Historical Events

A chronicle of the major events which occurred in Derry down the years would include:

546 – St Columb founded his first monastery on the site of the present-day Long Tower Church. It was known as the Dubh Regles ie the Black Church.
1164 – Flahertach O’Brolchain, the first bishop of Derry, built the city’s first cathedral – the Teampall Mór – near St Columb’s original
monastery site.
1566 – The first defensive fortifications of Derry were built by the English near the site of the present City Walls.
1567 – The Teampall Mór was destroyed by fire.
1600 – Sir Henry Docwra occupied Derry for Queen Elizabeth I.
1608 – Cahir O’Doherty, Irish Chieftain, sacked Derry in a rising against the English who had seized Irish land for their Plantation plans.
1613 – The city’s second Charter of Incorporation changed its name to Londonderry.
1614-19 – Derry’s famous Walls were built under the guidance of theLondon-based The Honourable The Irish Society.
1628-33 – St Columb’s Cathedral was erected.
1641 – Derry survived its first siege.
1689 – The Great Siege took place. Supporters of William of Orange defended Derry for 105 days against the forces of King James II in the city’s third siege in fifty years.
1768 – St Columb’s Cathedral rebuilt.
1830-50 – Shipbuilding became established in Derry as a major industry.
1845-49 – Irish famine leads to expansion of emigration from Derry port.
1855 – Derry to Belfast railway opened.
1922 – The New York News, the last ship ever to be built in Derry, was launched.
1942 – A US Naval Base was opened in Derry and became a major supply depot for Allied shipping during the Battle of the Atlantic.
1945 – Surrender of German U-Boat fleet at Lisahally.
1968 – On 5 October, a Civil Rights march was met with violence in Duke Street in the Waterside, bringing the fight for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland onto the world stage.
1969 – After three days of rioting, known as the ‘Battle of the Bogside’, British soldiers reappeared on the streets of Northern Ireland on 14 August.
1972 – Thirteen unarmed civilians were shot dead and fifteen more wounded by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday. One of those wounded died shortly after.
1977 – US Naval Base at Clooney closed down.
1984 – Foyle Bridge was officially opened.
1990 – Rossville Street high flats demolished.
1995 – City of Derry airport terminal opened.
2001 – Millennium Forum opened.
2003 – Tillie & Henderson Shirt Factory demolished after 147 years, symbolising the end of the city’s shirting industry.
2008 – Derry’s cannon restored to original condition and mounted on City Walls again.

History

Derry derives its name from the Irish Doire Calgach - meaning the Oak Grove of Calgach. Calgach was a pagan warrior who had his camp on the "island" of Derry in pre-Christian times. The name survived and the town grew until the 10th century when it became known as Doire Colmcille in honour of St Columb. Over the centuries, this name became anglicised to Derrie, or Derry.

The Honourable the Irish Society:
The Honourable The Irish Society was formed by a group of London Guilds, at the request of the Crown, to oversee the Plantation and fortification of Derry. Its official title, bestowed by a Royal Charter of King James I in 1613, is The Society of the Governor and Assistant, London, of the New Plantation in Ulster within the Realm of Ireland. The Society not only achieved these objectives but went on to become a major influence in the growth and development of Derry over the centuries. Today, the Society is based in Coleraine and its role is one of a purely civic and social nature. Its powers of control and supervision have been taken over by the various statutory bodies, although it does retain ownership of Derry’s Walls.

Derry's 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 skilfully 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’.

Emigration via Derry began in the 18th century and was one of the reasons for the growth of the city as a major port over the following years. In the 19th century, two major industries commenced in Derry, shipbuilding and shirt manufacturing. Along with the existing distilling and bacon-curing industries, these confirmed the importance of Derry as a trading port worldwide.

After World War I, the shipyard closed, the distilling industry declined and the border with southern Ireland was created which cut Derry off from part of its natural hinterland. During the Second World War, Derry was one of the major naval bases used by the Allied troops in the Battle of the Atlantic.

The post-war years were stark in the city with a period of economic uncertainty, declining industry and mass unemployment which led to political and social upheaval, and ultimately to the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969.

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 spirited people of Derry worked tirelessly to 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.