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Tuesday 22 June 2010

Londonderry and Portstewart weekend

I'm out for the weekends and I'm back with photos of City of Derry and Portstewart! : d


You have to read although it's long =D


A rather historic city with a good story line.






Foyle River
There's a bridge that connects across the river which is a double decker bridge. Up or below, your choice =D

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Attraction #1

The Walls of Derry
The city of Derry is Ireland's only remaining walled city, built in during the 17th century and about a mile round and 18 feet thick. The walls form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town of Derry, which still preserve its Renaissance style street plan.


Four main streets radiating from the Diamond to four gateways: 
Bishop's Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Shipquay Gate and Butcher's Gate

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I didn't know which gate I entered and which one I exited as I was pretty lost myself too so the photos are rather random.



Shipquay Gate on the far left


Magazine gate






New Gate


Ferryquay Gate


Bishop's Gate


Bishop Street Court House


Richmond Shopping Centre




Foyleside Shopping Centre


The Playhouse - Theatre and Conference Centre


Far bottom left is the Millenium Forum


The famous and main thoroughfare Shipquay Street, known for its steepness with narrow little streets branching off it.





The war memorial in The Diamond

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Up and around the inner wall



That's St Columba's Long Tower - The city's first Roman Catholic Church.

Just behind to the right a little is the city cemetery, the largest cemetery I've ever ever seen in my whole life. And whatnot, my first ever experience of Cemetery Sunday.


The Bogside Area, where Bloody Sunday took place. This is the point of Derry's historic story begins. 
The Saville Inquiry which was read out just recently on the 15th June 2010 gave great joy and relief to the whole of Northern Ireland.

Summarize of the event of Bloody Sunday:
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.


The sharp pointed building is the St Eugene's RC Cathedral, one of the city's most distinctive landmark.

And the hills behind is separating Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.


The walls withstood several sieges and until today remains unbroken and complete, with old cannons still pointing their black noses over the ramparts.


St Columb's Cathedral
Built within the walls of Derry, there's an inscription of "If stones could speake then London's prayse should sound who built this church and cittie from the grounde". 





The "No Surrender" mural right outside the city wall.

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Guildhall

Well, I'ld like to enter but didn't have the time. :(
It imposes a neo-gothic style of a civic and cultural centre for Derry, and is the perfect venue for a conference or meeting.

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That wraps it all up - The Walled City of Derry



Until then ; P





1 comment:

Unknown said...

Great blog about Derry. Thanks