Nick Maxwell In 1608–9, through a mixture of threats and promises from James I, the City of London become involved in the most planned and orderly of the various plantation schemes in Ireland. Fifty-five of its livery companies eventually became financial backers of the plantation, and in return their governing body, the Irish Society, received a royal … Read more
The construction of Derry/Londonderry’s Guildhall and its stained glass windows was financed by the Honourable the Irish Society to replace an earlier town hall destroyed by fire in 1908. Reporting on the opening ceremonies, the London Times of 21 September 1912 declared that ‘. . . The Londonderry Guildhall is a fine modern building, the … Read more
The River Foyle was one of Ireland’s richest salmon fisheries. Alleged poaching had always been a problem, and in the 1940s the paper-title holders decided to seek a declaratory order to establish their proprietary rights beyond dispute. The action had been three years in preparation, it ran for 48 days in the High Court (from … Read more
In 1974 the recently established Institute of Continuing Education at Magee College—arising out of the ashes of the New University of Ulster débâcle—earnestly sought a role for itself. Cross-community activity became highly valued and, despite its destabilising possibilities, local history was identified as a suitable arena for these endeavours. Consequently Derry City Council established a … Read more
The circuit of the ‘Maiden City’ is perhaps the best preserved of all the 52 walled towns or cities in Ireland. Although the walls have lost a number of their original features, it is nevertheless still possible to get a clear picture of the dispositions made by the planners and to understand their intentions. Preserved … Read more