Derry City Information

Derry is one of Ireland ’s oldest cities. First settled by monks in the 6 th century, its centre is still enclosed by walls built in the 17 th century. In Irish, its name means Oak Grove, and its believed that St Columcille founded the first settlement on the site of the future City. With the historic walled City of Londonderry at its heart, this area is developing a reputation as an impressive and user-friendly location for national and international business gathering. It’s a reputation won through providing busy executives with a range of facilities and services that equal any European conference destinations. At the same time it offers business visitors the charm of one of Europe's best preserved cultural cities, and the diverse leisure opportunities of its beautiful hinterlands.

When the day’s busy work is done, Derry and its surrounding countryside offers the pulsing entertainment of the City and the more relaxed attractions of fairway, rod and table. For golfers there are many delights in store, with a welter of courses set in dramatic locations with the Atlantic as your boundary. The area’s rivers teem with game fish many of which finally grace the tables of local restaurants.

Visitors can walk the one mile route along the city’s walls – it’s the best preserved walled city in Ireland – from whence they can survey the architectural splendour and rhythm of its fine Georgian streets and imposing 19 th century public buildings like the stunning Guildhall, a neo – Gothic marvel of delicate stone work and stained glass. A centre of ecclesiastical life for over a thousand years, Derry ’s magnificent churches include St Columb’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1633 and is the first Post reformation cathedral in Western Europe . Londonderry ’s story is told in the City’s evocative and award winning Tower Museum .

High on the wets bank of the Foyle lies the 19 th century Victorian Gothic Magee College , its creamy spires familiar to the city’s two Nobel Laureates, John Hume and Seamus Heaney, and today it’s a bustling campus of the University of Ulster . Once the hub of Ireland ’s clothing industry, the City is now the European home of world class technology enterprises – names like Seagate, Du Pont (UK) Ltd and Stream International.

For lovers of the fine and dramatic arts one must visit the Millennium Forum the city’s newest theatre. Located within the walled city this venue complements other arts venues nearby.

With its strong musical tradition, the City is home to many festivals throughout the year such as the City Jazz and Big Band festival, Maiden City Festival, Foyle Film Festival and Ireland ’s largest Halloween Carnival.

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, whether on business or pleasure, you’ll find a warm welcome in Derry !

 

 

 

 
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