Remembrance at Derry

Posted on June 08, 2010 at 04:58 PM

Remembrance in Derry

This picture shows me in a parade at the Diamond in Londonderry/Derry to commerate the role of Irish people, nationalist and unionist, that fought and died in the first world war in the battlefields of Europe. I attended the event on behalf of the Irish Labour Party. The picture shows Glen Barr O.B.E., Chief Executive of the International School of Peace Studies, and alongside him myself, Pat Ramsey M.L.A.,  John Green who is grandson of the late John Redmond and great nephew of Maj. Willie Redmond, and David Clarty M.L.A.

I travelled up on Saturday evening and having told my parents about my planned journey, they decided on the spur of the moment to travel up too. The parade followed a Wreath Laying Ceremony, and  songs and reflections by students from 4 local second level schools about their experiences on a programme with the International School for Peace Studies in Messines.  The Commeration was part of a weekend of events that included a play on the Friday, 'We Were Brothers' written by Felicity McCall about the soldiers from the British and Irish battalions of the British Army, who fought side by side at the Messines. My parents and I only attended for the Sunday part of the programme, which took place at the Diamond, which is located in between the Derry walls.

As well as remembering those that fought and died in the first world war, it was also a time to remember all those that have died in war and in the Northern Ireland conflict.  One of the persons that laid the wreaths was Jeanette Ervine, widow of the late David Ervine, Progressive Unionist Leader. The MLAs that laid the wreaths represented the nationalist and unionist traditions. The Irish flag was raised alongside the Union Jack.

It was my first time in Derry. My parents and I walked some of the path around the walls, read the plaques on the walls and buildings, passed by the bogside, had lunch at the Ebrington Centre, now an arts centre, formerly a British Army Barracks. My mother's grandfather, was in the British Army around the time of the first world war and in the course of talking to people in the Ebrington someone who researches army history offered to try and find out more about my great grandfather's service in the army.

My Dad commented to me that his family seemed all to be of West of Ireland peasant republican stock. No British army backgrounds to his knowledge, although there is a theory that the Tuffy's came came as part of the French Army venture in 1798. My mother's grandfather, Patrick Langdon, left Galway to live in Scotland and joined the British army there.My parents and I were given a great welcome by all we met and were very glad to have made the effort to attend.

It is a lovely city. The beautiful art work includes the art work on the buildings as you enter "Free Derry", including a painting of a very famous image from Bloody Sunday, the deaths during which were recounted in one of the Sunday papers on the same day we visited.  Many of the victims were of schoolgoing age.

The historic walls and other historic buildings, are well kept, as is Derry generally, and there seems to have been a lot of effort to establish Derry as a Cultural Capital. We passed a vocal arts centre, in a beautiful old building at the walls, a great idea I thought. Vocal arts included everything from speechmaking to singing.  Derry has applied to be the European Capital of Culture in 2013.  It would a great achievement and opportunity for this City if its application is sucessful and it is fine place to visit to experience the best of local culture, heritage and social events. 

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