Derry or
Londonderry is a city of
steep streets set in a beautiful location,in one of the finest settings of any
city in Ireland.
Derry was an ancient monastic settlement in early
christian Ireland and was founded in 546ad by
colmcille (columba). The name of
the city, always popularly called Derry is taken from the irish
'doire' which
means 'a place of the oaks'.
It was theTudor reassertion
of English power in Ulster that brought an end to the medieval appearance of
Derry.
In 1613, under charter from James
1st , the city of
London became responsible for the settlement of
Derry
which gained the prefix 'London'
and between 1614 and
1618 London
/ derry's walls were built.
The plan of the city was set out similiar to a roman military camp with four
streets leading to a central square, now called the
Diamond
The city of London also provided the funds for the construction of
St Columbs
Cathedral, completed in 1633 and considered one
of the most important seventh
centuary buildings in ireland