Derry – Londonderry ??

Not another stone fortress!!

18th of May 2023

Yes another stone Fortress, this was on our route and a short diversion up a narrow steep road to the ring Fort, the Grianan of Aileach. This fort was not much bigger than the previous one we have seen but the views far more spectacular as it was on the top of the hill. From the fort it was only a few kilometers to Northern Ireland and the City of Derry [Londonderry].

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View from the fortress, the photos do not depict how spectacular there are.
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Plenty of warnning for the idiots of this world. What happened to common sense??
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Derry or Londonderry ??

We drove to a spot we had though would be good to visit Derry and spend the night, a carpark on the other side of the river, only to find that it was full, but just as we were about to leave a nice German man came up to us saying he was going, and we could have his park [how lucky are we]. Parked up and after coffee and cake at the corner bakery we headed across the Peace Bridge to Derry. Now the question of what is the name, we googled it and it depends on your impersonation, I will call it Derry.

The friendly man at the tourist information office armed us with a pile of maps and information booklets and we began our tour of the city. The Guild Hall, the murals at the bogside, the walls of the city and the main city streets. Of course, we stopped for a Guinness along the way. Back to the Bunyip for a quiet night , we had walked our allocated steps and more today.

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The Peace Bridge

The Guild Hall

After the bridge our first stop was the Guild Hall, strongly suggested to visit by our friendly Germans at the car park. This building was bombed in the troubles and had to have some rebuilding done. It was also the building where the trial occurred after “Bloody Sunday”

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The Bogside Murals

I will not go into the history of the Bogsite only to say that it was the place where “Bloody Sunday Massacre ” occurred and a hot spot in “The Trouble”. If you are unaware of these events please look them up on Google. I, growing up remember these events on the evening news, but then again I am old, LOL. Below are the Bogside Murals.

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The City Walls

After the murals we trekked up the the city walls. This walk around the city has the most intact walls that we have seen. Below are some photos of the walk.

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Saint Augustines Church just off the wall.
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Photo of Bloody Sunday on Westland Street
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This is Westland Street today.

The Derry Girls television program was set here and here is their mural.

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See if you can spot the Ford Transit Van, Steath Parking??

We have seen plenty of buskers in our travels but this bloke was one of the keenest. He brought into the square a piano, stool and brass bowl for his donations. He was talented as well and we did contribute. After a busy day it was back across the Peace Bridge for a quiet night. The carpark was packed when we arrived was now quiet with only a few motor homes.

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Our park for the night, close to an excellent bakery, see on map below.

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. Mark and Mireille May 28, 2023 Reply

    Great place Derry,keep up the blog’s fantastic reading and the Guinness what more can I say cheers

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