16 | NORTHERN IRELAND - Say Hello to More The Guildhall
A day in
Peace Bridge
Derry
Craft Village Bridge has become an integral part of the city’s infrastructure, changing the way people view and use the city. You’ll find that it is never empty, with people often seated alongside it, chatting or even playing music. It has become a universal symbol of peace for locals and visitors alike – one of those places you have to go and see for yourself.
There’s never been a better time to visit Derry – get planning your itinerary
T
he worthy recipient of the prestigious title ‘UK City of Culture 2013’, Derry has landed on the map in a way inconceivable many years ago. Undergoing a major renaissance in both appearance and perception, with perfectly preserved seventeenth-century city walls, fine architecture, historic streets and creative energy, the city truly has become ‘legenderry’! If you have a day trip or a city break planned soon, here are some of the ways you can experience this most historical of places. THE GUILDHALL One of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, the Guildhall has been at the heart of city life since 1890. As well as being
home to the Council’s Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, the distinctive building with its fascinating stained glass windows and neo-gothic architecture is often explored by many visitors. A major restoration of the Guildhall was completed in 2013 and just last year, it welcomed its one millionth visitor since it was restored. And if you think the building looks a little familiar, you wouldn’t be wrong – the Guildhall Clock was designed as a replica of Big Ben in London, and was the largest of its kind in Ireland. WALLED CITY TOUR One of the best ways to truly understand the city’s rebirth is to take a walking tour of the city’s medieval walls, which have remained intact and un-breached since
Say Hello to More - NORTHERN IRELAND | 17
Take a Walled City Tour
the seventeenth century. The city has the most complete circuit of historic walls in Ireland and they offer the visitor one of the finest examples of the walled cities of Europe. Take a guided tour and you’ll get to also take in the iconic sights that the walls surround. PEACE BRIDGE Arched across the River Foyle, the Peace
ST COLUMB’S PARK If you’re in Derry for a couple of days, never turn down a crisp morning walk in St Columb’s Park on the Limavady Road. Not only will you find beautiful walkways, but there’s also some history to be discovered en route. The remains of St Brecan’s Church, one of the city’s oldest buildings, can be found within the parklands. You’ll also stumble across a junior play area, as well as a range of climbing structures to keep children of all age groups happy. TOWER MUSEUM It has been 100 years since the famous SS Laurentic sank off Lough Swilly in Co
Donegal on a bitter, cold night in 1917, and at the award-winning Tower Museum, you can learn all about the ship. The Laurentic exhibition will run until 25th June, but there are exhibitions you can visit all year round too – ‘The Story of Derry’ and ‘An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera’. And, don’t forget to check out the open-air viewing facility at the top for an uninterrupted view of the skyline.
CRAFT VILLAGE A unique area in the middle of the modern city centre, a step into Craft Village is like a step back in time. The Craft Village provides an eclectic mix of artisan craft shops, balconied apartments, restaurants and quirky coffee shops. Make sure you stop by Funky Cakes if you’re feeling peckish – you won’t be able to resist their chocolate biscuit cake or marshmallow cupcakes.