There’s no denying it, the Walls of Derry have made a lot of trouble over the years. For one thing, they’re responsible for the perennial argument over whether this city on the Northern Irish coast should be called Derry or Londonderry.
In 1608, Irish chieftain Cahir O’Doherty burnt down the settlement established by planters from Scotland and England. Thus, when an association of London livery companies, called the Irish Society, decided to rebuild five years later, they began work on a wall to protect the new outpost.
In recognition of this work, a royal charter renamed the place ‘Londonderry’. The nearly mile-long ring was completed six years later, becoming a very visible symbol of English colonialism.
There are two suggested ways to see the walls. The Dry Moat Walk follows the line of the dry moat, albeit that feature has long since disappeared. The route takes walkers past the Church, Double and Royal Bastions and a bijou demi-bastion called the Platform.
Alternatively, the Ramparts Top Walk lifts visitors up for views of a city that has grown far beyond its ancient limits. At Guildhall Square, you can access the walls by steps or a ramp. Look out for the 22 cannons ranged along the wall, including the enormous Roaring Meg, used during the Siege of Derry in 1689. The Friends of the Derry Walls offer a handy free guide.
