominantly west-side nationalist community. It was [...]

The Peace Bridge, Derry City 2011emmet2023-10-11T13:57:31+00:00

Lumen Cristi College, (formerly St Columb’s College) Derry City 1879

emmet2024-02-15T19:22:13+00:00

One of the few schools with 2 former Nobel laureates Lumen Cristi College, located on Bishop Street, Derry City was formerly known as St Columb's College. It was built in 1879 and is [...]

Lumen Cristi College, (formerly St Columb’s College) Derry City 1879emmet2024-02-15T19:22:13+00:00

Magee College, Northland Road, Derry City 1865

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The university that sparked the troubles Magee College was built in 1865 in an elegant Victorian Gothic style. Derry was then a rapidly developing industrial center and although the College's principal function at the [...]

Magee College, Northland Road, Derry City 1865emmet2024-02-15T21:57:56+00:00

St Eugene’s Cathedral. Derry City 1851

emmet2024-10-21T21:36:06+00:00

One of Ireland's grandest Cathedrals St Eugene was reputedly an early Irish monk from Dublin who foretold the coming of St Columba. Columba did come and over time his monastery grew large and became [...]

St Eugene’s Cathedral. Derry City 1851 emmet2024-10-21T21:36:06+00:00

St Augustine’s Church, Society Street, Derry City 1872

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The original site of St Columba's 6th-century monastery St Augustine’s Church is a Gothic-styled church built in 1872 and is locally known as 'The wee church on the walls'. This historic area is [...]

St Augustine’s Church, Society Street, Derry City 1872emmet2024-10-21T17:49:27+00:00

The Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall, Society Street. Derry City 1873

emmet2023-10-10T23:21:40+00:00

Memorial hall to the 13 Apprentice Boys of Derry The Apprentice Boys of Derry is a Protestant fraternal society founded in 1814 with 80,000 members in Ireland, Scotland, The United States, and Canada. [...]

The Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall, Society Street. Derry City 1873emmet2023-10-10T23:21:40+00:00

The Old Derry Jail, Bishop Street. Derry City 1791-1953

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The scene of many executions & famous prisoners This is the last remaining tower of The Old Derry Jail. Derry’s first prison was built around 1620 at the same time when the walls were [...]

The Old Derry Jail, Bishop Street. Derry City 1791-1953emmet2023-10-10T23:21:51+00:00

Ebrington Barracks. Derry City 1839

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Derry's new cultural hub This clocktower is part of the Ebrington Barracks complex that is located on 'The Waterside' of Derry City. It was once used as soldiers' quarters and as a military [...]

Ebrington Barracks. Derry City 1839emmet2023-10-10T23:22:03+00:00

St Columba’s Church, The Long Tower. Derry City 1810

emmet2024-02-18T05:11:13+00:00

One of the finest church interiors in Ireland This area was originally part of a small wooded island surrounded by marshy land which later became known as 'the Bogside. St Colmcille founded his first [...]

St Columba’s Church, The Long Tower. Derry City 1810emmet2024-02-18T05:11:13+00:00

The Guildhall, Guildhall Square. Derry City 1887

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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 [...]

The Guildhall, Guildhall Square. Derry City 1887emmet2024-02-15T19:25:06+00:00

St Columb’s Cathedral, London Street. Derry City 1633

emmet2023-05-03T15:07:03+00:00

The first Cathedral to be built in the British Isles after The Reformation St Columb's Cathedral was built in 1633 at the highest point in Derry City on the site of a former Cistercian [...]

St Columb’s Cathedral, London Street. Derry City 1633 emmet2023-05-03T15:07:03+00:00

The Star Factory, Foyle Road. Derry City 1899

emmet2023-10-10T23:22:41+00:00

Once the shirt making capital of the World The Star Factory was built in 1899 for The Messrs. Bayer Company. Between 1880 and the 1920s Derry was the principal seat of the shirt industry [...]

The Star Factory, Foyle Road. Derry City 1899 emmet2023-10-10T23:22:41+00:00

St Brecan’s Church, St.Columb’s Park. Derry City c.1600

emmet2023-10-10T23:23:00+00:00

The oldest church ruins in Derry St Brecan was an early missionary bishop who was possibly the son of a king from Munster. He established a church on the Aran Islands before moving [...]

St Brecan’s Church, St.Columb’s Park. Derry City c.1600emmet2023-10-10T23:23:00+00:00