Londonderry – The Derry Walls

Branding Derry Londonderry

Posted on November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 by Mark Lusby

Festivals, like Halloween, are great opportunities to get photos, which reinforce the brand identity of a destination. I love this image of the fireworks over the Nomadic and the Titanic signature building so this Halloween I tried to get some Halloween pics on my iPhone with the Derry Walls in them. The Walls Friends would love to see yours, so please share them with us! #

Main image courtesy of Nomadic Belfast

A very strong wall, excellently made and neatly wrought.

Posted on October 3, 2017October 3, 2017 by Mark Lusby

Near the end of 1618 Captain Nicholas Pynnar, the official Inspector of Fortifications in Ireland, had been appointed to survey the progress of the Ulster Plantation and specifically:

the Works and Plantation performed by the City of London in the City and County of London-Derry.

His report, dated 28th March 1619, provides the first official certification of the completeness of the Derry Walls:

The Cittie of London Derry is now compassed about with a verie strong wall, excellentlie made and neatlie wrought, beinge all of good lyme and stone.

This survey is supported by the first illustration of the complete city walls.

In 2019, the Friends of the Derry Walls will be marking the quadricentennial of Pynnar Survey and the first official certification of the completeness of the Derry Walls. As a start-up charitable interest group, the Walls Friends are looking for your support and your ideas to help us explore the legacy of one of Ireland’s most important national monuments.

Wall to Wall heritage events in the Walled City next weekend

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Mark Lusby

Derry Walls Day 2017, on Saturday 9th September, coincides with the first day of Northern Ireland’s European Heritage Open Days weekend. So Ireland’s Walled City will be an especially great place for a great day out next Saturday with Open Doors, exhibitions, special interest tours, living history and a treasure hunt.

The Friends of the Derry Walls are keen to spread the word about these great events. Anne McCartney, Secretary, explained: “The Friends of the Derry Walls raise awareness of the significance of the Derry Walls through organising educational and training events about the heritage and conservation of the Walls. We also highlight our partners’ events. 2017 is the 400th anniversary of the opening of a Free School within the nearly completed City Walls and 400 years of education is the theme of Derry Walls Day 2017.”

The Walls Friends have enlisted the help of Daniel Doherty, as a graduate intern to help get the word out: “I’ve recently graduated from the Ulster University with a degree in Business Studies with Advertising so I jumped at the chance of helping the charity to promote Derry Walls Day 2017. But with only a week to go, it is quite a challenge. However the quality of events being organised next weekend within the Walled City will be very popular once the word gets fully out.”

Open Doors – a great opportunity to see behind the closed doors of heritage buildings within the Walled City for free. Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2017.
The Schoolmaster’s Treasure Hunt – a free treasure hunt around the Derry Walls with living history performers and the chance to win prizes. Saturday 9th September 2017.
Sketch the Derry Walls – a 90 minute guided sketching and historical walking tour of the Derry Walls and Walled City. Saturday 9th September 2017.
Stone, Brick and Mortar Tour – a 90 minute geological, architectural and historical walking tour of the Derry Walls and Walled City. Saturday 9th September 2017.
Living History around the Walls – the most beautiful heritage buildings around the Derry Walls will be enhanced on #derrywallsday with living history performers. Saturday 9th September 2017.
Architectural Archives Exhibition – an exhibition in the Guildhall of hand-drawn plans of the many significant buildings in Derry Londonderry. Saturday 9th -Sunday 10th September 2017.
What Are Your Most Valued Places – a Twittersphere map based survey seeking public views on special places in the cross-border cultural landscape of Nort West Ireland. Saturday 9th September 2017.
Siege Tours of the Walls – the final “Siege Walls” walking tours of the 2017 season on Saturday 9th September. £3 per person includes free admission to the Siege Museum.
Tour of Walled City and Historic Neighbourhoods – Join architect/urbanist Mary Kerrigan for a walking tour on Sunday 10th September 2017.

Full details of the events and how to book are on the Walls Friends website www.thederrywalls.com/events

St Columba’s Day in Derry

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Mark Lusby

June 9th is the Feast of St Columba or Columcille the patron saint of Derry. This veneration is evident in the naming and decoration of churches within and without the Derry Walls. Also important are the St Columb’s Wells, which were marked in both Docwra’s 1600 and Neville’s 1689 maps. Here are some photographs which illustrate this.