Northern Ireland - A Walking Tour of Derry with Terry Brown
Derry (also known as Londonderry) is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and a fascinating place to visit. Terry Brown is a local tour guide and lifelong Derry resident who offers a friendly, engaging two-hour walking tour of the city. I took his tour with my college-aged niece and we both found it to be very informative and well worth the price. Terry has a genuine passion for the history of his hometown, which is one of the oldest walled cities in Europe. He artfully mixes explaining historical events with his own personal tales, making for a delightful afternoon.
During the two-hour tour, Terry covers a lot of ground both historically and geographically. He starts by explaining the history of the walled city, weaving his own life story into the tour. Terry was living in Derry during the period known as the Troubles, and was present at the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1972, but as he explains, he was there “more to meet some girls than for political reasons.” My niece and I appreciated how balanced he was in his approach and views of the Troubles, and how he stressed that the majority of citizens of Derry now want to live in peace with each other.
On our tour Terry took us to some of the key sites around the city, such as:
The Guildhall: Located just outside the city walls, this beautiful building, and the square in front of it, has been a meeting place for locals and visitors for most of the last century.
The Bogside: This is where much of the violence during the Troubles took place. You'll visit multiple sites commemorating those who lost their lives during this turbulent period.
Free Derry Corner: Here is where you'll find the famous wall proclaiming "You Are Now Entering Free Derry.”
St. Columb's Cathedral: This is the oldest Catholic cathedral in Ireland and was bombed multiple times during the Troubles.
The Peace Bridge: This winding pedestrian bridge spans the River Foyle and is a symbol of hope for a future free from violence.
In addition to the main tourist sites, Terry also pointed out several smaller landmarks along the way that added context to the stories he was telling us. For example, near The Bogside he showed us murals where people had painted portraits of loved ones who had been killed during the Troubles. It was a moving experience to hear about the changes that occurred in Derry/Londonderry since the Troubles ended with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Overall, my niece and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with “Terry from Derry” and highly recommend his walking tour to anyone who wants to learn more about this city's fascinating history.
Phone 07938 475713
$130 for two-hour