Thanks to George of the Irish Heritage Newsletter... County Derry Derry is mainly a hilly county, with scenic hills, glens and river valleys. To the south the Sperrin mountains, culminating in Sawel (2,240 feet), mass along the border with County Tyrone; in the north is the Atlantic coast, fringed with magnificent beaches of surf-washed sand. Derry city, on a commanding hill overlooking a broad tidal curve of the River Foyle, is an ancient and historic town. On the northern coast near Downhill is Benone beach, and throughout the county there are numerous tourist attractions. In the north-west of Ireland, is at once one of the counties of Ulster and of the Six counties that make up Northern Ireland. It's capital is Derry city. It was the home of the O'Donnell clan, who with the O'Neills, were known as the Earls of Ulster, and whose tales of conflict with the Crown forces would fill many books. Derry has been a seaport for thousands of years, a point of departure from Ireland, and is mentioned in this context in hundreds of songs, the most famous of which is probably the song 'Danny Boy' which is set to the music of 'The Derry Air'. Nowadays, a bustling business center for the north-west, it still has a charming feel to it, with music at every turn, no wonder then that it is the home of Dana and Phil Coulter, two of Ireland's most successful modern-day lyrical Maghera Old Church Church Street, Maghera, Derry . This 10th century nave has a fine decorated 12th century west door with a crucificion scene carved on the massive lintel. Tours on request. Saint Brecan Church Ruins Saint Columb's Park Clooney Road Waterside, Derry, Derry . St Brecan's Church Ruins reputed to be Derry's oldest building situated in St Columb's Park a quiet woodland by the side of the River Foyle these ruins are said to be the remains of the oldest building in Derry dating back to the 6th century. Admission : Free Opening : All year winter daylight hours / Summer 8:00am - 9:00pm Mount Sandel Fort and Mesloithic Site Coleraine, Derry . Description The hollowed-out centre makes it difficult to define this monument as a motte, though it may be identical with the Kill Santain or Kilsandel built by John de Courcy towards the close of the 12th century as a place from which he made forays west of the Bann. Excavations at the foot of the monument close to the river produced 13th century pottery and a carbonised branch of 13th century date. To the east, on high ground, is a fenced off area where excavations in 1973-77 uncovered remnants of Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) habitation representing some of the earliest traces of human activity in Ireland, dating from the 8th-7th millennium B.C. and later. Location This mighty earthwork overlooking the River Bann at the Cutts, and best reached by a path starting near Coleraine Court House, has a tall mound hollowed out in the centre, and surrounded by a very considerable ditch. CASTLEROCK Castlerock on the North Derry coast is an absolutely delightful unspoilt seaside resort. The town's heritage as a popular Victorian destination is clearly visible in the architecture and laid back, sleepy atmosphere. The town takes its name from the nearby Downhill Castle, but has grown to be recognised in its own right for its beaches and clean water. When the Atlantic Rollers come washing in to the Golden Sand there is a beauty about Castlerock which many over-developed resort towns must envy. DOWNHILL Downhill is located on the outskirts of Castlerock, and provides a great historical compliment to the natural beauty of the town. Home to Downhill Castle, the area is littered with sites of interest. The Castle dates back to 1772 when it was built by the Earl of Bristol. However it was seriously damaged by fire in 1851 and never recovered. In the Castle grounds the Earl built Mussenden Temple, situated right on the cliff top. Its impressive profile is seen at the top of this page. The village itself is extremely picturesque, featuring stunning waterfalls and eye-catching cottages. MAGHERA Maghera is a thriving town which provides the local commercial centre for the surrounding villages of Swatragh, Tobermore, Upperlands, Gulladuff and Knockcloghrim. The town is also the educational centre for the surrounding area and in St. Patrick’s it provides one of the largest schools in Mid-Ulster. Apart from being a busy contemporary hub, Maghera also boasts a proud and important history. St. Lurach’s Church in the town dates from the 6th Century, having been originally founded as a monastery. The importance of the monastery was such that Maghera was a Bishop’s seat in the 12th and 13th Centuries. However the Church was allowed to fall into disrepair and can now be viewed as a roofless ruin. Despite this St. Lurach’s is a site of major architectural significance in Ireland. Contained within the ruins, as an insert to the West wall is a sculpture of the crucifixion, which is thought to date from the 10th Century – making it one of the oldest in Ireland. The details of the sculpture can still be seen, with the ruins being open to the public. LIMAVADY AND THE ROE VALLEY Limavady is a busy market town, located in the North of the County, close to the coast. Dominated by the imposing edifice of Benevenagh as a backdrop, the town is the administrative centre of Limavady Borough. The town has a population of about 13 000 and services a large rural community. The strong market heritage of the town is a reflection of these rural roots and gives the area a great balance of both urban and rural strengths. The town is located in the richly fertile Roe Valley, which is also home to some of the finest wild Salmon in Ireland. It is from the river that the town gets its name, which is derived from the Irish for 'Leap of The Dog'. Legend has it that a dog owned by the Gaelic O'Cahan Clan jumped a gorge on the river to bring advace warning of an impending attack on the town. In recent years, the Roe Valley Country Park has provided easy and informed access to the beauty and power of the Roe. Perhaps Limavady's greatest claim to fame is that it was here that the internationally recognised Irish anthem 'Danny Boy' originated. The story is that local lady Jane Ross heard the tune eminating from a local fiddle player and committed it to paper - the rest is, of course, history. AGHADOWEY Aghadowey is a sprawling, picturesque village in the north west of the county, near the Antrim border. A small rural location in the Bann Valley, the village is a haven for anglers, fishing both the Bann and Agivey rivers. The village is home to the famous 'Brown Trout' hotel, bar and golf club, which caters for many of these fishermen as well as being Northern