The Little Book of Derry

By Cathal McGuigan

The Little Book of Derry is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Derry. Here you will find out about Derry’s history and archaeology, its arts and culture, its proud sporting heritage and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this book takes the reader on a journey through County Derry and its vibrant past.A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this fascinating country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Sep 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9780750965835

Book preview

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INTRODUCTION

Derry has many names, more than your average county or city, yet they all begin with Doire, the Irish word for oak wood or oak grove. The image is fitting for an area that is at once ancient and familiar, serene and wild, and emerging from a difficult past into a promising future.

This book aims to cover all of the major events, people and tales of County Derry and Derry city, but in its roots it is a little book. Although it speaks of the Siege and the Troubles and the great men and women, The Little Book of Derry is also a book of fragments and quiet things that may not appear in the grand narrative of the place.

It is well known in Derry that greatness can grow from the most modest of places. The son of a Limavady farmer, William Massey, can move to the other side of the globe and stand shoulder to shoulder with world leaders, as the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The son of a Bellaghy farmer can captivate the world with Derry’s landscapes, characters and sounds and speak with strength among the titans of literature.

In Derry we know that ‘acting the eejit’ is not always stupid and without purpose. One flighty Ballinascreen man, Hudy McGuigan, strapped wings made from doors to his arms and jumped off a cliff. He must have gone at least a few feet before he tumbled into a thorn bush. Nearly a century later another man tested out an early aeroplane on Magilligan strand, reaching heights of 40 feet. Within thirty years, a woman touched down just outside Derry as a record holder, having crossed the Atlantic alone after fifteen hours in a plane. Was Hudy simple, or just ahead of his time?

This book is a snapshot of what it means to be of Derry, an attempt to capture its essence in amber.

Derry is a place where the voices of farmers’ sons can be voices that inspire and enchant the world. It is a place where people dare to fly and look foolish rather than stay grounded and hushed.

Humble beginnings are no obstacle here. No matter how many Derry folk grow powerful or magnificent and whatever dizzy heights they reach, there are always more acorns in the oak grove.

And mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

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HISTORY

The story of the people and places of Derry city and county begins near Coleraine in 7000 BC, with some of the earliest settlers in Ireland. It is typical of the area that its inhabitants are ahead of their time. Over the years, Derry has been a site of religious importance, a fiercely contested battleground and the departure point for pioneers that would shape America, Canada and beyond.

Here we look over the 9,000-year history of Derry, a tale of poetry and protest, industry and innovation, warfare and wonder.

MAJOR EVENTS