Ireland's only 'Golf Hotel'. However there is more to Aghadowey than fishing, it also boasts the Aghadowey Stadium, which hosts regular stockcar races on the disused Second World War airfield. In common with many small Irish villages the skyline is dominated by the Parish Church, with St. Guaire's Church of Ireland being a fine example of this in Aghadowey. DERRY CITY Derry has not escaped the civil unrest which overtook Northern Ireland for almost 30 years. Many tragic events occurred in that time and the city's infrastructure and buildings were greatly affected. However, the local council and the people themselves worked tirelessly to retain their spirit and rebuild their city. It is a testament to their strength of character and visionary approach that Derry today is the vibrant cultural and economic capital of the North West region. It is the second largest city in Northern Ireland. Situated on the banks of the scenic Foyle estuary, 115 km from Belfast, it has a population of over 100,000 people spread on both sides of the River Foyle. Its convenience to County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and to the Antrim Coast makes it an ideal base for the tourist. Derry has a lot to offer the visitor who wishes not only to explore its rich historical background but to enjoy all the amenities of a modern city. The founding of the city of Derry has been traditionally attributed to St Colm Cille in AD 546. Though born in Gartan in what is now County Donegal, it was Derry which remained dearest to Colm Cille's heart and it was his beloved oak grove ('doire' in Gaelic) that he yearned for when he set off on his Christianising mission to the Western Isles of Scotland. Derry is the only completely walled city in Ireland. Developed by the City of London in the early 17th century, it was given a charter in 1613 and endowed with a new name - Londonderry. Derry's walls and inner city were the showpiece development of the Plantation era in Ulster and reflected the most advanced concepts of military and civil engineering of the period. Universally renowned for its architectural splendour, Derry's walled city contains within its lattice of Georgian thoroughfares a number of very fine buildings including St Columb's Cathedral (1633), Western Europe's first post-Reformation cathedral. Lying just outside the walls, in the city's main square, is the Guildhall, the seat of local government which is constructed in a lavish neo-Gothic style. Careful restoration undertaken in the last decade coupled with sensitive new developments such as the Craft Village and the Tower Museum have rejuvenated Derry's walled city and enhanced its reputation as one of Ireland's most priceless historical treasures. Centre of Culture Derry's cultural diversity in part explains its widespread reputation as a hotbed of creative activity. Many local figures have risen to international fame. As a major population centre, Derry has also of course played host to a broad range of artistes who come here every year to participate in its various festivals - these include October's Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival and the Two Cathedrals Festival which has in recent years evolved into one of Ireland's premier series of classical music concerts. Finally, no cultural profile of this City can be considered complete without referring to Derry's exuberant 'pub culture' which has proven to be a major attraction for an ever-growing number of younger tourists. Socialising is never a problem in Derry where there is a huge variety of pubs and clubs and an unequalled selection of live music. The one constant is the 'craic' which is legendary both in Ireland and further afield. Guided Walking Tours 44 Foyle Street BT48 6AT Tel: (028) 7126 7284 Fax: (028) 7137 7992 Email: info@derryvisitor.com Inner city tours are available from the Tourist Information Centre during July and August -Mon-Fri 11.15am & 3.15pm Rest of year Mon-Fri 2.30pm Price: Adult £3.25 Concession £2.00 Groups: Adult £2.50 Concession £1.50 The Derry Walls Among the many historic monuments in Derry, the massive city Walls on the west bank of the River Foyle are the most striking and memorable. Built between 1614 and 1619, the original Walls are almost perfectly preserved today, making Derry one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. Using earth, lime and local stone (some from ruined medieval monastery buildings) Peter Benson from London skillfully constructed the thick defensive ramparts and angular artillery bastions following closely the design of Sir Edward Doddington of Dungiven. The entire cost of the building was met by the Irish Society comprising London businessmen who were responsible for the Plantation of Derry. It was their duty, under a Royal Charter of King James I, to build and maintain the Derry Walls to help control the local Irish rebels. In return they were given large parcels of land in the region for themselves. Despite sieges in 1641, 1649 and the Great Siege of 1689, Derry's Walls were never breached - proof indeed of their careful planning and excellent construction, and reason for the title 'The Maiden City'. Originally there were only four entrances (or Gates) into the walled city i.e. Bishop's Gate, Shipquay Gate, Ferryquay Gate and Butcher's Gate - arranged in a cross pattern with the Diamond as its centre. Drawbridges and portcullises were used to protect some of the Gates when under attack. Later were added New Gate (1789), Castle Gate (1803) and Magazine Gate (1865). The original Gates were themselves re-built in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Craft Village Take a step back in time when you visit this charming Craft Village located in the heart of the city centre. The Craft Village is a portrayal of life in Derry from 16th - 19th century and successfully combines retail, workshop and residential units in a unique setting. The Craft Village provides an exciting alternative to shopping as we know it today. Wander at your leisure through the workshops, watch skilled craftspeople at work or relax and enjoy a well earned rest in the coffee shop or licensed restaurant which offers a full lunch, snack and dinner menu. Derry's Craft Village is also home to a traditional 15th century Irish thatched cottage, Bridie's Cottage, which provides informal 'Teach Ceoil' (Music House) sessions regularly throughout the Summer season. Experience the traditional music, song and dance of Ireland in an intimate and cosy atmosphere. Open from 0900 to 1730 Mon-Sat. To view pictures of County Derry, Go to your Irish Heritage Homepage 2 at http://hometown.aol.com/steeler059/myhomepage/profile.html -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton